Is switch-hitting a thing of the past?

[CCard]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

You'll never get past the inherent advantage. True some can't excel for whatever reason but you can't deny the advantage in doing it if you can.

What's the advantage? If you focus on hitting one sided, that is good regardless of the pitchers handedness?

Because the ball comes at the batter from a different angle and it's harder to pick up. Also a curve ball is going away from a lefty batter instead of into his wheelhouse.

[CCard]

Some great switch hitters while I was researching.

https://www.mlb.com/news/best-switch-hi ... lb-history

Tim Raines
Roberto Alomar
Mickey Mantle
Chipper Jones
Eddie Murray
Lance Berkman
Reggie Smith
Ted Simmons
Francisco Lindor

I bet they had a "less dominant side". LOL

[scoutyjones2]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

You'll never get past the inherent advantage. True some can't excel for whatever reason but you can't deny the advantage in doing it if you can.

What's the advantage? If you focus on hitting one sided, that is good regardless of the pitchers handedness?

Because the ball comes at the batter from a different angle and it's harder to pick up. Also a curve ball is going away from a lefty batter instead of into his wheelhouse.

Again, learn to hit from one batters box, regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.

I can only explain it to you, I can't help you understand.

[DickyBennett]

Jose Ramirez is a bad mofo

Most underrated player in MLB

[CCard]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

You'll never get past the inherent advantage. True some can't excel for whatever reason but you can't deny the advantage in doing it if you can.

What's the advantage? If you focus on hitting one sided, that is good regardless of the pitchers handedness?

Because the ball comes at the batter from a different angle and it's harder to pick up. Also a curve ball is going away from a lefty batter instead of into his wheelhouse.

Again, learn to hit from one batters box, regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.

I can only explain it to you, I can't help you understand.

Obviously you don't understand optics. Only so many ways to tell you that vision is different depending on what pitcher you're facing and reaction time is different also. Plus ad in the factor that the ball looks like it's coming toward your face. Just ask John Kruk when he faced Randy Johnson. LOL

[scoutyjones2]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

You'll never get past the inherent advantage. True some can't excel for whatever reason but you can't deny the advantage in doing it if you can.

What's the advantage? If you focus on hitting one sided, that is good regardless of the pitchers handedness?

Because the ball comes at the batter from a different angle and it's harder to pick up. Also a curve ball is going away from a lefty batter instead of into his wheelhouse.

Again, learn to hit from one batters box, regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.

I can only explain it to you, I can't help you understand.

Obviously you don't understand optics. Only so many ways to tell you that vision is different depending on what pitcher you're facing and reaction time is different also. Plus ad in the factor that the ball looks like it's coming toward your face. Just ask John Kruk when he faced Randy Johnson. LOL

I understand the optics..

Did Pujols switch hit?

[CCard]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

You'll never get past the inherent advantage. True some can't excel for whatever reason but you can't deny the advantage in doing it if you can.

What's the advantage? If you focus on hitting one sided, that is good regardless of the pitchers handedness?

Because the ball comes at the batter from a different angle and it's harder to pick up. Also a curve ball is going away from a lefty batter instead of into his wheelhouse.

Again, learn to hit from one batters box, regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.

I can only explain it to you, I can't help you understand.

Obviously you don't understand optics. Only so many ways to tell you that vision is different depending on what pitcher you're facing and reaction time is different also. Plus ad in the factor that the ball looks like it's coming toward your face. Just ask John Kruk when he faced Randy Johnson. LOL

I understand the optics..

Did Pujols switch hit?

Did Mickey Mantle? Did Eddie Murray? Did Chipper Jones? Did......

[hugeCardfan]

It's my understanding that Springfield Cardinals AA catcher Leonardo Bernal is a switch hitter. We may see him in a year or so in St. Louis.

Yeah and it's said that he's become as effective LH as RH. He started out LH only to placate his brother in the back yard, but has worked so much that he's as good either way.

[scoutyjones2]

Look, instead of being a switch hitter, just bat LH. Switch hitting is a misnomer.

