Question for Indians fans

by Matt Swartz on Aug 13, 2010 10:04 PM EDT

My name is Matt Swartz, and I’m an author at Baseball Prospectus. I’m doing some research on the infield shift (where three infielders play on the right side of second base for a left-handed hitter), and the data is a bit hard to come by. Since I know what a great resource the SBNation blogs are, being a former writer at one myself, I thought that some of you could give me some help.

I am curious who has gotten shifted against on your team MOST of the time, AND who your team regularly has shifted against in your division over the last 18 years. To jog your memory I am listing the lefties and switch-hitters that your team has had in the last 18 years that have hit at least 20 home runs.

Thank you for your help.

LHB

Shin-Soo Choo
Grady Sizemore
Travis Hafner
Matt Lawton
Jody Gerut
Jim Thome
David Justice
Paul Sorrento

SHB

Victor Martinez
Roberto Alomar
Eddie Murray
Carlos Baerga

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Comments

Hafner has to win for “most”.

Seeing your tags, i just also want to point out “definitely not Choo.”

by westbrook on Aug 13, 2010 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

My Grandpa Simpson sense of history suggests these shifts were not as common 15 years ago. I remember suggestions it was extreme. You wouldn’t do it to Willie Stargell or Willie Aikens. Or Fred McGriff, even. I have no idea what their hit charts were. Is it possible teams didn’t keep hit charts in 1974?

by odradek on Aug 14, 2010 12:12 AM EDT reply actions

Someone certainly kept hit charts on Ted Williams.

by Jay on Aug 14, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe it’s urban legend, but I’ve heard Boudreau employed a shift on Williams and was the first manager to at least consistently do so.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 15, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Not an urban legend. A few baseball books I read as a kid actually showed game footage pics of the Tribe shift against Williams.

by talonk on Aug 15, 2010 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Initially, it was called the Boudreau shift! Lou Boudreau is widely credited with implementing it against Williams in 1946.

by PBH on Aug 16, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Did Boudreau use it against anyone other than Williams?

by odradek on Aug 16, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s a good question.

I doubt they shifted on anybody other than Williams in ’46. By all accounts, it was pretty controversial at the time. But as to when it became standard practice is a question better suited for the SABR guys.

by PBH on Aug 16, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Branyan saw the shift this year, and the Indians did it to Mets rookie Ike Davis.

by YoDaddyWags on Aug 14, 2010 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

we also did it to Adam Dunn. And he hit it over the fence.

by westbrook on Aug 14, 2010 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Hafner and Thome

Where's your crown, KIng Nothing?

by Turkmenbashi on Aug 14, 2010 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Hafner and Thome. I’m not sure we regularly shift against anyone in division. Not even, ironically, Thome.

by Brad D on Aug 14, 2010 1:33 AM EDT reply actions

Did any team besides Tampa shift for Victor?

by rockemsockem on Aug 14, 2010 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Tampa always seemed to shift against us more than the other teams.

"I spoil a lot of people with my play." -Lebron James

by Roger Dorn on Aug 14, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Maddon’s a goof—shifted against Carlos as well.

Yo tengo 619 OPS ... IN

by westbrook on Aug 14, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Maddon comes up with all kinds of crazy shifts.

by JP_Frost on Aug 14, 2010 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Did he shift on Grady?

by odradek on Aug 14, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Different type of shift.

by Jay on Aug 15, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Not three infielders to right of second? I seem to remember someone doing that with him.

by odradek on Aug 15, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

No, it’s in his pants.

by Jay on Aug 15, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Grady dresses right?

by odradek on Aug 15, 2010 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Did Wedge shift for David Ortiz?

by odradek on Aug 14, 2010 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

We all shifted when Sowers was on the mound.

by fg28 on Aug 15, 2010 12:19 AM EDT reply actions

You have a typo, there.

by emd2k3 on Aug 15, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

You’re getting paid to do this; shouldn’t you know?

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 15, 2010 1:48 AM EDT reply actions

It’s called “research”.

Resident LGT results-oriented boob.

by mauichuck on Aug 15, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

I’ve got no problem with this. He’s not gathering hard data, and I’m sure that he knows that. (I’m sure because I’m familiar with his work, which, while not above reproach, is neither sloppy nor dumb as a rule.)

It’s a smart move to turn to local fans at least to be pointed in the right direction. What he’s going to get by doing this is the ones who aren’t better known or obvious.

by Jay on Aug 16, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

He’s getting paid to write an article, not watch every Indians game over the last two decades. Assuming he’s trying to compile this kind of information for more than one team, it’s probably not a sign of weakness or laziness that he’s asking for a little help.

Come on, four billion!

by Joel D on Aug 16, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions