MLB Off-Topic

[ShowTyme15]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I find it hilarious when people think that analyst-types don't actually watch baseball. Two of my friends work for teams in an analytical-type capacity that you deride. I promise you they watched more baseball than you could imagine this summer. They scout prospects, they watch their teams, they study targets, and they watch for fun. One literally built a program that, long story short, includes hundreds of hours of nothing but video. They are obsessive.

Whether your way of enjoying the game is correct at the end of the day is completely irrelevant. It is your way. No one insults you for it. So why do you choose to chide those who simply think differently about the same game, putting them down, acting as if your way is vastly superior and that they must not even watch the sport?

It's the "get off my lawn" guy mentality with those who don't follow or care for analytics. Nothing against PZ I understand the argument from both sides. This is just my opinion on those who think analytics aren't jack. I myself as well have friends who work in analytic departments for 2 teams. I've seen their process and how it works. Very time consuming and obsessive as you stated.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So the Twins have hired LaTroy Hawkins as a special assistant. According to Bob Nightingale this is the shrewdest move all winter. Hawkins seems pretty smart from interviews i've heard but is he really that valued as a baseball mind?

Anyone have any insight?

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So the Twins have hired LaTroy Hawkins as a special assistant. According to Bob Nightingale this is the shrewdest move all winter. Hawkins seems pretty smart from interviews i've heard but is he really that valued as a baseball mind?

Anyone have any insight?

Depends what "special assistant" means.

Hard to judge without knowing what his actual job is.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Or make a separate award for people that think counting stats are important.

this award should definitely exist.

probably have one award that's the equivalent of "I have no supporting statistical evidence, but I feel like he's the best player" as well.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

this award should definitely exist.

probably have one award that's the equivalent of "I have no supporting statistical evidence, but I feel like he's the best player" as well.

Counting stats are supporting evidence. There's nothing wrong with home runs, doubles, etc. The problem lies when we try to value them ourselves. Stuff happens like, sorry, redsox4evur believing he can weigh home runs and doubles more efficiently than wRC+ can in the case of, uh, Mookie Betts.

It's not our faults, and there's nothing wrong with it per se. Cheering for our own players is why we watch the damn game (yes, we DO watch it, all of us). But when we try to objectively analyze anything, it gets in the way. Our brains, as humans in general, aren't really made to objectively analyze. We're made to have emotions. Which is a hell of a lot better than the alternative, and lets us enjoy the game. But when we want to objectively state something, it's better to let math do it. We all know how making emotional decisions in our real lives works out (most of the time) - it's the same in baseball.

Both the people "who watch the game" ITT and wRC+ look at counting stats, but when a human being tries to weigh that information, it isn't as accurate as doing so mathematically. If we're just trying to have fun and watch a game, let's just watch it. But if we're trying to decide who wins an award they've been working for their whole life, let's maybe not let our emotions get in the way of the most deserving player taking it home.

And if we're getting into how the math weighs it: It's essentially comparing who has a better memory. wRC+ knows that when someone hits a double, it's usually worth between 1 and 2 runs, closer to 1. I have a ton of respect for everyone here, but I honestly trust a computer's memory, containing every game that's ever been played, a little more than anyone's here.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't think WAR is a worthless stat, and I should apologize for the "watch the game" comment as I had my tongue firmly in cheek. My problem is that there are many in my opinion that look at WAR, see a number, and automatically think that the higher number is always the better player. Ithe has been my wish that fans would use WAR in concert with other SABR and more traditional stats. Rangers GM Jon Daniels talked about this viewpoint in the team's front office and I am a believer in looking at the whole picture.

There is a lot of talk about separating the numbers from the game, but there is no stat for clutch, for leadership, for chemistry, etc... I believe that those qualities are just as important as what the numbers say. That's wh r really the eyeball test comes into play, and right now it's the best we got.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

One more thing I'll add on counting stats...they lack context. If I tell you a player has 35 2B's, 30 HR's, and 110 RBI, but that's it...it doesn't tell me much. Heck, was that in Coors Field/Fenway Park? Did the guy have 730 PA's and only hit .230 with a .300 OBP (that's a lot of OUTS!)? Did he get 110 RBI because his team is loaded with guys getting on base and he led the league in RISP opportunities? Without delving into these different things the counting stats mean NOTHING, IMO, because they lack context. Most of the stats like wRC+, WAR, etc, don't ignore counting stats but instead are taking the counting stats and putting them into context.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

One more thing I'll add on counting stats...they lack context. If I tell you a player has 35 2B's, 30 HR's, and 110 RBI, but that's it...it doesn't tell me much. Heck, was that in Coors Field/Fenway Park? Did the guy have 730 PA's and only hit .230 with a .300 OBP (that's a lot of OUTS!)? Did he get 110 RBI because his team is loaded with guys getting on base and he led the league in RISP opportunities? Without delving into these different things the counting stats mean NOTHING, IMO, because they lack context. Most of the stats like wRC+, WAR, etc, don't ignore counting stats but instead are taking the counting stats and putting them into context.

Agree 100%, it's like comparing Trout and Mookie...


Mookie has 2 more homers, 1 less run, and 13 more RBI than Trout in 123 more AB's. That to me is all the context you need, if you were to average out counting stats based on opportunities, Trout would win. You almost have to look at counting stats in a way that accounts for the opportunities that led to them being achieved, which is largely the purpose of advanced stats, evening the playing field and spitting out a number that summarizes the available data.

[areobee401]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A final goodbye from David Ortiz.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/david-ortiz-retires-thanks-for-the-memories-boston/

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Wow this is crazy!

Odor's brother to be charged with sexual assault against Rangers prospect

Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic are expected to charge at least four Texas Rangers prospects, including the younger brother of big-league second baseman Rougned Odor - also named Rougned - after a group of players were caught sexually assaulting an underage teammate on video in a hazing incident, sources told Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan. Police questioned a total of eight players regarding the incident, in which a player new to the club's complex in the Dominican was allegedly held down and forcefully masturbated by his teammates. The video was reportedly posted on Snapchat, while Yahoo has obtained a 10-second clip. Yohel Pozo, one of the franchise's top catching prospects, is also expected to face charges, Passan reports. In a statement to Yahoo Sports, the Rangers revealed they're cooperating fully after learning of the incident, which occurred in October, from an uninvolved player. "The Texas Rangers became aware of an incident at our Academy in the Dominican Republic and we acted promptly to open an investigation," the team said. "We have reported the incident and are cooperating fully with Major League Baseball and the authorities in the Dominican Republic. "With this being an ongoing investigation, we will have no further comment at this time." Both Odor and Pozo are 19 years old.

[19]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Wow this is crazy!

Odor's brother to be charged with sexual assault against Rangers prospect

Pretty pathetic that hazing is a still a thing, and yeah, that's all kind of ****ed up.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Wow this is crazy!

Odor's brother to be charged with sexual assault against Rangers prospect

Absolutely heinous.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Wow this is crazy!

Odor's brother to be charged with sexual assault against Rangers prospect

Yea, I'm pretty sure that's not hazing, that's rape. If this is true, then WTF.

Sent from my HTCD200LVWPP using Tapatalk

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Cubs win WS, now there's no next season?

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/labor-peace-lockout-collective-bargaining-agreement-owners-players-baseball-112216

(lol obviously I know lockout has nothing to do with them winning,just thought it was funny people saying how the world ends if Cubs ever won the WS, now we might have a lockout season right after they won it)

[ShowTyme15]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Padres new uniforms for 2017

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/11/22/the-padres-dramatically-announce-some-profoundly-boring-new-uniforms/