NPB once featured numerous switch hitters including Kazuo Matsui. Their numbers have plummeted in recent years. This article examines the structural factors behind the decline through data and developmental changes.
NPB drafts consistently overvalue left-handed pitchers relative to performance. This article uses data to explain the structural reasons behind the left-handed pitcher premium.
The platoon tactic of deploying right-handed batters against left-handed pitchers and vice versa. This article verifies platoon split realities in NPB through data, examining successful and failed cases and the impact on player motivation.
Platoon splits, where batters perform better against opposite-handed pitchers, shape NPB lineup construction. This analyzes long-term trends and tactical evolution in platoon usage.