Bluto had a good comment:
The Grandal trade is borderline robbery.
The Chris Reed for Grant Dayton trade is ridiculously good.
OTHERS SAY:
“They traded away Matt Kemp”
“They sign injury-prone pitchers.”
That got me thinking about FAZ has done, and I make no bones about it – FAZ has made their share of mistakes. Olivera was a big one, but they recovered nicely and moved him. However, I do not consider McCarthy, Anderson and Kazmir to be “mistakes.” They were calculated risks taken because they did not want to be anchored to long term deals like they have right now with Crawfish and Gonzo. Jonah Keri of CBS Sports.com said it best:
After the 2015 season, the Dodgers had a glaring need for starting pitchers to complement Clayton Kershaw. But rather than spend $200 million-plus to re-sign Zack Greinke (or sign David Price), they shopped in the discount aisle, snagging Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir instead. Though Kazmir struggled with injuries and erratic performance, the combined investment in those two pitchers was about one-third of what Greinke and Price got on the open market, with Maeda posting numbers that topped Greinke’s and weren’t too far from what Price accomplished in Boston.
He also says this:
A Cy Young-winning ace in his prime. A Rookie of the Year-winning, world-beating infielder about to win a bunch more hardware in the years to come. A Manager of the Year-winning skipper liked and respected by everyone in the organization. A front office loaded with forward-thinking minds who value both present and future success. A passel of young talent poised to fortify the major-league roster for years to come. An old but beloved ballpark. A fan base pining for success after a long October drought.
The Los Angeles Dodgers resemble the Chicago Cubs in more ways than you can count. All that’s left is a World Series. They might now have the horses to do it.
OTHERS SAY:
“They gave Howie Kendrick away for nothing.”
“I want Dee Gordon Back.”
Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com says this about the rotation:
With Spring Training less than three weeks away, the Dodgers have a high-quality problem: too many starting pitchers.
Veterans Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood — each on the rebound from injuries last year — are on the outside of the starting rotation looking in, barring injury or a trade.
Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias are the top four, with the fifth spot up for grabs among Kazmir, McCarthy, Ryu, Wood and young starters Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling.
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi explained in detail last spring, that the Dodgers want to win now. But they also want to win for many years to come. As Zaidi explained, the best way to accomplish those twin goals is through a combination of data, depth and youth. Jonah Keri also said this:
“It’s possible that the team’s worst everyday player will be Adrian Gonzalez, a five-time All-Star who still put up numbers 12 percent better than league average in 2016.“
OTHERS SAY:
“They should not have traded Jose De Leon.”
“They were too cheap to sign Greinke.”
In the two years since FAZ has taken over, the roster has changed to the point where over half of the roster was acquired by FAZ… and they did that turnover while winning the Division (again) two times and getting deeper into the playoffs each year.
Again, FAZ is not perfect, but players like Toles and Liberatore, were also acquired without any major outlay. The Anti-FAZ Element wants to point to what they regard as their failures, but the fact still remains:
- They have built a team that is poised to become a dynasty;
- They are one of the deepest teams in baseball;
- They have stayed competitive while doing it; and
- They are poised to win THIS YEAR!
You can disagree with the methods, you can point to their individual failures, but collectively, they have delivered a superior product and you cannot disagree with the results unless you have lost touch with reality! Sadly, some fans have!
I SAY:
“Scoreboard!”
Photo of Logan White taken by me in his office in Spring Training 2010.
If the results are as predicted, I stand corrected.
I’ve seen a lot of FO’s come and go over the years,
I can only sit back and watch.
I meant “we”
I guess the temperature in Hell has been sub zero lately as HanRam made Mike Petriello’s top 10 1st basemen and AGon didn’t. But HanRam always has had the most beautiful swing in the game and that……..
The Yankees were able to get Torres from the Cubs. The Nationals were able to get Trea Turner from San Diego. I am still waiting for FAZ to do something similar.
You omit quit a lot in that statement, like the fact that the Yankees gave up their closer to to get him, so you are OK with FAZ trading their closer and re-building like the Yanks?
The Trea Turner was part of a complicated deal involving two rebuilding teams (SD and TB) – You can read about it here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/09/08/mike-rizzo-happily-recounts-the-nats-creative-trade-for-trea-turner/?utm_term=.7c819e522c40
… but it involves finding a team like SD who was dumber than a box of rocks. 😉
It’s good business if you can find it!
