After reviewing how the 1954 Indians position players matched up against the league averages that season, we now turn to various splits for that team. [Note: league average is all of the stats at that position divided by the other seven AL teams]
Left/Right Splits
PA |
RBI |
SB |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
BAbip |
|
Indians vs RHP as RHB |
2416 |
259 |
13 |
262 |
339 |
393 |
274 |
League Avg vs RHP as RHB |
2658 |
255 |
21 |
244 |
310 |
346 |
263 |
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|
|
|
|
Indians vs RHP as LHB |
1682 |
231 |
6 |
246 |
318 |
407 |
245 |
League Avg vs RHP as LHB |
1650 |
174 |
16 |
271 |
355 |
403 |
281 |
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|
|
|
|
Indians vs LHP as RHB |
1566 |
180 |
8 |
275 |
364 |
412 |
283 |
League Avg vs LHP as RHB |
1207 |
124 |
5 |
267 |
340 |
389 |
286 |
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|
|
Indians vs LHP as LHB |
491 |
57 |
3 |
268 |
346 |
371 |
313 |
League Avg vs LHP as LHB |
399 |
36 |
4 |
242 |
318 |
326 |
276 |
The first set of vs. RHP as RHB is significantly higher than league average. That is due to Bobby Avila, Al Smith and Al Rosen all having an 850+ OPS and they accumulated 49% of all the plate appearances. They combined for 54 doubles and 35 home runs and drove in 141 guys.
The second set of vs. RHP as LHB has a lower BA and OBP, but equivalent SLG while having a terrible BAbip. Also, the RBI total is significantly better. Larry Doby, Dave Philley and Vic Wertz combined for 66% of these appearances with Doby and Wertz at 886 and 792 respectively.
The reverse split of vs. LHP as RHB also fared well against the opposition. Seven guys had over 100 plate appearances here, with Avila, Rosen, Wally Westlake and Smith having 941, 929, 860 and 796 OPS respectively.
The final matchup, the dreaded vs. LHP as LHB also smoked the competition. This was mainly due to Doby getting 47% of the plate appearances. His 762 OPS is very good for this split. Bill Glynn had a 761 OPS in 52 plate appearances while Hal Naragon and Dave Pope had 1050 and 1171 OPS in 20 and 10 plate appearances respectively.
Home/Road Splits
PA |
R |
RBI |
SB |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
BAbip |
|
Indians on the Road |
3184 |
372 |
360 |
16 |
256 |
330 |
398 |
268 |
League Avg on the Road |
3032 |
327 |
304 |
21 |
257 |
328 |
372 |
275 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Indians at Home |
2971 |
379 |
367 |
14 |
266 |
351 |
401 |
274 |
League Avg at Home |
2915 |
309 |
288 |
26 |
256 |
332 |
367 |
273 |
League at Cleveland Stadium |
2848 |
249 |
225 |
15 |
230 |
294 |
341 |
244 |
The road numbers are fairly equivalent except for the higher run and RBI totals. The slugging total is a bit better as well. Of the regulars, Doby, Avila, Smith and Rosen all bested 800 OPS on the road.
At home, the Tribe was significantly better except in the steals department. Avila and Rosen really loved Cleveland Stadium as they hit 962 and 982 OPS respectively. And when you compare to how the Indians did specifically against their competition at home, it is fantastically better. A plus 130 runs, plus 142 RBI and a plus 116 in OPS is crazy good. Of course, a lot of that is the suppression caused by that amazing pitching staff too.
