Mark Cuban

[Fro]

Cuban actually hired people like Jeff Sagarin (who does the Sagarin ratings for USA Today for several sports... if you're a college sports fan you've heard of them) and others to develop private stats for the Mavs right when he took them over.

 

If you want a guy who's a stat guru and would spend wisely, he's your man.

[Chocolate Milk]

No, you guys are wrong! The only reason we like him is because he acts crazy, has a lot of money, and is a fan!!! His hair is messy and he wears t-shirts!!

[Chocolate Milk]

So, if I'm understanding correctly

 

You aren't. You evidentally know very little about Cuban and what he does.

 

Some of my colleagues attended an advanced Excel workshop sponsored by Microsoft in Dallas yesterday. The star of the show was a guy from the Mavericks organization talking about how he uses Excel to statistically analyze everything about the game, and that the Mavericks organization is obsessed with the use of statistical analysis. We wouldn't want that kind of influence in the world of Cubdom.

 

I think Cuban's public persona is a deliberate marketing ploy - not to mention the strategic advantage if your competition thinks you're an idiot.

 

This is really cool, by the way. I heard that they keep a pretty extensive database of information on each team and use it to game plan.

[UBlink]

So, if I'm understanding correctly

 

You aren't. You evidentally know very little about Cuban and what he does.

 

Some of my colleagues attended an advanced Excel workshop sponsored by Microsoft in Dallas yesterday. The star of the show was a guy from the Mavericks organization talking about how he uses Excel to statistically analyze everything about the game, and that the Mavericks organization is obsessed with the use of statistical analysis. We wouldn't want that kind of influence in the world of Cubdom.

 

I think Cuban's public persona is a deliberate marketing ploy - not to mention the strategic advantage if your competition thinks you're an idiot.

 

This is really cool, by the way. I heard that they keep a pretty extensive database of information on each team and use it to game plan.

 

Well, think about it in terms of bang for the buck - turn loose a 50-100K /yr stat geek with a process that produces the quantity of stats that professional sports generate. Spend the off-season creating metrics and testing them on historical databases. Get 2 or 3 (hell, hire me to manage it) and you still don't match the cost of the last guy on the bench, but you could easily impact the outcome of 5-10 games a year. Of course it also helps when the coach, GM and owner are all really smart and on board with your approach.

[Rooftop Bum]

Someone help me understand this love for Mark Cuban. I mean it's not like he's the only owner out there. Where are the screams for Bob Kraft? Dr. Jerry Buss?

 

I think the love stems from the fact that he is very much fan oriented. He is extremely visible and makes it a point to appease the fans in as much as an owner of a sports team (i.e. business) can.

 

Exactly. I do not think Hendry and company are all that enthused about winning. Sure they would like to win but don't seem passionate at all about it. Cuban certainly does. Not that you need a person who is boisterous and exciteable and acting like a fool but at least he shows that he truly cares. I think the man would be going out of his mind if he owned this team and they were playing this poorly. He would do something instead of just sitting around saying "Oh well the Astros turned it around last season. So, I won't do a damn thing about it. Those are the breaks. Maybe we will get a break to. Ho Hum. Life sucks and then you die." I don't really get that vibe from Cuban. He would be firing Baker at least. Sure it might not do a thing to turn anything around but at least it would be a sign of at least TRYING to shake up the team. This management does zilch.

 

Honestly, I would like to see a rich dude take over the Cubs. It seems like those guys know it's their rear ends on the line and will do something to better their team at all costs. Granted the Tribune does have the Cubs at a nice monetary amt but you know they could dish out plenty more but simply will not. All I know is something in upper management and/or ownership needs to change. I would not mind Cuban being the replacement at all.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Someone help me understand this love for Mark Cuban. I mean it's not like he's the only owner out there. Where are the screams for Bob Kraft? Dr. Jerry Buss?

 

I think the love stems from the fact that he is very much fan oriented. He is extremely visible and makes it a point to appease the fans in as much as an owner of a sports team (i.e. business) can.

 

Exactly. I do not think Hendry and company are all that enthused about winning. Sure they would like to win but don't seem passionate at all about it. Cuban certainly does. Not that you need a person who is boisterous and exciteable and acting like a fool but at least he shows that he truly cares. I think the man would be going out of his mind if he owned this team and they were playing this poorly. He would do something instead of just sitting around saying "Oh well the Astros turned it around last season. So, I won't do a damn thing about it. Those are the breaks. Maybe we will get a break to. Ho Hum. Life sucks and then you die." I don't really get that vibe from Cuban. He would be firing Baker at least. Sure it might not do a thing to turn anything around but at least it would be a sign of at least TRYING to shake up the team. This management does zilch.

 

Honestly, I would like to see a rich dude take over the Cubs. It seems like those guys know it's their rear ends on the line and will do something to better their team at all costs. Granted the Tribune does have the Cubs at a nice monetary amt but you know they could dish out plenty more but simply will not. All I know is something in upper management and/or ownership needs to change. I would not mind Cuban being the replacement at all.

 

I disagree that Cuban doesn't want to win. I've met Hendry and I think he wants to win as much if not more than we do. At issue is what he believes will improve the team. Hendry has a flawed view on how to construct a baseball team. When he does use stats, he misuses them so horribly that the result is the awkward Burnitz stat that we were exposed to last season or a look at BA with RISP.

 

I don't want Cuban as an owner because he'll sit in the front row and ra-ra all game long. Though, I do like that part of his persona.

 

I don't wan Cuban because he really, really wants to win, though that is a plus as well.

 

I want Cuban because I believe that he will employ a front office that actually understands how to construct a baseball team.