FAZ could have gone through with the trade they had lined up with Cincinnati to get Chapman and then they could have been the team that traded Chapman for Torres instead of the Yankees. Yes, I know Chapman had baggage.
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The Nationals were creative to get Turner but isn’t that what FAZ is supposed to be–creative?
You also have to find a team you can swindle. They did it once to SD with Grandal. It’s hard to do it again.
Or, maybe FAZ gets really creative and drafts Christian McCaffrey. Would he sign? If he did it would be because he knows that running backs do not have long careers in the NFL.
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Can he play baseball? He does more than run the ball.
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McCaffrey stats:
99 career receptions,
56 career kick returns
34 career punt returns.
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Who knows if he can hit a curve ball. I would give him a chance. Where does he play? CF or 2nd base?
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Just so I’m clear, you would draft McCaffrey?
I presume in a very late round.
Then obviously instruction ball, because he has to learn how to play the game.
Then single A?
How much would you pay someone like him?
McCaffrey intrigues me. He has soft hands as evidenced by him being used as a receiver, kickoff returner, and punt returner. He can judge a ball and catch it under duress. He has had the spot light on him in big games. He is fast. He is an athlete.
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Is that enough to draft him? Obviously not. I would talk to him though to see if he had any interest in baseball and give him a private secret workout. I think my mind is more curious than some here.
Wait, he’s an elite athlete – Look how easy baseball was for Michael Jordan!
Oh, wait!!!
Bum is just thinking outside the box, like he wants the front office to do.
And there was a couple guys named Bo Jackson, and Dion Sanders, that gave baseball, a go.
Deion!
And both of them played Baseball in college.
I agree it’s always good to entertain ideas, but it’s even better to rule out the silly ones quickly.
That said, this FO is doing quite well thinking “inside the box”
Hi MJ
You mention Bo Jackson, and I was fortunate to watch him play both codes live.
I was at Mile High supporting the Raiders when he ran 2 TDs from over 50 yards, and saw him hit a HR for the Royals against the California Angels at the old Anaheim stadium.
He was a Beast.
Enjoyed Deion “Disco” Sanders too, and saw him play for The Braves against the Dodgers.
Maybe Zak Lee will be the next to play both….
Watford
That must have been a great experience, for you.
The legend of Bo, is still talked about today.
I can’t believe he was able to play Major League Baseball, after having his hip replaced.
Our hips are the part of our body, that gives us balance.
And Bo was lucky not to go through life with a limp, let a lone, play Major League Baseball.
And that proves that Bo was more then a guy with great athletic ability, he also had to have toughness, and the desire, to be a great athlete.
It is to bad someone like Puig, doesn’t seem to want to take advantage, of his great athletic ability.
Lets hope that Puig will finally put it together, while he is still a Dodger.
Bum,
We know what you are doing and you can keep it up. Feel to get out all your looney ideas. I have a few myself.
If nothing else Mark, I got this blog an extra 10 comments 😉
The checks in the male.
Everyone,
I am not in favor of censorship, but I want to thank everyone for keeping politics and religion out of the discussion here. Sometimes the Dodgers are polarizing – I hate to think how it might go if I allowed Religion and Politics here. Let’s aggressively argue about the Dodgers, but we can all go someplace else for the rest of the crap. The Dodgers are real. Politics and Religion? Bahhhhhh…
On a different note, have any of you ever been measured Pitching by a Speed Gun?
Recalling those games above reminded me of a visit to the old Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego to see the Dodgers.
They had a Batting Cage and a competition to find the fastest pitcher in different categories, boys, girls, women & men.
Having played cricket to a high level at home in the UK, and being in my prime of about 22 years old, and having always been told I had a “good arm”, I thought I’d clean up.
I had 3 pitches and topped out at a massive 73mph. This was equal with the fastest pitch by a girl, and way behind the other 3 categories.
I couldn’t believe how poor I was. Since that day I’ve always found it incredible how anyone can pitch consistently at over 90mph & the huge stress that must put on the body, particularly the elbow. Obviously, I didn’t have the correct technique, but it was a real eye opener.
And the Dodgers lost.
