One of the longest struggles in baseball history has always been a young left-handed batter against left-handed pitching.
Statistically, this is the worst matchup in baseball for a hitter and the best for a pitcher.
Teams often do not give their young players the chance, especially early in their careers, to face left-handed pitching. This season, the Phillies have been quick to sit Justin Crawford if a top of the line pitcher is set to pitch.
If anyone knows how to develop at the plate against left-handed pitching however, it would be Don Mattingly.
The Phillies' skipper was a legendary hitter in his day, but it wasn't always easy for him when facing a left-handed pitcher.
"Not at first, not at first, honestly. Yeah, I platooned in 83 I think it was. And by the end of the year, I was kind of, he started playing me against them, and I was lost" Mattingly said when asked about facing lefty pitchers early in his career.
"You know, I took a so I went to Puerto Rico and played kind of all winter just to get back, try to get see some lefties."
Eventually, Mattingly figured out how to manage these battles at the plate. However, without reps in the box, he likely would have never found the level of success that followed him in New York.
If the great Don Mattingly needed time to figure out left-handed pitching, it is safe to say other hitters might need time and reps as well.
For Brandon Marsh, times and reps are coming his way.
Marsh has started to become undeniable at the plate. Hitting .333 on the season with an .868 OPS, the Phillies' outfielder has become an everyday player, regardless of the opposing starting pitcher.
Justin Crawford is taking the time to learn from his teammates, but Marsh is at a point in his career where it finally appears to be clicking.
When discussing "Craw", Mattingly mentioned an on-the-field conversation prior to Saturday's game.
"I think he is a guy that's going to hit lefties, because he again, puts the ball in play, puts it in play all over the field. And actually were just talking about, like, different things he was talking about some adjustments he made in Miami and looking different areas, which were, is good to hear. But really, what he's talking about is what you had to do, keep making adjustments."
Since Mattingly has taken over the Phillies, he has made an effort to get back to the basics. Prior to Saturday's game, he had the club work on pitching, fielding practice, rundowns and bunt drills.
A core piece of baseball is having your best players on the field at all times.For the Phillies, having Brandon Marsh on the field at all times makes them a better team.
If he can learn from his manager and continue to succeed against left-handed pitching, the Phillies are going to be much improved.
