We've spent all season talking about how special Cal Raleigh has been at the plate, especially as a switch-hitter, but we've largely ignored what Polanco has accomplished in the same regard.
When it comes to Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, we've largely recognized, and appreciated, his greatness as a switch-hitter.
We've been impressed at every turn by his ability to hit from both sides of the plate, and we were extra impressed when he passed Mickey Mantle for the most home runs ever in a season by a switch-hitter (55 was the record, he finished with 60).
However, when it comes to Jorge Polanco, we've largely ignored his work as a switch-hitter, but the playoff run he's on is telling us we shouldn't be.
The playoff resume
Polanco hit two home runs as a right-handed hitter off Tarik Skubal in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, and then he delivered the game-winning hit as a righty in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
According to Jordan Shusterman of Yahoo! Sports, Polanco's game-winning single was 110.7 mph off the bat. It was the highest exit velocity as a righty in his entire career.
As a lefty? He hit the game-winner in Game 5 of the ALDS, and then he brought in a crucial insurance run in the ALCS opener.
The ability to be matchup neutral
The playoffs are all about matchups, but Polanco's ability to hit from both sides of the plate helps negate matchups.
As a righty this season? He hit .308 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. He only had 104 at-bats right-handed because he was unable to swing from the right side for about a month earlier in the campaign, but he was certainly productive.
As a lefty? He hit .254 with 21 homers and 59 RBIs.
His ability to hit from both sides has been a gift for the Mariners, and his ability to hit between the likes of Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor has given opposing managers difficult choices.
What he's saying
Polanco was asked during the ALDS about the maintenance and preparation required to keep both sides of his swing strong, and here's what he said:
Seeing Cal doing it, myself, especially as a switch-hitter, the preparation is a little bit -- I don't want to say tougher, but we've got to keep both sides of the plate the same. We have to do the same on each side of the plate. Like, the preparation is just -- it's just -- it takes just a little bit more.
What I'm saying
I was a guest on Monday morning's "Mitch Unfiltered" podcast, and I offered up a more thorough appreciation of the work Polanco has done on this front.
Polanco has been awesome. .337 with runners in scoring position this regular season. I believe that was the tops in baseball, it came up on the Fox graphic. And now again to do it from both sides of the plate? Like I think we're underselling. We talk a lot about it with Cal and I think we get it but like we're underselling how hard it is in today's baseball to hit period, but to hit from both sides of the plate?
The maintenance, the discipline, the work that goes into that? And the ability to be relatively matchup neutral? I mean this is Polanco doing it from the left side. This is Polanco doing it twice in two games from the right side. I mean that is an incredible feat, and we don't see a whole lot of switch-hitters in today's game, and again, somebody who isn't wildly out of balance from the two sides of the plate also is incredibly impressive.
You can listen to the entire episode with myself and Joe Doyle in the player below:
Up next
The Mariners and Blue Jays will play again on Monday afternoon with first pitch at 2:03 p.m. PT. Logan Gilbert will throw on short rest against Trey Yesavage.
Related Mariners Stories
LATEST PODCAST IS OUT: Brady Farkas is back for the latest episode of the Refuse to Lose podcast, and he's giving a 30-minute episode on what happened in Game 5 of the ALDS, how he almost missed his flight as a result of it, the nice managerial job by Dan Wilson in that game and much more. LISTEN HERE:
COPYCAT LEAGUE: The Seattle Sounders decided to honor the Mariners in their recent goal-scoring celebration. CLICK HERE:
POLANCO MAKES HISTORY: M's infielder Jorge Polanco just joined Edgar Martinez in unique baseball history, thanks to his game-winning hit in Game 5 of the ALDS. CLICK HERE:
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