I went to Fangraphs to compare some of the most recent trade prospects rumored as interest to Cardinals including Dellucci, Burrell, and Conine.  I also compared them to our current lot of platoon players splitting time in Left.  Trying to estimate if an upgrade might result is not at all obvious.

It is clear that Dellucci epitomizes platoon as it looks like he couldn't hit a lefty with a Tennis Raquet with a K% off the charts. But his BABIP suggests that even his new found prowess off the right-handers should not be counted on as indicative of future performance.  Burrell strikes out too much to my liking, and Conine may just be too old and tired.

If star full time players mentioned like Abreu and Soriano are just untouchable by cost of contract or trade demands, then it appears we are destined to continue the platoon.  Looking at the L/R Split graphs for pitchers it is very convincing that using match-ups is an effective way to put statistics to one's advantage.  Clearly TLR & Dunc assemble and use a Bullpen on this basis, and this is often done in concert with the double-switch for those fielding positions that are platooned, in our case LF and to a lesser extent 2B & RF.  I happen to like the NL, and the game strategy that goes with the double-switch, and if records were kept I'd bet that TLR leads in its use by a very wide margin.

However, it's one thing to platoon starting players by their L/R splits, and another to have them handicapped as pinch hitters and subs accordingly.  This is where the platoon game breaks down, and issues that may be covered by a 162 game season, become glaring shortcomings in a 7 game series.  Player substitutions that have more to do with differentiating defensive specialists from sluggers, probably plays better that L/R splits.

So here is the question of the day:  Can anyone find the statistics to show through the play-offs or WS alone, if Corner Outfield Platoons perform anywhere close to as well as every day Corner Outfield Players?  And, If there have been any particularly productive playoff platoons, can they be characterized as based upon L/R Splits or Offensive/Defensive substitution?

Or perhaps more simply:  Of the Play-Off bound teams of 2006, which ones are using Corner Outfield Platoons?  And, is this strategy more common to the NL where it may appear to be acceptable during the season, and then leaves us handicapped in the WS?