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Thursday, March 27, 2008

CBS News: 60 Minutes: The Red Sox’ Stat Man And The Numbers Game

And click on the Morley Safer clip for some ultra-mannered saber-funzzzzzies!

Baseball has always been a game about statistics, something the Boston Red Sox took to a new level when they hired baseball statistics guru Bill James in 2002. His “sabermetrics” analysis of players’ stats is a system Red Sox owners believe is an integral part of a winning formula that has brought two World Series trophies to Boston since he arrived. However, more teams are getting into the act, say Sox owners, who now worry that their dreaded enemy the New York Yankees will get into the same game with their always-bigger wallet.

“[James’] reputation had preceded him,” says Larry Lucchino, a partner in the Red Sox. “So we knew we were getting a guy who was unusual and I thought it was a giant step forward,” he says. His partner in the Sox, Tom Werner, believes James’ brand of analysis is crucial now. “The truth is, Morley, this is a very sophisticated business these days….When Larry and I first came into the business, the general manager relied fairly much on gut instincts…we’ve taken a much more systematic approach, which really comes from Bill,” he tells Safer.

But everybody’s getting into this act, says Lucchino, especially the New York Yankees, known in Boston as the “Evil Empire.” “[The Yankees] are [utilizing an intense scrutiny of statistics] but there are several teams in baseball that are doing it,” Lucchino says. “But the Yankees always tend to spend a little more money at whatever it is they’re doing. So, we’re concerned about our competition,” he tells Safer.

Thanks to Was Watching.

Repoz Posted: March 27, 2008 at 09:37 PM | 19 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralSabermetricsBostonNY YankeesMediaTelevision

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   1. robinred  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 09:43 PM (#2722086)
Lucchino works the Yankees money into conversations like Joey works in Bonds and I work in Ted Leitner.
   2. winnipegwhip  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 09:48 PM (#2722089)
“But the Yankees always tend to spend a little more money at whatever it is they’re doing.


That routine is as predictable and tiresome as the routine of this clown a few years ago......

http://www.mentalacrobatics.com/think/images/mss.jpg
   3. Voros  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 09:56 PM (#2722095)
But the Yankees always tend to spend a little more money at whatever it is they’re doing.

When I hear Larry Lucchino {tick} complain about money {twitch}, it generally takes me at least two weeks {ticktwitch} to get over the ticks and twitches. {twitch} {ticktwitch} {tick}
   4. 1k5v3L, Useless  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 10:16 PM (#2722108)
Bill James wouldn't choose Pedroia or Ellsury as the cornerstone of his dream team? Burn him!
   5. Gambling Rent Czar  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 10:56 PM (#2722146)
“[The Yankees] are [utilizing an intense scrutiny of statistics] but there are several teams in baseball that are doing it,” Lucchino says. “But the Yankees always tend to spend a little more money at whatever it is they’re doing. So, we’re concerned about our competition,” he tells Safer.


I got images of Hank demanding grid paper in bulk.

"And I want those big Crayola's too. The big BIG ones, and some of those solar powered calcu thingees, and a few protractors, Heck make it TWO trucks of grid paper .. spare no expense! No way Boston is out stating me ...""
   6. living legend  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 10:59 PM (#2722148)
Just once I would like someone to answer this question. What in the hell does Bill James actually know about baseball? Ok so he is BEANCOUNTER who crunches numbers and makes estimations based on those probabilities. So? He reminds me of the MIT guys who went to Vegas and counted cards to win at blackjack but then again baseball is played by humans.

Baseball is being ruined by these weasels who only know the numbers craft and have no baseball skills.
   7. 1k5v3L, Useless  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 11:06 PM (#2722154)
He reminds me of the MIT guys who went to Vegas and counted cards to win at blackjack but then again baseball is played by humans.
while blackjack dealers are cyborgs
   8. Voros  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 11:08 PM (#2722155)
And the scores for living legend:

USA  CAN  CHN  ITA  UKR  RUS  FRA
5.8  5.9  5.7  5.8  5.6  5.2  5.1
   9. 1k5v3L, Useless  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 11:13 PM (#2722161)
Damn freedom fries. They can't appreciate a legend if it hit them in the uppity noses
   10. Greg K : President of the Shooty Fanclub  Posted: March 27, 2008 at 11:39 PM (#2722184)
It's really weird, because Bill James is the reason I'm such a baseball fan, but not for statistics.

I loved his player comments in his early 90s Baseball Books and everything about the Historical Baseball Abstract. I think it's a shame that people who don't know Bill James just think of stats.
   11. Ron Johnson  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 12:03 AM (#2722206)
I loved his player comments in his early 90s Baseball Books and everything about the Historical Baseball Abstract. I think it's a shame that people who don't know Bill James just think of stats.


Indeed. There's some truly wonderful stuff on Gary Sheffield in Gold Mine. Don't have my copy handy so this isn't word for word, but talking about Sheffield's intensity he wrote something close to, "you get the feeling that he'd really like to hurt the opposition, but since it's only a game he'll settle for beating them badly"

Frankly I'd say that the actual numbers side of things is the weakest part of his game. Not that he's bad at it -- it's a relative weakness.

He's much better at asking good questions and looking at things with an open mind. Plus of course he writes really well.
   12. Rafael Bellylard has become a Mets fan!  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 06:02 AM (#2722254)
He reminds me of the MIT guys who went to Vegas and counted cards to win at blackjack but then again baseball is played by humans.


I think you just made their point for them.

Competitive people are always looking for an edge over their opponents, and have been since the beginning. Bigger gloves, harder bats, manipulation of the rules....it's all there. If a player could prove he could get down the line .1 second faster by wearing them, we'd see players with propellors on their hats and bunny slippers on their feet.

If the stats guys bug you, ignore them.
   13. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 06:40 AM (#2722260)
Just once I would like someone to answer this question. What in the hell does Bill James actually know about baseball?

I don't want you guys playing with something that has such awful hair!
   14. villageidiom  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 10:42 AM (#2722383)
Baseball is being ruined by these weasels who only know the numbers craft and have no baseball skills.

Please explain. Baseball's a game, and I think it's just as fun to watch now as it was when I was younger - probably more fun now, since my favorite team has gotten back into that "winning the World Series" thing again. How has baseball been ruined?
   15. IronChef Chris Wok  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 10:53 AM (#2722391)
He reminds me of the MIT guys who went to Vegas and counted cards to win at blackjack

ASIANS!!!! WHOOOOO!!!!!!
   16. great38  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 10:55 AM (#2722393)
hey living legend? how exactly are they ruining the game?
like village says- ITS A GAME!!!!!! When was the last time you saw Bill James run on the field and stop play? Oh yeah never...how can one person's printed words make a difference in someone's enjoyment of a game?
You just cant stand when something changes- hey guess you would like to see all racist white guys just play the game still too right?
   17. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 10:56 AM (#2722395)
You could make an argument that Dan Okrent and friends ruined baseball.
   18. bibigon  Posted: March 28, 2008 at 11:34 AM (#2722442)
Isn't blackjack played by humans as well? Are those guys behind the table replicants or something?


Read the damn thread Kevin - already answered in #7.
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