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Monday, November 05, 2012

Baseball Prospectus | Q&A with Brian Kenny

If you haven’t already become a fan, I highly recommend that you check it out.

DC: That definitely sounds like something I’d be interested in and something that BP readers would be interested in watching.
BK: You know, one of the best things that can happen this year will be the MVP debate. I never thought Mike Trout would be serious MVP candidate—he had debatable power entering the year, missed an entire month, etc.—but I think this debate will illuminate a lot of the ideas of the sabermetric crowd and the breakdown in logic that has occurred. You look at his opposition, Miguel Cabrera, and you realize that the Triple Crown is a perfect vehicle for those who grew up looking at those numbers to make an argument. You see many ex-players—even if they’re realizing more and more the importance of things like OBP—haven’t gotten past the age-old belief that the three most important numbers for offensive production are batting average, home runs, and RBI. This should create an interesting dynamic and some very enlightening analysis.

“Clubhouse” debuted last offseason and will return for season two tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET, airing weekdays at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. EST.

Jim Furtado Posted: November 05, 2012 at 12:33 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: media, mlb network, sabermetrics

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1. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: November 05, 2012 at 12:42 PM (#4293291)

This show is fantastic. I really really really want them to turn it into a podcast while they're at it. There is no real reason they can't do with this what ESPN does with PTI and simply make the audio available each day.

2. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: November 05, 2012 at 01:01 PM (#4293315)

MLB Network is a better place with Brian Kenny in its studio.

3. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: November 05, 2012 at 01:37 PM (#4293378)

you realize that the Triple Crown is a perfect vehicle for those who grew up looking at those numbers to make an argument. You see many ex-players—even if they’re realizing more and more the importance of things like OBP—haven’t gotten past the age-old belief that the three most important numbers for offensive production are batting average, home runs, and RBI. This should create an interesting dynamic and some very enlightening analysis.

kind of a nitpick, but the difference between cabrera and trout wasn't at the plate, it was on defense and on the bases.

also, does anyone know if kenny was involved in the abomination known as "numbers never* lie" on EPSN2?

4. Mike Webber Posted: November 05, 2012 at 03:18 PM (#4293513)

If anyone at MLB reads this, if you can somehow make it so the DVR recognizes when it is a first run show, I'll watch them all. As it is now, though I really like the show I'm kind of hit and miss.

5. Rough Carrigan

Posted: November 05, 2012 at 03:37 PM (#4293532)

While we're making pleas to anyone at MLB who happen to be watching, let me add that I'd love for them to show old world series games or old (think early to mid 70's) ALCS and NLCS games instead of those crappy Prime 9 shows. Oh, and if you want to run those games, please show us those games and not Tom Verducci and Bob Costas talking about those games. Please.

6. Rowland Office Supplies Posted: November 05, 2012 at 05:28 PM (#4293648)

And old-school "This Week In Baseball" late-night marathons.

7. Poster Nutbag Posted: November 05, 2012 at 07:21 PM (#4293773)

Oh, how I hope they tune into these threads for ideas:

Echoing sentiment for both the Brian Kenny Podcast and re-running old TWIBs.

I would also like to add playing random classic games would be fantastic as well. I don't mean re-running the same stuff over and over, but maybe some semi-forgotten gems they have footage from? Like ESPN Clasic used to do, but with a broader selection of games.

Old Home-Run Derby re-runs (the B&W show, not the newer ones).

A history of the game-type show, featuring old archives, interviews and especially radio-broadcasts of games accentuated appropriately by former players, etc.

8. Bruce Markusen Posted: November 06, 2012 at 12:00 AM (#4293977)

Clubhouse Confidential is my favorite show on MLB. As stated above, Brian is an excellent host and puts on a nice variety of guests, including a lot of writers who don't otherwise get much TV exposure.

I'd love to see it expanded to an hour.

9. alkeiper Posted: November 06, 2012 at 12:21 AM (#4293994)

I wish MLB Network showed classic games. They used to. Now they more or less just fill the schedule with reruns of Hot Stove. It gets old in a hurry.

10. bachslunch Posted: November 06, 2012 at 09:41 AM (#4294210)

Another vote in favor of "Clubhouse Confidential." Other than live games and the occasional "Prime 9," it's the only thing I watch on the MLB Network.

God, I hate "Intentional Talk."

11. alilisd Posted: November 06, 2012 at 12:16 PM (#4294394)

I never thought Mike Trout would be serious MVP candidate—he had debatable power entering the year

Is this true? I don't see anything like this in his, admitedly limited, minor league line, but maybe scouts were saying this?

12. SoSH U at work Posted: November 06, 2012 at 12:24 PM (#4294404)

Is this true? I don't see anything like this in his, admitedly limited, minor league line, but maybe scouts were saying this?

It's a weird comment. I doubt anyone thought Mike Trout would be a serious MVP candidate coming into the year. But once he started playing like Mike Trout, what we thought about him coming into the year didn't matter any more.

13. Der_K Posted: November 06, 2012 at 12:32 PM (#4294421)

Trout's already exceeded most estimates for his peak power level this year, yeah.

14. boteman Posted: November 06, 2012 at 02:14 PM (#4294625)

You might consider tweeting your recommendations and suggestions to @MLBNetwork

While it's just as likely as not that they consider it noise, I believe they run select tweets along the crawler at the bottom during certain shows. Or maybe I'm thinking of ESPN. At least it's not leaving it to random chance that they happen across this thread.

I agree with the above suggestions, as well, and if I'm elected President I will ensure that they see the light of day, or your television screen.

15. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: November 06, 2012 at 02:18 PM (#4294634)

Brian Kenny is the best talking head in sports. He's almost wasted at MLB TV but I'm glad he's there.

16. alilisd Posted: November 06, 2012 at 07:26 PM (#4295140)

@ 12 and 13: Cheers.

17. Bruce Markusen Posted: November 06, 2012 at 07:45 PM (#4295163)

Another good anchor at MLB Network is Greg Amsinger. He's funny, upbeat, knowledgeable, just an excellent host.

18. boteman Posted: November 06, 2012 at 10:24 PM (#4295504)

#17 - But Amsinger let out that he's a Cardinals fan, so BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

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Monday, November 05, 2012

Baseball Prospectus | Q&A with Brian Kenny

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