What happened to simple stats ?

[Bird]

Growing up as an avid baseball fan , couldn't wait to grab the sports section to check the stats on a game, real meaningful stats like BA, RBI, HR and ERA.

 

Now you have to cycle through crazy stats, here's one.

 

Rays southpaw Ryan Yarbrough has the lowest average exit velocity off bat and ranks 6th in hard-hit percentage.

His induced soft contact percentage is amongst the lowest in the league. 

 

Why not save some print and simply say.....this guy has been fooling the hitters. Lol

[DitchPanda]

6 hours ago, Bird said:

Growing up as an avid baseball fan , couldn't wait to grab the sports section to check the stats on a game, real meaningful stats like BA, RBI, HR and ERA.

 

Now you have to cycle through crazy stats, here's one.

 

Rays southpaw Ryan Yarbrough has the lowest average exit velocity off bat and ranks 6th in hard-hit percentage.

His induced soft contact percentage is amongst the lowest in the league. 

 

Why not save some print and simply say.....this guy has been fooling the hitters. Lol

That's simple...its like almost everything else now days...if it was that easy and could be summed up that quick how could most of these people justify their jobs?

[islandbass]

I love baseball. It’s practically the only sport I can think of where they pay you millions to get an F. 
 

In school if you got 3 answers correct out of 10 questions, you’d receive a failing grade. In the MLB, if you could hit the ball 3 out of 10 times, they just might offer you a contract and a couple million. Love it!
 

I know what you mean. Growing up, when I used to play, we just talked about batting average and era. Now there are lots of funny looking stats out there like slugging percentage or something like that and whip and I’m thinking my how the game has changed, especially for the kids. Near immediate access to stats when a volunteer parent records everything on a tablet. Back in the day it might take your coach a week or two to see the stats if he even had time to do the math, lol. 
 

My son played in the major little league only one year and he was a natural (with a little help from me, as I was a good hitter back in the day, lol). His coach put him in 9th being the new kid on the block. After a few weeks, his coaches noticed he was batting over 400 and moved him to lead off where he stayed the rest of the season. Only two other teammates had better batting averages and all of them were playing since tee ball. 
 

I wish he didn’t quit, because to start baseball that late, most will sink instead of swim. I gave him the same get paid to fail argument unique to baseball, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the game. ? 
 

 

[Sam]

There are "new" abbreviations for baseball stats that I have  no idea what they mean.

 

Since I quite following MLB many years ago when the players had their strike and ruined the season, I really don't' care about the stats and I have no idea who the players are, other than for the LSU players who seem to be doing very well in the majors.

[Koz]

Welcome to the sabremetric era and big data in baseball!

 

I do agree that sometimes game announcers take individual snippets of data too far and that a lot of it is meaningless. And as a viewer, that data doesn't mean much to me at all.

 

But on the flips side, much of that data is extremely important in roster construction. Teams have a finite amount of money to spends and need to maximize their ability to score runs and prevent runs within that limit. That's where these extended stats come into play.

 

You might remember the book and movie "Moneyball" about the Oakland A's and their reliance on extended data to construct their roster. Compared to the analytics used today that was simple math.

 

Data acquisition and analysis pervades every part of baseball now. Heck, my son is a 14 year old pitcher and we use data in his training and development with the PitchLogic baseball. He throws a pitch and we can see data like multiple spin rates, spin efficiency, arm angle, vertical and horizontal break, pitch path and shape, and more.

 

With that he can throw a pitch and then on the next slightly alter his grip or finger pressure and compare the results. At the same time we can video these pitches for a visual reference to go along with the data. It's a lot better than having an observer try and look at all of those things and eyeball the difference between pitches.

[Sam]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

Welcome to the sabremetric era and big data in baseball!

 

I do agree that sometimes game announcers take individual snippets of data too far and that a lot of it is meaningless. And as a viewer, that data doesn't mean much to me at all.

 

But on the flips side, much of that data is extremely important in roster construction. Teams have a finite amount of money to spends and need to maximize their ability to score runs and prevent runs within that limit. That's where these extended stats come into play.

 

You might remember the book and movie "Moneyball" about the Oakland A's and their reliance on extended data to construct their roster. Compared to the analytics used today that was simple math.

 

Data acquisition and analysis pervades every part of baseball now. Heck, my son is a 14 year old pitcher and we use data in his training and development with the PitchLogic baseball. He throws a pitch and we can see data like multiple spin rates, spin efficiency, arm angle, vertical and horizontal break, pitch path and shape, and more.