In 1975 or 1976, I attended a Cincinnati Reds tryout camp. They had a newfangled device called a Jugs Gun and after warming up they asked me throw a fastball. Well, that was my cue, because I could throw a fastball! They looked at the display, shook their heads and asked me to do it again… and then a third time. Then they asked to see my curveball and I gave my best impression of one (which was horrible). They thanked me as I walked away and said “good luck with that curve.” I asked them how fast I threw and they said the first one was at 96 and the last two were at 97. I am fairly certain that Watford is much faster than me right now. BTW, the Reds were not interested in a guy with a flat, fat fastball and no curve. I never have been able to throw a curve, but I taught my two sons how to do it.
Watford, how about trying to hit one of those 90+ MPH pitches that move, all from 60′ 6″.
I am certain I could not do it!
Watford
Do you see baseball, as the modern day cricket?
It seems like baseball might be a more evolved, cricket.
Mark, you’ve probably mentioned it before but how did you end up a Dodger fan if you grew up in Cincinnati area, or did you move there in your youth?
I’ll write about that soon.
I still maintain that the team got nothing for DeLeon. It had Kendrick, whose offensive stats are as good as Forsythe, for one more year at 10 mil. They could have Kendrick at 2B with Calhoun in the wings for 2018 and De Leon, too. The team saved 4 mil, but Kendrick’s contract couldn’t have been the stumbling block. Forsythe may be a better defender, but that is hard to put in to a trade equation. Now we have Forsythe, with an option, and Calhoun is left hanging. I hope someone can clear up what the real problem was with Kendrick. I think he was healthy. He came back from hamstring issues in pretty good time. I think his body is younger than his age indicates. There must be something else. Otherwise, it’s JDL for 0. And the timing of the Kendrick deal left the team in a box for most of the offseason and in a terrible bargaining position. I think a big mistake. I want a credible explanation of the trade and the timing of it.
1. If Kendrick was not good enough to play 2B last year, is he suddenly going to get better?
2. Kendrick was a salary dump – $10 Million dollars pure and simple!
3. I believe that without the trade for Forsythe, the Dodgers had better options at 2B than Howie.
4. Howie Kendrick’s OB% has declined every year for the past three – at age 34, do you really believe he was going to get it back?
5. In 2014 Howie was a 5.3 WAR player. In 2015 he declined to 1.1 WAR and last year he was 0.5 WAR. -1.0 on dWAR. In what is likely his worst year ever, Kike was not far away from being Howie.
6. Howie sulked last year after losing his job.
7. Howie was not in good shape last spring – he had a pretty big gut!
8. Howie’s agent asked for a trade! Howie did not like his role.
9. No way Calhoun makes the majors in 2017.
10. Forsythe is a player everyone wants to play with. He’s a gamer and a real 2B. Howie is MAYBE a leftfielder… maybe.
11. JDL is not all that!
12. Terrible bargaining position? The Rays knew they were talking to the Twins and vice-versa and contrary to what many think Kike is still a valuable piece.
13. Finally, I hope Calhoun can play 2B, but I along with most MLB scouts have great doubt.
13. I look for big things from Forsythe.
I think the problem was Kendrick’s moaning to management about playing time. Trading him was addition by subtraction.
Chemistry is a wonderful thing and guys like Turner, Forsythe, Seager, Kershaw, Gonzalez, Grandal and others are rocks around which a team is built. Right about now, this is Clayton and Corey’s team, but the Turners, Gonzo’s, Forsythes and Grandals are all a part of it. Howie should have been a leader, but wasn’t. I’m not saying he was a bad guy – he wasn’t – it’s just that sometimes you are better off without someone.
“Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge.” — Don Henley
So, Carlos Frias goes to the Indians for a PTBNL!
We have 12 guys like him or better.
Everybody see the new 100 Top Prospect list on MLB.com? The Dodgers are tied for second place for having 6 in the top 100. Braves and Yankees have 7 each. For being a perennial playoff team the Dodgers are very strong.
Cardinals lose their first two picks for hacking the Astros. Yikes! But they deserve it. The commissioner had to come down hard on them.
So – Howie Kendrick wasn’t any good. So, why did the Braintrust trade Dee Gordon to acquire him?
If he wasn’t good enough to play 2B last year or this, why did they sign him to a 2 year contract before the 2016 season?
Well, if I remember correctly, they got Kike, Barnes, Hatcher and Kendrick (in a round about way) for him… and Dee was a juicer and Hatcher has looked like crap and Kike has looked good and bad and Barnes is TBD so we shall see.
