Armida: The Battle Between Sabermatricians and Scouts is Simply A Myth

Yeah, right, and so is the Da Derga’s Hostel…but I ain’t booking no rooms anytime soon!

The only reason this debate still lives is because of the media and fans. In reality, it seems the mainstream media has also started to make peace with both sides. The fact that Zack Greinke was the Cy Young Award winner gives a nod to advanced statistics rather than simply comparing wins totals. But, for fans, there is an insistence that one method is preferable over the other. The first reason comes down to comprehension. At first glance, many of the advanced metrics are complicated statistics that take more than one glance to understand. Some may argue it takes away from the beauty of the game. However, as many have come to realize, these statistics only enhance the beauty of the game as the players’ excellence is more clearly defined. Can one understand the game without knowing a pitcher’s FIP or a player’s WAR? Sure, they can; people did that for decades. However, knowing those statistics gives a better appreciation for just how dominant a player has been.

Arguing over statistical analysis and its place in baseball is quite pointless. There is a place; there is an importance. They don’t replace scouting; they only help scouting. Statistics make scouting even better. Can people get too carried away with statistical analysis? Sure, but that’s only when the person believes that statistics are the only way to go. Essentially, that person has flipped the roles of the classic debate with those “ignorant traditionalists”. Now, the stats believer (who holds that singular belief) is the ignorant one. It is time to move on as organizations have married the two sides. It is time for the fans to get on board.