 

With that he can throw a pitch and then on the next slightly alter his grip or finger pressure and compare the results. At the same time we can video these pitches for a visual reference to go along with the data. It's a lot better than having an observer try and look at all of those things and eyeball the difference between pitches.

Koz, once upoon a time there was a book" The Physics of Baseball" that was a really great read.

 

I suggest you get it for you and your son.

 

I think you will enjoy what it says.

 

Here is an Internet link to a University of Illinois professor who discusses the physics of baseball and the link to the Uncle Homer video that I can't delete.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

http://baseball.physics.illinois.edu/ 

 

And the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Physics-Baseball-Revised-Updated-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00Q33ZRYC

 

[DanielG]

I think they're assuming that the general public is smarter than they are.

 

Me? they pitch the ball, they hit the ball (or not) and the ump says strike or ball. What's to know? BB sort of stinks now anyway. Funny how football is still good with the canned cheering and all. Baseball is kind of boring for some reason.

 

BB joke?

What do you do with an elephant with three balls? Walk him and pitch to the rhino.

 

Have a good day!

[Koz]

3 hours ago, Sam said:

http://baseball.physics.illinois.edu/ 

 

And the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Physics-Baseball-Revised-Updated-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00Q33ZRYC

 

 

Thanks. All of that stuff is quite interesting.

 

As a former pitcher myself and the proud dad of a budding prospect I spend a lot of time reading and watching videos on pitching. I only wish we had a fraction of this information when I was a young player.

 

I'm a big fan of the training and information from Tom House. Currently I'm on the wait list for his Team Mustard pitcher development app. House runs the National Pitching Association and now that my son is older we hope to work with them next spring.

 

Other great sources are Driveline Baseball and Trevor Bauer. Bauer has a lot of great videos on YouTube and there's a wealth of information on the Driveline website even if you are not a member. FWIW, Bauer trains at Driveline so there's some overlap.

 

It's amazing the things you can pick up just listening to these guys. My son's curveball was inconsistent and more junk than good, but one innocuous comment from Bauer on video, a slight change, and now my son throws a ridiculously good curveball.

 

I really wish I was young again and could take advantage of this stuff. But on occasion - even at my age - I still go outside and pitch into a net. My fastball is pitiful now, but at least I'm getting some exercise!

[Sam]

Koz, you know your son needs to attend one or two college level summer camps each year for pitchers so the coaches can see him pitch.

 

I am sure both Clemson and USC have some good camps, especially South Carolina.

 

LSU has a camp but with Clemson, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia being in your back yard he can get a lot of local exposure.

 

Is he a lefty or righty???

[islandbass]

I remember striking out the best hitter in our league when I was 11 to win the game, lol. He whiffed hard on his 3rd strike. And Tiger Woods ain’t got nothing on the double fist pump I made, lol. 
 

Yeah, BB was simpler then, but the kids these days are bigger, faster and stronger in every respect of the game. 
 

Koz, I think it’s cool you were a pitcher. 

[islandbass]

Speaking of BB humor, I love this:

 

 

@Sam - great question. When I first started playing, I was initially terrified of leftie pitchers. I practically threw in the towel and prayed to get walked, lol. It probably stems from getting hit in the ribs by a lefty. Then I got over it later when I realized as a RH batter, balls from RH pitchers could trail away from me thus a tenant tiny bit more work for me vs. LH pitchers where the ball kinda can come toward me (speaking to the ball, “come to papa ‘cause I’m going to smack you over the fence”). 
 

@Koz - Did you learn to throw a knuckle ball? I had a buddy who could throw one and they are so cool to watch when I’d catch for him. We weren’t in any team we just played catch for for but I was a really good catcher in my day, one of my favorite positions to play. 

[Koz]

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

@Sam

 

 

@Koz - Did you learn to throw a knuckle ball? I had a buddy who could throw one and they are so cool to watch when I’d catch for him. We weren’t in any team we just played catch for for but I was a really good catcher in my day, one of my favorite positions to play. 

 

I messed around with a knuckleball in practice but I never got the hang of it. However, my best offspeed / breaking pitch was a knuckle curve. I gave up a few GIANT home runs on that one too when it didn't tumble correctly. As a matter of fact, although it's 38 years ago (holy cow!) I remember throwing a 1-hitter and losing 2-1 because of a walk and then giving up a Mickey Mantle like blast?

