In baseball, a left-handed specialist (also known as lefty specialist) is a relief pitcher who throws left-handed and specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, weak right-handed batters, and switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed.[1] Because baseball practices permanent substitution, these pitchers frequently pitch to a very small number of batters in any given game (often only one), and rarely pitch to strictly right-handed batters. Most Major League Baseball (MLB) teams have several left-handed pitchers on their rosters, at least one of whom is a left-handed specialist. A left-handed specialist is sometimes called a LOOGY (or Lefty One-Out GuY), coined by John Sickels, and may be used pejoratively.[2][3]
Jesse Orosco, who became a left handed specialist later in his career, pitched until the age of 46.
The pitcher generally has an advantage when his handedness is the same as the batter's, and the batter has an advantage when they are opposite.[4] This is because a right-handed pitcher's breaking balls move to the left from the pitcher's perspective, which causes it to cross the plate with its lateral movement away from a right-handed batter but towards a left-handed batter (and vice versa for a left-handed pitcher), and because batters generally find it easier to hit a ball that is over the plate. Furthermore, since most pitchers are right-handed, left-handed batters generally have less experience with left-handed pitchers. A left-handed pitcher may also be brought in to face a switch-hitter who generally bats left-handed, forcing the batter to shift to his less-effective right-handed stance or to take the disadvantages of batting left-handed against a left-handed pitcher. Research from 2011-2013 has shown that a pinch hitter (usually right-handed) is often used when a left-handed reliever is inserted in the game, thereby reducing or negating the pitcher's platoon split advantage. Only a handful of left-handed relievers face a higher percentage of left-handed batters than right-handed batters over the course of a season.[5]
History
In the 1991 MLB season, there were 28 left-handed relievers who were not their team's closer and pitched 45 or more games. Only four averaged fewer than an inning per appearance. From 2001 to 2004, over 75 percent of left handed relievers meeting those criteria averaged less than one inning. Left-handed reliever John Candelaria was one of the early specialists in 1991, pitching 59 games and averaged .571 innings. In 1992, he allowed no earned runs—excluding inherited runners—in 43 of the 50 games. Jesse Orosco became a left-handed specialist later in his 24-season career and retired at the age of 46. From 1991 to 2003, he never averaged more than an inning pitched per appearance.[6]
During the 2013 MLB season, there were seven relief pitchers who averaged less than two outs recorded per appearance, all of whom were left-handed.[7]Joe Thatcher, a left-handed specialist, appeared in 72 games with 39.2 innings pitched, and had the fewest outs recorded per appearance with 1.6.[8][9][10][11]
Mike Myers is considered one of the most successful LOOGY pitcher of all time, having made 883 appearances for nine different teams over the span of a 13 year career. During that time, he threw 541.2 innings. Recognizing the limited skill and playing time of pitchers in the role, Myers has said "We were like the field goal kicker, but only when the kicker was called in when the game was on the line. It was their best against you, every time, and you couldn't mess up."[12] German-born Will Ohman discovered his talent by accident while playing catch as a walk-on player for Pepperdine University when he tried a different slider grip and noticed an extreme break on the ball. He went on to pitch in 483 major league games over 10 seasons. Explaining the precarious nature of the position, Ohman said, "I was the last guy on the roster in every clubhouse I was in. You do your job and other people get the glory."[12]
Future
Since the start of the 2020 season all pitchers, whether starters or relievers, have been required to face at least three batters, or pitch to the end of the half-inning in which they enter the game. Exceptions are allowed only for incapacitating injury or illness while pitching. According to MLB.com journalist Anthony Castrovince, "This will effectively end the so-called "LOOGY" (left-handed one-out guy) and other specialist roles in which pitchers are brought in for one very specific matchup."[13]
Right-handed specialist
The right-handed specialist (sometimes called a ROOGY, for Righty One-Out GuY) is the less common vice versa contrast to the left-handed specialist, due to there being a higher percentage of right-handed batters and pitchers in Major League Baseball,[14] but they are occasionally featured.[15][16]
^"Checking the Numbers". Baseball Prospectus. 8 May 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
^"Glossary". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
^"The advantage of batting left-handed". Hardballtimes.com. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
^"How often do LOOGYs get matchup edge?". 17 December 2013.
^Darby, William (2006). Deconstructing Major League Baseball, 1991–2004: how statistics illuminate individual and team performances. McFarland. pp. 23–32. ISBN978-0-7864-2537-2. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
left, handed, specialist, loogy, redirects, here, other, uses, loogie, disambiguation, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains. LOOGY redirects here For other uses see Loogie disambiguation This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message In baseball a left handed specialist also known as lefty specialist is a relief pitcher who throws left handed and specializes in pitching to left handed batters weak right handed batters and switch hitters who bat poorly right handed 1 Because baseball practices permanent substitution these pitchers frequently pitch to a very small number of batters in any given game often only one and rarely pitch to strictly right handed batters Most Major League Baseball MLB teams have several left handed pitchers on their rosters at least one of whom is a left handed specialist A left handed specialist is sometimes called a LOOGY or Lefty One Out GuY coined by John Sickels and may be used pejoratively 2 3 Jesse Orosco who became a left handed specialist later in his career pitched until the age of 46 Contents 1 Pitching style 2 History 3 Future 4 Right handed specialist 5 See also 6 ReferencesPitching style EditThe pitcher generally has an advantage when his handedness is the same as the batter s and the batter has an advantage when they are opposite 4 This is because a right handed pitcher s breaking balls move to the left from the pitcher s perspective which causes it to cross the plate with its lateral movement away from a right handed batter but towards a left handed batter and vice versa for a left handed pitcher and because batters generally find it easier to hit a ball that is over the plate Furthermore since most pitchers are right handed left handed batters generally have less experience with left handed pitchers A left handed pitcher may also be brought in to face a switch hitter who generally bats left handed forcing the batter to shift to his less effective right handed stance or to take the disadvantages of batting left handed against a left handed pitcher Research from 2011 2013 has shown that a pinch hitter usually right handed is often used when a left handed reliever is inserted in the game thereby reducing or negating the pitcher s platoon split advantage Only a handful of left handed relievers face a higher percentage of left handed batters than right handed batters over the course of a season 5 History EditIn the 1991 MLB season there were 28 left handed relievers who were not their team s closer and pitched 45 or more games Only four averaged fewer than an inning per appearance From 2001 to 2004 over 75 percent of left handed relievers meeting those criteria averaged less than one inning Left handed reliever John Candelaria was one of the early specialists in 1991 pitching 59 games and averaged 571 innings In 1992 he allowed no earned runs excluding inherited runners in 43 of the 50 games Jesse Orosco became a left handed specialist later in his 24 season career and retired at the age of 46 From 1991 to 2003 he never averaged more than an inning pitched per appearance 6 During the 2013 MLB season there were seven relief pitchers who averaged less than two outs recorded per appearance all of whom were left handed 7 Joe Thatcher a left handed specialist appeared in 72 games with 39 2 innings pitched and had the fewest outs recorded per appearance with 1 6 8 9 10 11 Mike Myers is considered one of the most successful LOOGY pitcher of all time having made 883 appearances for nine different teams over the span of a 13 year career During that time he threw 541 2 innings Recognizing the limited skill and playing time of pitchers in the role Myers has said We were like the field goal kicker but only when the kicker was called in when the game was on the line It was their best against you every time and you couldn t mess up 12 German born Will Ohman discovered his talent by accident while playing catch as a walk on player for Pepperdine University when he tried a different slider grip and noticed an extreme break on the ball He went on to pitch in 483 major league games over 10 seasons Explaining the precarious nature of the position Ohman said I was the last guy on the roster in every clubhouse I was in You do your job and other people get the glory 12 Future EditSince the start of the 2020 season all pitchers whether starters or relievers have been required to face at least three batters or pitch to the end of the half inning in which they enter the game Exceptions are allowed only for incapacitating injury or illness while pitching According to MLB com journalist Anthony Castrovince This will effectively end the so called LOOGY left handed one out guy and other specialist roles in which pitchers are brought in for one very specific matchup 13 Right handed specialist EditThe right handed specialist sometimes called a ROOGY for Righty One Out GuY is the less common vice versa contrast to the left handed specialist due to there being a higher percentage of right handed batters and pitchers in Major League Baseball 14 but they are occasionally featured 15 16 See also Edit Baseball portalLefty righty switchReferences Edit Zimniuch Fran 2010 Fireman The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball Chicago Triumph Books p 168 ISBN 978 1 60078 312 8 Checking the Numbers Baseball Prospectus 8 May 2009 Retrieved March 27 2011 Glossary Baseball Prospectus Retrieved February 22 2011 The advantage of batting left handed Hardballtimes com Retrieved February 22 2011 How often do LOOGYs get matchup edge 17 December 2013 Darby William 2006 Deconstructing Major League Baseball 1991 2004 how statistics illuminate individual and team performances McFarland pp 23 32 ISBN 978 0 7864 2537 2 Retrieved February 22 2011 2013 Major League Baseball Relief Pitching Thatcher the lefty specialist D backs envisioned Help Center the Arizona Republic http indianasportsjournal com 2013 07 31 kokomos joe thatcher traded from san diego padres to arizona diamondbacks Thatcher the lefty specialist D backs envisioned dbacks com News Archived from the original on 2014 02 21 a b Sanchez Robert April 2020 Hocked Loogy Sports Illustrated 131 4 15 17 Retrieved 10 April 2020 Castrovince Anthony March 14 2019 Rule changes coming this year and next MLB com Retrieved July 6 2019 Why being a lefty matters in baseball MLB com Retrieved 2022 03 21 Scouting Lingo Phuture Phillies The LOOGY Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Left handed specialist amp oldid 1109037153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
