Baseball Prospectus Unconventional Wisdom

The Brewers have been disappointing largely because an offense that was expected to be above average had produced just 193 runs, 12th in the NL. The problem is that the Brewers often start eight righthanded batters, leaving them vulnerable to righties, against whom they are hitting just .239 with a .387 slugging percentage. No team in the league has a higher percentage of plate appearances (78%) from the right side. Third baseman Bill Hall (.164 versus righties) should be platooned, and fellow infielders Rickie Weeks (.189) and J.J. Hardy (.244, above right) are part of the problem too. The high-scoring Diamondbacks and Cubs are 2--3 in the league in percentage of at bats by righties, but in the Brewers' case it may cost them a promising season.

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