The K.C. Mothership: Adopting Sabermetrics and the most Important Statistic

I’m not familiar with this guy, but I so diggeth this comment…“Glad you’re wiling to embrace the concepts that some have been preaching to you for YEARS. However, it will take more time to really embrace the numbers. I know this because you still embrace Chris Getz.”

For the time being, I’m going to forgo my forte of composing football articles. After all, it’s baseball season. In short, I’m going to begin a series of Royals posts focusing on statistical analysis of certain players, situations, etc. Side Note: Pete Rose….you will forever be my favorite baseball player.  I felt the need to say that as Pete is truly an old school, grind it out, baseball player. But, I’d bet (no pun intended) even Rose would understand the value of sabermetrics in the game of baseball.

Not so many years back, sabermetrics became very popular in the game of baseball. Admittedly, I was very skeptical of the ‘stat nerds’ intervening in America’s pastime. And, while I still believe there should be a healthy balance between statistical analysis and true baseball knowledge (having an eye for fundamentals, etc), I have also steadily grown more fond of sabermetrics in the game of baseball. After reading the God of Sabermetrics Bill James book, I’ve looked at the game of baseball a little different.  Bill James is smarter than me. I can read, I am an effective communicator, and math is one of my stronger subjects, but I still must work really hard to truly grasp EVERYTHING Mr. James conveys within the statistics world. The man is brilliant (and, he’s a diehard Kansas basketball fan which typically means you are brilliant).

However, much of Bill James literature is based on the limitations of statistics. Anybody who has read James material recognizes that the main ‘inventor’ himself understands statistics only tell part of the tale. Prior to the ‘meat of the article’ I must note: I have fully adapted sabermetrics and believe they are VERY important in baseball. But, never give up on a player willing to make adjustments.