Bats & Balls Notebook
A changing game — analytics…fad or fixture?
We’ve just seen the conclusion of the postseason that included an historic World Series game 3–18-innings, 7-hours and 20-minutes, the only loss for the World Champion Red Sox. The postseason games were firmly stamped with analytics. Managers made jaw-dropping moves.
Are analytics a fad or a fixture? Time will tell. Right now they are a phenomenon that is growing in size and importance. New age baseball is here.
The Phillies had a five-year postseason run that included their first ever back-to-back World Series, winning one. Analytics weren’t a factor. Talent was.
The 2013 Red Sox won 97 games and a world title. They were dubbed the “model analytical organization.” The next year, 71 wins and a last-place finish. Did analytics flunk?
The Phillies were criticized for not joining metrics mania. That changed when Matt Klentak became general manager. A very large budget included remodeling a room into an office for the R&D (Research and Development) department. Its staff has grown into nine fulltime employees, according to the team’s 2018 media guide. Not sure how many interns support the staff.
Gabe Kapler arrived a year ago to the tune of the Music Man and changed the way the game was played. Blue-collar Philadelphia had difficulty digesting everything. As it turned out, his theories and moves were very similar to the managers in the postseason. To his credit, he learned and changed and is anxious to continue that trend.
Games too often are long and boring. Pinch hitters in the World Series required a mound visit by a pitching coach. Sabermetrics preach strikeouts don’t matter, sacrifice bunts are meaningless and starting pitchers shouldn’t go through a lineup three times. Endless defensive shifts and pitching matchup changes. On and on.
The game has changed. More changes will come. It is not a Gabe Kapler, Alex Cora or Dave Roberts issue, rather everyone off the field and on the field.
Baseball has survived a World Series gambling scandal during the dead ball era, two World Wars, player strikes, a canceled World Series and the PED era. Now analytics. A changing game will preserve.