Thirty-five times as many switch hitters throw right handed than left-handed in MLB. Why? Because switch hitting is really mainly just batting left-handed and 99% of the guys who throw left ALREADY bat left-handed.

A switch hitter is a batter who bats from the left-handed batters box 70% of the time in pro baseball.

You optimize and efficiently practice your skill set by throwing right handed and batting left handed

The list of names that are single handed hitters is far more impressive...

Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Ty Cobb, Mel Ott, and Stan Musial batted from the left side exclusively. Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, and Roberto Clemente batted from the right.

[scoutyjones2]

Jose Ramirez is a bad mofo

Most underrated player in MLB

Yes he is...wanted him for the Cards for a long time, and then they signed him long term. Made me sad

[12xu]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

Scooty, how does it feel to be "thick as a brick"?

Ask the ladies

I did, and all agreed, he's kind of a smart alec, but dumb as a bag of hammers.

[scoutyjones2]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

Scooty, how does it feel to be "thick as a brick"?

Ask the ladies

I did, and all agreed, he's kind of a smart alec, but dumb as a bag of hammers.

But, thick as a brick, a solid ride and a good time.

[12xu]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

Scooty, how does it feel to be "thick as a brick"?

Ask the ladies

I did, and all agreed, he's kind of a smart alec, but dumb as a bag of hammers.

But, thick as a brick, a solid ride and a good time.

and all those ladies were over 60!

[scoutyjones2]

Hers an idea. Learn to hit pitching, regardless of what hand it comes from...

Switch hitting is stupid.

It is not stupid. Ask Lance Berkman, Pete Rose, Carlos Beltran, Eddie Murray, Ted Simmons, Chipper Jones, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Reggie Smith. Look back at those departed like Mickey Mantle, Red Schoendienst, Frankie Frisch. Today we have Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Ketel Marte, Ozzie Albies, Ian Happ. Remember the Cardinals of mid 80's - McGee, Pendleton, Herr, Coleman, and Ozzie - ALL switch hitters.

Yes it is stupid. Learn to hit regardless of the hand the ball is thrown from.

So it is your contention that all of those great players I mentioned, most of them hall of famers, were stupid when they learned how to switch hit, and then stuck with it? I think the "stupid" opinion here is in your corner, scouty.

Nope. I think it's stupid to put yourself thru this vs focusing on just being a good hitter no matter what arm side is throwing.

It easier to master hitting from one side vs 2.

Where's Dylan Carlson? TGTE? Elly De la Cruz? Dominguez? Heim? Mullins? LOL

Look how few you posted for current players

Scooty, how does it feel to be "thick as a brick"?

Ask the ladies

I did, and all agreed, he's kind of a smart alec, but dumb as a bag of hammers.

But, thick as a brick, a solid ride and a good time.

and all those ladies were over 60!

[rockondlouie]

Among qualified hitters, there are only three switch hitters to are at least league average (wRC+ 100 or more) against both LHPs and RHPs:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Geraldo Perdomo

Over 2023-2025, the list is:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Ketel Marte
Francisco Lindor
Anthony Santander
Josh Bell

J. Ramirez, the most underrated player in MLB (IMO).

And I wish some wouldn't have been switch-hitters...
(re: T. Edman -career hitting RH: .275 .316 .501 .818; hitting LH: 254 .312 .373 .685)

That's surprising. Only three? Where do you get this information? Could you post a link?

That's for matt CC, not me

[mattmitchl44]

Among qualified hitters, there are only three switch hitters to are at least league average (wRC+ 100 or more) against both LHPs and RHPs:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Geraldo Perdomo

Over 2023-2025, the list is:

Cal Raleigh
Jose Ramirez
Ketel Marte
Francisco Lindor
Anthony Santander
Josh Bell

J. Ramirez, the most underrated player in MLB (IMO).

And I wish some wouldn't have been switch-hitters...
(re: T. Edman -career hitting RH: .275 .316 .501 .818; hitting LH: 254 .312 .373 .685)

That's surprising. Only three? Where do you get this information? Could you post a link?

I was able to get it out of FanGraphs' database by searching. You can search on "switch hitters" and "vs. LHPs" and "vs. RHPs."