BTW, I did not say Howie was not ANY good – he was just declining.
Mark 96-97 is some serious heat. Did you exhaust all possibilities of a career? Kendrick is kind of a mystery. I will long remember his misplay of the ball bryant hit and his frequency of hitting into double plays. He certainly was a consistent hitter until last year. Why didn’t the angels sign him back they were hurting for a second basemen? I kind of liked frias. I don’t know what his injuries were but I thought they were just stashing him maybe he was hurt worse than I thought. I never heard anybody say. I think Forsyth is solid but on a second division team he wouldn’t help much but with a better team like ours his skills will be maximized.
I could throw hard and straight and accurate, but I had no movement. Maybe if I had worked with a good pitching coach, I could have improved, but I really never gave it a thought. Maybe I knew my limitations…
It’s kind of like my youngest son. He was All-City (Indy is a big City), All-Conference and All-State and was highly recruited and had many scholarship offers, He was the team Captain and the “Wild Man” on the team. Here he is right before they won the State Championship:
Here was is the week after:
He said he was tired of that persona. He won 2 State Championships and said NO to all the scholarship offers to go here:
It was a hell of a run, but now he has a different agenda. I think I knew I could not be a pro and moved on (although I did not win any championships). He made a similar decision. … and he was a beast. Here’s his Recruiting tape if you care to look:
http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/stephen-timmons/Z-VfGiRxEeS00gAmVebEWg/default.htm – You have to scroll down to 2016-2017 highlights
Mark
It looks like your son has it figured out, you must be proud.
Mark, Howie signed an extension knowing he was not going to be starting 2nd baseman right?
I think Utley was signed before that, so yeah!
I see Jon Weisman is leaving the Dodgers to go to Showtime.
He is one of the brightest and genuinely good human beings I have ever met. He will do well.
Good Luck, Jon!
Mark, in the last few minutes I tried going to ladodgertalk and a note read I didn’t have permission by the server. I sent you an email asking if I was banned but now see that wasn’t the case, Please disregard my email.
I will ban very few, but I don’t have three strikes… Maybe two… or one!
Just like any FO, FAZ makes both good and bad player personnel decisions. It’s easy to blast the Olivera and IMO, Sierra contracts. But we did get Alex Wood in the Olivera trade. I know many do not think much of Wood, but I am a big Wood advocate, and always have been. Even if he does not start (and he probably does not), I think he can be an Andrew Miller type reliever (no…not his ability).
The Dee Gordon trade will always divide the pro FAZ from the anti FAZ. Gordon had a great 2015, but was that juiced? He was also going to play better while he was at home more than he was going to be in LA. I think we will be able to better evaluate the trade after the 2017 season. My objection to the trade was paying Dan Haren’s contract to move him. We have no choice but to continue to evaluate Hatcher, Kike’, and Barnes. Dee could be batting champ again with 70 SB, Hatcher and Kike’ could be absolute busts, and Barnes may be nothing but a backup. Or… Dee will be like he was the 2nd half last year, Kike’ can resurrect his 2015 season and be the Ben Zobrist type super utility, and Hatcher can quit making that one pitch down the middle with no movement. He has skills, but lacks consistency. Maybe this is the year he puts it together.
Signing Anderson to be a 5th SP was not a bad decision. The year he was originally signed for he had 180 IP with a 3.69 ERA. I do not know what more you can expect from a #5 SP. It is not his fault he was forced to be a #3. He was signed to be a #5. The mistake FAZ made was to offer a QO for 2016. They wanted the draft pick. No player had ever accepted a QO before. I am sure they felt confident that some team would sign a young Brett Anderson to a J A Happ type contract. FAZ gambled and lost, but not because of the original contract. McCarthy has been a bust, but his contract is not an albatross. Maybe he justifies years 3 & 4, but certainly not enough to offset years 1 & 2. Hopefully we can enjoy two quality years as a SP or RP. Or maybe he gets packaged in a deadline trade.
Kazmir is not going to be a 170 IP. So those who are expecting 30+ starts at 6-7 IP are going to be disappointed, and say how horrible he is. But I think outside of Kershaw, FAZ is looking at 5-6 IP from SP and then turn it over to a lights out bullpen. Without considering injuries, I still believe that we will see 7 SP. With injuries maybe it becomes the 12-15 SP. This will allow Doc to limit the # of IP and to minimize the number of hitters having to face a 3rd time through the lineup. Maybe the 5 SP pitchers with 180+ IP is a thing of the past, or at least moving in that direction, just as the 4 man rotation with 300 IP is nothing but a memory. Times change.
As far as JDL for Forsythe, I am in the positive group. Forsythe improves the 2017 team more than JDL. I saw JDL pitch at Lancaster and he dominated with a lot Ks. While not at the same level, he reminded me of a 19 year old Felix Hernandez when he was with Tacoma at AAA. I saw him just completely dominate the River Cats. That was the best MiLB pitching performances I ever witnessed. I still believe that JDL will be at least a mid-rotation SP. But I think it is obvious that the best JDL was going to be this year was as a #6 or #7, and with Walker Buehler coming, they will not miss JDL in the future. Walker Buehler has 4 plus pitches. That is Chris Sale level. He does not need the comparison, and he still needs to consistently command them, but 4 PLUS pitches? JDL has 2 plus pitches with a killer change as the swing and miss pitch. By 2019, it will be Kershaw, Urias, Buehler, Maeda, and Alveraz. Yes I am expecting a Kershaw extension. With Stewart/De Jong/Sheffield/Wood/Stripling/Oaks/Sborz all potential #6 and #7 or quality relievers.
Good takes, AC.
AC
The Haren deal doesn’t look good, because they had to sign Anderson, and he didn’t pitch as well, as Haren did, that year.
And like you said, we had to pay for both Haren, and Anderson, that same year.
And the front office were very very lucky, that Anderson, was able to make his starts, in that first year, he joined the team.
And they really pushed there luck, when they gave Anderson, that QO.
I look forward to this lineup:
1. Forsythe 2B
2. Seager SS
3. Braun LF
4. Turner 3B
5. Grandal C
6. Puig RF
7. Pederson CF
8. Bellinger 1B
Toles, Ethier, Thompson, Gonzo = can we make that happen?
What did we give up to get Braun?
Toles, Ethier, Thompson, Gonzo and more or less. Shoot, I don’t know.
If we get him… we win it all!
Including Ethier and Agon would certainly pay for Braun. Including Toles, Thompson, and Ethier would thin out a crowded outfield.
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Toles could be special or he could suffer from anxiety disorder and waste his physical talents. Thompson had a couple of months that showed he could be almost as good as Braun.
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Ethier and Agon will offset Braun’s bat in 2017 and to a lesser extent in 2018. After that both of their contracts will have expired, the Brewers will be out from Braun’s contract at a time when age Braun’s age could make that a good thing, and they might have two young players that together produce 4+ WAR.
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The Dodgers no longer block Verdugo and still have Puig.
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I think the Dodgers have the most risk in such a trade but have more certainty for at least the next two years. Ethier might be willing to play one year in Milwaukee if he believes he will get 400+ plate appearances.
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Do I think such a trade will be made, Would I make that trade? Who cares? Isn’t this reply better than just throwing dirt on Mark’s proposal?
Bum
I think Toles being able to go up from A ball, to the major leagues, all in one season, says a lot.
I didn’t see him stressed out in the post season, when he was leading the team in batting average, so I don’t think he deserves that label.
Nomar was right when he said, that Toles just gets up there, and just hits.
Nomar also went on to say, that Toles is just a baseball player.
And Nomar doesn’t give out complements, just to anyone.
The fact that Roberts said that Toles, might be the strongest guy on the team, shows that Toles might have a little more pop, then some think.
He was called the best athlete in the Dodger’s minor league system, for a reason.
I know this sounds kind of crazy, but I wish we could find some way to sign Chase. The Man was a huge part of the clubhouse culture last year, everybody loved the guy. I know baseball is just business , but I think bringing him back in some shape or form would be huge for the Dodgers this year
It’s not crazy – he could very well be back if he accepts a utility role.
The Dodgers’ bench is already crowded. There is no place for Utley. Think about it – they will have a 5 man bench. Barnes will be the backup C. Van Slyke and Toles will be backup OF (or maybe Thompson). Kike and Taylor or Culberson will be backup IF. Both of those guys play all of the IF positions; Utley can’t play SS; Kike can also play OF. Utley won’t be back absent a couple of trades.
