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Lefty pitchers are valuble because they are a rare commodity. The ball comes off their fingers at a different angle and arm slot than would a righty typically and could be different for a batter to see. The way the ball moves is different in that a curve/slider will cut the opposite way (along with other pitches having different movement).
The main reason is that against a lefty batter the lefty pitcher is highly affective. The batter doesn't have as much time to guage where the pitch is coming from, the spin the pitcher puts on it, or the velocity. This is the same reason why righties are more affective against righties and why a manager will pull a pitcher or put in a pinch hitter for these matchups.
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Why are pitchers called southpaws?
Baseball pitchers are only referred to as a Southpaw if they're left handed, it's more common for left handed pitchers to be referred to as a Southpaw but it's just a general term for anyone who is left handed.
Why do left-handed hitters have more trouble with left-handed pitchers that right-handed hitters with right-handed pitchers?
As a general rule, there are less left handed pitchers. So lefties face lefties less often and have less at-bats to adjust to them. There are probably other reasons also.
Why do left-handed pitchers pitch to left-handed batters in baseball?
The answer is because left handed batters hit worse off left handed pitchers. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is spin. A left handed pitcher will more easily be able to put spin on a ball that causes the pitch to move from the right side to the left side of the plate (from the catcher's view). This spin moves away from a left handed hitter and toward a right handed hitter. It is believed, with lots of data to support it, that a ball spinning away from a hitter is harder to hit than one spinning closer to the hitter. That's one reason a left handed batter is worse at hitting a left handed pitcher. The other reason is sight and release points. The same principle of spin applies that a pitch moving away from the batter is harder to hit than one moving closer to a batter. Because of the pitcher's release point, a left handed pitcher will release the ball somewhere to the right of the mound (from the catcher's view) when the ball is thrown. If we assume the ball has no spin and is pitched to the center of home plate, it will have moved from the right of the mound to the center of the plate. This movement from a left handed pitcher is going away from a left handed hitter and going closer to a right handed hitter. There is not much difference between how well right handed batters fare against right handed pitchers and left handed pitchers because right handed pitchers are so common that right handed batters don't have the same level of disadvantage as left handed batters do against left handed pitchers. But the reason why right handed batters are better than left handed batters against left handed pitchers is mostly explained with spin and release points.
How many right handed pitchers do the Boston Red Sox have?
As of the 2014 season, the Boston Red Sox have 14 right handed pitchers.
Who was a left handed 4 time Cy Young winner?
Only four pitchers have won four or more Cy Young awards in their respective careers, of which two, Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson, are left-handed.
How many left handed pitchers do the Detroit Tigers have?
As of the 2014 season, the Colorado Rockies have 9 left handed pitchers.
Why are pitchers called southpaws?
Baseball pitchers are only referred to as a Southpaw if they're left handed, it's more common for left handed pitchers to be referred to as a Southpaw but it's just a general term for anyone who is left handed.
What is the ratio of right handed pitchers to left handed pitchers?
588 pitchers have appeared in at least one game in 2009. 420 are right handed, and 168 are left handed. This means that 71% of pitchers are right handed and 29% are left-handed, which comes to a righty-to-lefty ratio of about 2.5:1.
How many left handed pitchers do the Texas Rangers have?
As of the 2014 season, the Texas Rangers have 5 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Baltimore Orioles have?
As of the 2014 season, the Baltimore Orioles have 5 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Cincinnati Reds have?
As of the 2014 season, the Cincinnati Reds have 5 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Cleveland Indians have?
As of the 2014 season, the Cleveland Indians have 5 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Miami Marlins have?
As of the 2014 season, the Miami Marlins have 7 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Milwaukee Brewers have?
As of the 2014 season, the Milwaukee Brewers have 5 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Oakland Athletics have?
As of the 2014 season, the Oakland Athletics have 8 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Philadelphia Phillies have?
As of the 2014 season, the Philadelphia Phillies have 5 left handed pitchers.
How many left handed pitchers do the Washington Nationals have?
As of the 2014 season, the Washington Nationals have 7 left handed pitchers.
