Left-handed specialist
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, a left-handed specialist (also known as lefty specialist) is a left-handed
relief pitcher
who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed. 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
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), a term which can be used pejoratively (coined by John Sickels
).
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. This is because a right-handed pitcher's curveball
breaks to the left, from his own point of view, 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.
Because left-handed specialists face few batters, they pitch a relatively small number of innings during a season. This can prolong the pitcher's career; for example, Jesse Orosco
, who increasingly became a left-handed specialist late in his career, pitched in Major League Baseball for 25 seasons and retired at age 46.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, a left-handed specialist (also known as lefty specialist) is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed. 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
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
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), a term which can be used pejoratively (coined by John Sickels
John Sickels
John Sickels is an American baseball writer, formerly of ESPN.com, who specializes in minor league baseball and amateur baseball.-Biography:...
).
The pitcher generally has an advantage when his handedness
Handedness
Handedness is a human attribute defined by unequal distribution of fine motor skills between the left and right hands. An individual who is more dexterous with the right hand is called right-handed and one who is more skilled with the left is said to be left-handed...
is the same as the batter's, and the batter has an advantage when they are opposite. This is because a right-handed pitcher's curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
breaks to the left, from his own point of view, 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.
Because left-handed specialists face few batters, they pitch a relatively small number of innings during a season. This can prolong the pitcher's career; for example, Jesse Orosco
Jesse Orosco
Jesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...
, who increasingly became a left-handed specialist late in his career, pitched in Major League Baseball for 25 seasons and retired at age 46.
Notable lefty specialists
- Craig BreslowCraig BreslowCraig Andrew Breslow is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He throws left-handed, and is considered a lefty specialist....
- Randy ChoateRandy ChoateRandol Doyle Choate is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins.-High school years:Choate attended Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas, and was a letterman in baseball....
- Pedro FelicianoPedro FelicianoPedro Juan Feliciano Molina is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees.-Early career:...
- Tony FossasTony FossasEmilio Antonio "Tony" Fossas Morejon is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher during the late 1980s and 1990s....
- Casey FossumCasey FossumCasey Paul Fossum is an American baseball pitcher in the New York Mets organization. He played for the Boston Red Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Detroit Tigers , and New York Mets of Major League Baseball, and the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball...
- Buddy GroomBuddy GroomWedsel Gary "Buddy" Groom Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed middle relief pitcher. He attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the amateur draft....
- Rick HoneycuttRick HoneycuttFrederick Wayne "Rick" Honeycutt is the current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Honeycutt was a left-handed pitcher for 21 years from 1977 to 1997. He played with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and the St. Louis Cardinals...
- Ray KingRay KingRaymond Keith King is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. King stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 265 pounds. Because of his large size, former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog playfully referred to King as The Hefty Lefty...
- Boone LoganBoone LoganBoone Logan is a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Logan previously played for the Chicago White Sox from 2006–2008 and the Atlanta Braves in 2009.-Playing career:...
- Trever MillerTrever MillerTrever Douglas Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-High school:...
- Mike Myers
- Hideki OkajimaHideki Okajimais a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox organization in the United States, currently with their AAA affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox. He played with the Yomiuri Giants and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league from 1994-2006...
- Jesse OroscoJesse OroscoJesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...
- Dennys ReyesDennys ReyesDennys Reyes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He has played for ten teams since his major league career began in . Reyes throws left-handed and is considered a lefty specialist. He stands 6'3" and weighs 250 pounds. His nickname is "The Big Sweat."...
- Arthur RhodesArthur RhodesArthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles...
- Scott SchoeneweisScott SchoeneweisScott David Schoeneweis is an American Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.In the five seasons from 2003–07, Schoeneweis allowed only one home run to left-handed batters...
- Taylor TankersleyTaylor TankersleyTaylor Mark Tankersley is an American professional baseball player. A left-handed relief pitcher, he is currently with the New York Mets organization of Major League Baseball.-Career:...