I agree with Dodgerrick. As much as I loved Utley last year (more for his veteran leadership and Seager mentorship), he is not a fit with this team. He has a solid LH bat; but probably not as strong as AGon, Seager, Grandal, Joc, Toles, and Ethier, with Bellinger and Calhoun having an outside shot with a mid-term callup. Kike’ with his ability to play 6 positions well (probably OK is more accurate), and Taylor/Culberson who also both play SS, are all better fits. While those thinking with their hearts can point to Culberson not on the 40, and Kike’/Taylor/Toles/Thompson all with options, Utley could find his way on to the roster. IMO Rob Segedin has as much chance to make the 25 man as Chase does.
There you go again – using logical thinking! 😉
There is no question that Chase Utley is on the decline and he is LH on a team that hardly needs another LH hitter. He can play 1B, 2B and 3B, but not SS and if he made the team, who plays backup SS?
That said: “He is Chase “Freaking” Utley and brings a dynamic you cannot quantify to the team. The players want him back and the fact that Friedman is still talking to him says that a reunion is possible… although I agree that it may not make sense on paper!
Too many great players have tried to play too long. Here’s part of a song for you Chase:
You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s done
Mark is right,
Corey especially, would like to see Chase on the team, as well, as the rest of the players.
Friedman even mentioned, that if the team wasn’t so leftie dominate, he would have already, probably resigned Chase.
MJ, IMO if Friedman really considered the players emotions with player personnel decisions, AJ Ellis would still be with the team. There is no way that Clayton Kershaw was happy about last years trade. And this is not a criticism of Friedman. He has to remove his emotions from player personnel decisions. That is why most cannot be in that role, because we do have our favorites. Friedman’s only concern should be what he believes is best for the 40 man roster.
Is there going to be a 5 man bench or 4 man bench? As the roster currently exists, if 5 man bench, (assuming Toles is starting LF), Barnes is backup C, Kike’ or Taylor as IF, Ethier as LH OF, SVS & Thompson as RH OF/Bat. Under that scenario it is possible that either SVS or Thompson are optioned to OKC, and Chase could be signed. If 4 man bench then, either SVS or Thompson is optioned to OKC and Chase is not signed. Both have options, but I am guessing that SVS would not be the one optioned. Of course trades can change the roster and open up something for Utley.
Dodger Digest has a post about Joc’s physical fitness and a picture of him that generated comments about him being flabby. I would guess that Joc and Duke Snider have similar bodies / body types.
AC
I agree with you completely.
A new hire sheds some insight on how the Dodgers are trying to develop their pitchers:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/brandon-gomes-on-joining-the-dodgers-pitching-department/
Oren,
Thanks for the link – that is a very important article.
I’m not sure whether this is interesting or scary. This encapsulates the scout vs. nerd battle currently being waged for the soul of baseball. Here’s an example:
“On his role and player plans: “The biggest thing I tackled this offseason was developing player plans for our men, combining meta analysis, TrackMan info, usage… taking all of the information, and using my experience, as well. We have a tremendous R&D team, and I have my colleagues in the pitching department helping me along the way.”
So – we don’t actually watch them pitch? We don’t care what our lying eyes tell us?
““We’re using data. From my perspective, it is easier to digest a suggestion if there’s hard data there. It’s more than strictly an opinion. If the eyes and the data match up, even better.”
So there’s data and then there’s what our eyes tell us. (Not that what our eyes tell us is also data?)
This is what troubles many fans about the Braintrust.
They will tell you that they use both data and their eyes.
Right. Not sure why Rick presumes they don’t watch them pitch.
They care about the data. “If the eyes and the data match up, even better.” If they don’t match up the implication is that they follow the “data” meaning numbers I assume, since what their eyes tell them isn’t data from what they say.
Yup, you could read it that way. But I’ll try to think of it as a non-zero sum. The move to including analytics doesn’t have to mean discounting traditional teaching methods.
Or, you could read it. We have what the stats tell us, and we have what our eyes tell us. If they match-up it’s even better
The eyes are just as fallible as the data. You need them both. You may say, I have seen him hit a HR that was low and away, but then you find out it was 1 out of 76 pitches. The eyes remember, but the data has no reason to lie.
Like it or not, baseball is driven by data … more so than any other sport and it will continue to be even more data driven in the future. My eyes told me that JLD’s progress had stalled, but I suspect their data showed even more.
The twins were delusional. It was reported that they wanted JDL, Alvarez and Calhoun for Dozier.