[islandbass]

15 minutes ago, Koz said:

 

I messed around with a knuckleball in practice but I never got the hang of it. However, my best offspeed / breaking pitch was a knuckle curve. I gave up a few GIANT home runs on that one too when it didn't tumble correctly. As a matter of fact, although it's 38 years ago (holy cow!) I remember throwing a 1-hitter and losing 2-1 because of a walk and then giving up a Mickey Mantle like blast?

That’s why I stopped pitching after that strikeout, lol.  I’d rather do the Mickey mantle than give it up, lol. J/J.  I just liked playing other positions more. Honestly, I don’t know how catchers who have to catch the ball for knuckle throwers in the MLB stay sane with the wild randomness of that pitch. As for me, it’s been 34 years since I donned a glove or swung a bat in league play of any kind. I’d probably throw my arm out after just playing catch now. ?

[Bird]

Everytime I hear knuckleball I can't help but think of Tim wakefield,  longevity but monster home runs.

[Koz]

3 minutes ago, islandbass said:

That’s why I stopped pitching after that strikeout, lol.  I’d rather do the Mickey mantle than give it up, lol. J/J.  I just liked playing other positions more. Honestly, I don’t know how catchers who have to catch the ball for knuckle throwers in the MLB stay sane with the wild randomness of that pitch. As for me, it’s been 34 years since I donned a glove or swung a bat in league play of any kind. I’d probably throw my arm out after just playing catch now. ?

Get  cheap net and go out and throw. I don't do it as much as I should, but when I do it's fun. However, I can barely top 60 mph when I used to top out at just over 80 in college.

2 hours ago, Sam said:

Koz, you know your son needs to attend one or two college level summer camps each year for pitchers so the coaches can see him pitch.

 

I am sure both Clemson and USC have some good camps, especially South Carolina.

 

LSU has a camp but with Clemson, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia being in your back yard he can get a lot of local exposure.

 

Is he a lefty or righty???

He's a RHP. At 14, he's 6'2" but a skinny 160 lbs. His fastball touches 80 mph, but usually sits at 76-77mph. This winter he's working on strength and quickness exercises and he'll start throwing again in mid December. If he's consistent 80 as a freshman in the spring he'll have some scouts and recruiters write down his name. He set a goal of 82mph for next spring. We'll see. He's got warning track power at the plate on HS fields right now so maybe the added strength will help there as well.

 

The thing is that in his 7th grade season he was only about 5'6" and missed all but the first few weeks because of illness and injury. By the time the 8th grade season rolled around he was 6' but the season was canceled due to COVID. So he hasn't played a game in 2 years. He likes to stream his workouts on Instagram and although I thought that was silly he has scouts from the Yankees and Padres following him now. He's had a couple of college players and coaches chime in with advice as well.

 

Somebody from Diamond Prospects saw his videos this summer and asked him to play this fall, but with COVID going on we opted out. Since 2006 when it first started, all but one SC player that was drafted by MLB has played Diamond Prospects.

 

As for the camps, those day camps are fun and interesting, but they are geared to all skill levels and have a lot of kids so I don't think it will benefit him. I don't mean to be a snob about those, but he has a good fundamental base right now. Also, thanks to COVID funds are limited are limited at this time. We also don't do any of the showcases because most are a rip off and he's just too young at this point. If he does well and gets recognized they will find him and invite him, but the plan is not to accept until he's in his junior year. It's too much money and too much pressure on kids.

 

He's lucky he is going to a HS with a great reputation and coaching staff. All 9 seniors from last year signed letters of intent to play college ball. One would have been a first or second round MLB pick this past summer, but he told teams not to draft him because he was committed to Clemson.

 

I did tell him that when he's 16 if he has good grades and still has dreams of playing college ball that I will send him to IMG Academy for a week or two. There he can get individualized instruction for on the field and off the field.

 

But the main thing is that he is still young and I have asked him not to overdo it so it becomes a chore rather than being fun. If he wants to work out, fine. If he doesn't, I don't push him (anymore).  I've learned to let him work out on his own. He'll come to me to have me watch and help or he'll show me video of his workout and we'll dissect that. At his age if I push him he'll push back. But I do remind him not to waste his gift.

 

 

[Sam]

The IMG camp is fantastic. This is where coaches speak with he IMG staff about prospects.

 

Good luck to him. I know he will do great in high school and college.