The Southpaw Riddle
Behind the nation's current crop of top-tier hurlers
Left-hander Ernesto Binarao has been the nation's foremost pitcher of the past decade. (Photo - Jonas Terrado)
It is beyond debate that over the past decade or so, southpaws have come to dominate the pitcher's mound in Philippine baseball.
They are the elite; the few good men who by virture of their preferential throwing demeanor have some inherent advantage, psychological or otherwise. Just what exactly is a southpaw and who comprise this elite group. It could be a blessing or a dilemma.
A southpaw is synonymous to a left-handed pitcher. The term takes its origin from the early days of baseball when ball fields were built in such a manner that home plate faced to the east. That configuration, which tradition has generally upheld today, keeps the late afternoon sun from bearing down on the batter's eyes, a dangerous situation when a baseball is thrown in the batter's direction.
The pitcher faced west. If he was left handed, he would be throwing from the south side of the diamond using his left hand; hence, southpaw.
Since right handed pitchers generally outnumber their left handed counterparts, the term "southpaw" evolved to recognize this sheer minority.
Similarly, there are more players who bat from the right side of the plate than from the left, giving the latter an advantage against the predominantly right-handed majority of hurlers. This situation elucidates the advantage conferred on the left side. And it goes without saying that left-handed hitters have a two-step lead out of the batter's box.
Given the nature of the game, pitchers who throw from a given side generally have an edge when facing a hitter who bats from the same side of the plate (right-hander vs right-hander, left-hander vs left-hander). The reverse is true for hitters when they bat from the side of the plate opposite that of the pitcher.
The rational behind this phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that hitters have a better perspective of the incoming baseball (especially breaking balls) and are more likely to succeed when they face a pitcher throwing from the opposite side than when they bat against a pitcher throwing from the same side of the plate. The scenario presents an illusory effect to hitters on the same side and underscores the significance of those few southpaws.
From the days of the sensational Jorporillo in the first quarter of the 20th century to the country's premier left-hander of all-time, the late Hall of Famer Teodulo Viray who pitched more than a generation later, southpaws have long made their mark on the national baseball landscape. Legend has it that "Lefty"(as Viray was known to some) had the most devastating curveball this side of the globe.
Today's crop of top-tier pitchers in the Philippines likewise throw from the south side of the diamond; five of the top seven hurlers in the nation today to be precise. While they have had varied success plying their trade in the Titans League, the collegiate circuit, and the international scene, their make-up may not have been like their predecessors, who at the time have been successful against world-class talent.
Forward Taguig's Ernesto Binarao, who in many circles remains the country's top hurler this era, has arguably been the nation's foremost pitcher of the past decade. His elder brother Orlando was at one point the nation's premier all-around player and a left-handed ace himself. In 2007, the younger Binarao compiled a 5-3 record, 2.62 earned run average, and 77 strikeouts over a circuit-high 92.2 innings pitched. His 6.4 strikeouts-to-walks ratio was the nation's best. He carries a repertoire of four different pitches with a fastball in the low 80's. What makes Binarao valuable is his poise and experience on the mound coupled with sound mechanics and command of his pitches. During one stretch of the Titans League (BP's forerunner), Binarao did not issue a walk in 33 innings.
Phenom Jon-Jon Robles of the Makati Mariners is highly touted as the nation's next rising star. The collegiate circuit's top hurler and barely a former teen, Robles may have the liveliest arm among his peers. Despite a 4-5 record in '07, he led all hurlers with 97 strikeouts in 84.2 innings while carving out a respectable 2.76 ERA. Unfortunately he also posted a 3.0 K/BB ratio, surrendered a league-high 32 walks, hit four batters, and uncorked three pitches. On top of that, his temper has a tendency of flaring up and overshadowing his effectiveness. He has sporadic command of two pitches, but usually challenges hitters with a fastball that his skipper believes can reach the mid-'80s. He has yet to learn how to mix up his stuff however. Robles is currently the neophyte on the Philippine National Team and it is hoped that he should only get better as he matures.
The nation's best kept secret on the mound however, may be mild-mannered Joseph Orillana of the Cebu Dolphins. While he has yet to pitch out of the bullpen on the international front, the wiry left-hander is steadily blossoming into a thinking man's pitcher. Orillana emerged as the country's premier hurler in '07 and was awarded BP Player of the Year honors after leading the circuit with a 9-2 record and 1.66 earned run average while racking up 71 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched. He also posted a 5.1 K/BB ratio that was second in the nation. His three pitch arsenal is complemented by a low-80's fastball.
Darwin Dela Calzada of the Dumaguete Uni-bikers and Vladimir Eguia of the Marikina Shoemakers round up the five lefties who dominate the local hill today. Both hurlers came up through the same alma mater and like the other three were workhorses in '07.
Eguia did not see action in Series 1, but became the iron man of Series 2 after leading the league with an aggregate 73.1 innings pitched. He finished second with a 1.72 ERA and struck out 61 batters, but his command was shaky, an evident by-product of his youthful inexperience. A primarily two-pitch hurler, Eguia walked 27, plunked five hitters, and let loose four wild pitches. His 2.3 K/BB ratio was rather unsightly. Furthermore, the inability of his teammates to field the baseball may have affected his performance on the mound as Marikina had the league's worst fielding percentage in '07.
The more seasoned Dela Calzada finished with a 3.03 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched. While his control was spotty in issuing 22 free passes to go with a 2.4 K/BB ratio, those numbers underscore his value to the current national team as Dela Calzada has been among its most consistent pitchers of late.
Each of the five hurlers has shouldered much of the pitching load for his respective team in the past year and should likely continue in the near future given the present combination of cirumstances on the national scene; the relative scarcity (when compared to international standards) of competitive games coupled with the general state of medicore pitching nationwide.
And since there are only a handful of good left-handed hitters around the circuit today, suggesting that southpaws will build their success mostly against opposite side hitters, it makes one wonder even more whether this current trend of left-handers emerging from the youth sector will one day be the nation's saving grace on the diamond.
To what extent will this southpaw riddle be solved, there is no clear cut solution. For now, south-siders can find solace in knowing that they are in demand, more so if they can hone their skills.