Sabermetrics gains ground with Cubs

[David]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0303-cubs-chicago-spring-training-20100302,0,2905063.story

 

New Chairman Tom Ricketts told fans at the Cubs Convention he expects the organization to use sabermetrics as a tool more often for player decisions and evaluating opponents while still valuing the human component.

 

The Cubs didn't hire a full-time numbers cruncher until Chuck Wasserstrom was named manager of baseball information after the 2003 season.

 

"We've always done more than people thought," Hendry said. "… We've always factored that in. But I'm always going to be a scouting guy first. You can skew statistics to frame it the way you like it.

 

 

According to the numbers, Hendry seemed to make the right moves when he signed free agents Milton Bradley and Aaron Miles last year. Bradley led the American League in OBPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) with the Rangers in 2008, while Miles hit .392 in day games with the Cardinals, which made him a perfect fit for a team that plays more day games than any other.

But both flopped badly with the Cubs.

 

 

LOL seriously?

[Outshined_One]

According to the numbers, Hendry seemed to make the right moves when he signed free agents Milton Bradley and Aaron Miles last year. Bradley led the American League in OBPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) with the Rangers in 2008, while Miles hit .392 in day games with the Cardinals, which made him a perfect fit for a team that plays more day games than any other.

But both flopped badly with the Cubs.

 

 

LOL seriously?

 

Considering the byline, this really doesn't come as a surprise.

[CubsWin]

The good news is that Ricketts wants to put more of an emphasis on it going forward.

[Guest]

My hope is that was Sullivan's attempt at statistical analysis. Still, this is the worst part of having Hendry as GM. If all you can do is pay lip service in public that barely hides your disdain for statistics, then it's probably even worse behind closed doors where decisions are made.

[Tyrant]

But I'm always going to be a scouting guy first. You can skew statistics to frame it the way you like it.

 

The first part doesn't bother me quite as much. Hendry's background is as a scout, and a good scout can be really valuable in evaluating players. But the second part is unnecessary and irrelevant. Sure, people CAN frame stats to skew arguments, but scouts can also skew arguments by talking about garbage like a player's makeup and the way he carries himself while taking infield practice.

 

I'm encouraged by what Ricketts said. If the Cubs disappoint this year and Hendry is booted, I feel pretty confident that Ricketts will hire a GM who does more than just pay lip service to statistical analysis.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think it's funny that he complains about framing stats anyway you like, when the only time this team uses stats is when they frame them in absurd ways to make it look like something they like. Ever sense Wasserstrom was hired they've highlighted every acquisitions with things like "how he hit in day games last year". It's so disheartening how incredibly ignorant these people are, and they are proud of their ignorance.

[Fro]

Considering the background of the new ownership, it's not surprising that they'd believe in sabermetrics

[UMFan83]

Step 1: Use stats more

Step 2: Google "OBPS" and notice that's not what it's called

Step 3: Learn which stats are actually relavent

Step 4: Don't use stats that do not actually coorlate to future performance

Step 5: Learn what "sample size" means

 

Steps 2-5 can be done in any order

[Guest]

Step 1: Use stats more

Step 2: Google "OBPS" and notice that's not what it's called

Step 3: Learn which stats are actually relavent

Step 4: Don't use stats that do not actually coorlate to future performance

Step 5: Learn what "sample size" means

 

Steps 2-5 can be done in any order

 

Step 2 is rather hilarious. I just had a vision of Sullivan typing up that article on his vintage typewriter with letters that stick, dried up ink and white out in at least one word in every sentence.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

OBPS? More like OOPS. It really seems like the only two differences between baseball bloggers and main stream baseball writers is that the writers have more access to the athletes, and the bloggers aren't morons. Even IF you thought stats are for eggheads...how can you not know that it is OPS and consider yourself a baseball writer?

[Banedon]

Hendry complains about framing stats, and then Sullivan goes and....frames stats.

 

Awesome.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hendry complains about framing stats, and then Sullivan goes and....frames stats.

 

Awesome.

 

Hendry and Wasserstrom have been framing the stats all along.

[SouthSideRyan]

The stats referenced were no doubt Sullivan's attempts to show how stupid statistics are.

 

Hendry's quotes on stats about how welcoming they are to stats, but when it comes down to it they go with their gut...just hilarious.

 

Look we love stats, it's just that whenever we make a decision about anything, we don't care what they say.

[rocket]

i do like how sullivan thinks that batting average in day games = sabermetrics

[17 Seconds]

i fuckin hate baseball fans

[Roast]

i do like how sullivan thinks that batting average in day games = sabermetrics

Hey, for Sullivan that's some advanced ish.

[David]

what's funny to me is that there is probably a fairly significant segment of baseball fans who think sabermetrics are basically a million different batting average splits (i.e. day, runners at 1st and second with 2 strikes and 1 out)... and on base percentage.

[Careless]

Sort of OT, but are there any players who show consistent differences in things like day/night splits?