Batting Order
PA |
R |
RBI |
SB |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
BAbip |
|
Indians Batting 1st |
735 |
124 |
69 |
2 |
300 |
400 |
442 |
317 |
League Avg Batting 1st |
727 |
96 |
45 |
7 |
266 |
353 |
358 |
285 |
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|
|
Indians Batting 2nd |
722 |
123 |
76 |
9 |
312 |
384 |
452 |
312 |
League Avg Batting 2nd |
712 |
92 |
59 |
7 |
273 |
347 |
386 |
284 |
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|
Indians Batting 3rd |
702 |
99 |
136 |
4 |
289 |
371 |
498 |
291 |
League Avg Batting 3rd |
697 |
95 |
89 |
6 |
283 |
363 |
443 |
290 |
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|
Indians Batting 4th |
740 |
84 |
121 |
6 |
277 |
374 |
455 |
267 |
League Avg Batting 4th |
672 |
79 |
103 |
5 |
272 |
342 |
420 |
273 |
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Indians Batting 5th |
727 |
77 |
102 |
2 |
245 |
323 |
413 |
244 |
League Avg Batting 5th |
657 |
69 |
76 |
6 |
265 |
337 |
393 |
278 |
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Indians Batting 6th |
658 |
64 |
73 |
4 |
244 |
313 |
368 |
251 |
League Avg Batting 6th |
646 |
60 |
67 |
6 |
261 |
329 |
376 |
279 |
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|
Indians Batting 7th |
643 |
60 |
61 |
2 |
238 |
315 |
330 |
259 |
League Avg Batting 7th |
631 |
53 |
59 |
5 |
256 |
319 |
355 |
274 |
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|
Indians Batting 8th |
624 |
70 |
57 |
0 |
238 |
296 |
372 |
248 |
League Avg Batting 8th |
613 |
54 |
57 |
4 |
248 |
327 |
346 |
268 |
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Indians Batting 9th |
604 |
50 |
32 |
1 |
188 |
257 |
230 |
238 |
League Avg Batting 9th |
593 |
39 |
38 |
1 |
169 |
231 |
225 |
219 |
Al Smith got 70% of the totals leading off. As a whole, they were a plus 132 in OPS, which is insanely good. Avila got 74% of totals in the 2-hole, and again his great season led to this spot being another strength in the lineup. The plus 48 in runs and RBI is nuts while the OPS was plus 103.
As good as the top of the order was, the heart of lineup (3-4) was just a superb. Doby had 73% in the 3-hole while Rosen had 70% of the clean-up spot. #3 hitters were a plus 65 OPS better, while #4 was a plus 67.
The #5 spot was split between Wertz, Doby and Philley. They in total got 80% of the plate appearances. This is the first spot which wasn't a win, although they did drive in 26 more runs. Philley, Westlake and Rudy Regalado got 79% of the 6-hole. And this spot would be considered a slight loss with a -24 in OPS.
I expected the #7 and #8 spots to be bad losses, as George Strickland/Sam Dente and Jim Hegan/Hal Naragon got 87% and 92% in those spots in the order. Both Hegan and Strickland had poor offensive years, but -29 and -5 from those spots aren't horrific, all things considered.
The ninth spot was a clear win for the Tribe as Bob Lemon and Art Houtteman both had 600 OPS or better there and Dale Mitchell had a 885 OPS in 16 plate appearances as a pinch hitter.
Leverage
PA |
RBI |
SB |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
BAbip |
|
Indians in High Leverage |
1207 |
308 |
3 |
283 |
357 |
439 |
287 |
League Avg in High Leverage |
1269 |
252 |
15 |
255 |
325 |
356 |
273 |
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|
|
|
Indians in Medium Leverage |
2220 |
221 |
12 |
260 |
342 |
408 |
269 |
League Avg in Medium Leverage |
2178 |
172 |
19 |
254 |
328 |
367 |
272 |
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Indians in Low Leverage |
2711 |
191 |
15 |
251 |
332 |
376 |
267 |
League Avg in Low Leverage |
2457 |
159 |
12 |
259 |
333 |
377 |
276 |
The Indians were ridiculously good in high leverage situations (please see BRef for their definitions on high, medium and low leverage). Fewer chances, but 115 OPS better with Rosen at 917, Doby at 1003, and Avila at a ludicrous 1055 OPS. The team also belted 36 homers compared to the league average of 16.
In medium leverage, they were not quite as dominant, but still a plus 54 in OPS. The core of Smith, Avila, Rosen and Doby all OPS'ed better than 800 in these situations with Rosen at a 1030. And again, the longball was crazy better too, 64 to just 35 for the rest of the league average.
In low leverage situations, the team was just at league average. Smith led the team with a 842 OPS here.
Summary
Last week, I commented that I thought the hitting was better than the league but not necessarily a significant advantage like the pitching staff. After looking at these splits, I have to recant and say the hitting was significantly better, especially in high leverage situations and the top 4 spots in the lineup. The pitching staff was still the better part of that year's team, but the margin is not as wide as I previously thought.