I think the smartest teams and GMs blend the two. Dayton Moore once said his analytics department was there to confirm what the scouts were seeing and the scouts were there to confirm what the analytics department discovered. But teams still miss on draft picks and a front office guy once said the hardest thing to predict was how a kid would react to playing against other kids just as talented as they are or suddenly having a big chunk of money to spend.
The draft is still a bit of a crap shoot and maybe tanking isn't worth getting a high pick that won't work out.
Thanks and if I hear of someone working up an algorithm that accounts for banging a teammate's wife I'll let you know. (Hard to blame Charlie, he didn't know she was Mrs. Bernsen, that was revenge sex and Corbin deserved it.)
When you dig into this stuff you often find holes you could drive a truck through, but it's a pain in the ass which is why people in the media are reluctant to do it. I'm not opposed to all metrics -- some are useful -- I just don't think we should accept every one of them at face value.
These type of articles are why I subscribe - the funny stuff is just a nice bonus. Don't stop the baseball stuff!!
analytics can be useful but smart coaches are a better measure although not perfect either. look how many "misses there are in the draft
I think the smartest teams and GMs blend the two. Dayton Moore once said his analytics department was there to confirm what the scouts were seeing and the scouts were there to confirm what the analytics department discovered. But teams still miss on draft picks and a front office guy once said the hardest thing to predict was how a kid would react to playing against other kids just as talented as they are or suddenly having a big chunk of money to spend.
The draft is still a bit of a crap shoot and maybe tanking isn't worth getting a high pick that won't work out.
What would the adjustment be for banging a teammate's wife be in Major League for Charlie Sheen and Corbin Bersen? (Great column!)
Thanks and if I hear of someone working up an algorithm that accounts for banging a teammate's wife I'll let you know. (Hard to blame Charlie, he didn't know she was Mrs. Bernsen, that was revenge sex and Corbin deserved it.)
Nicely done, Lee. I fully concur!
Thanks, Mark.
I would be happy if for just one day in my life, I'd be able to articulate a point as well as this one. Great piece!
Glad you enjoyed it.
When you dig into this stuff you often find holes you could drive a truck through, but it's a pain in the ass which is why people in the media are reluctant to do it. I'm not opposed to all metrics -- some are useful -- I just don't think we should accept every one of them at face value.
And you're welcome.
I think the eyeball test depends on who the eyeballs belong to, a veteran coach can spot stuff I'd never notice and the numbers supply some context.