Soriano

[Quinn]

<!--quoteo(post=25876:date=Mar 30 2009, 09:02 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Mar 30 2009, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25792:date=Mar 30 2009, 01:22 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Mar 30 2009, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25789:date=Mar 30 2009, 02:07 PM:name=leonardsipes)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (leonardsipes @ Mar 30 2009, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25494:date=Mar 28 2009, 01:50 AM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 28 2009, 01:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25486:date=Mar 28 2009, 12:21 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Mar 28 2009, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->When Alf leads off the game...

698 plate apperances: <b>49 homers</b>, .310/.352/.563/.975<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
49 <b>solo</b> homers.
Kinda proves the other side's point, no?
Because nobody is saying "Alf sucks, bat him at the bottom of the lineup."
Instead, we're saying:
"Alf's strength: tremendous HR power.
Alf's weakness: has a real tough time getting on base.
In other words, by batting him leadoff, his <i>strength</i> is wasted, and his <i>weakness</i> is magnified."

Seems pretty simple.
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I think hitting him leadoff magnifies his strength. I think a starter is a lot more worried about giving a leadoff hitter with speed a free pass than the 7% chance Soriano hits a solo homer.
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Soriano has 298 career walks -- which include intentional walks -- and 270 career homers. <i>So, the likelihood of him taking a walk is pretty much equal to the likelihood of him hitting a homer.</i> <b>He isn't seeing more fastballs in the leadoff spot compared to any other spot in the lineup unless the catcher and/or pitcher are complete morons.</b><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes he is, because he's leading off the game. It's just a couple more, but it's more. Starting pitchers don't come out firing sliders to the first batter of the game.
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According to FanGraphs, he saw a fastball last year 53.2% of the time, slider 22.9% and curve 10.7%. Every thing was less than 10%.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...2B/OF#pitchtype