Do You Have to Have Been Good at Baseball to Understand It?

[broncosmitty]

Someone must be "blamed" for progressive thinking? That's a bizarre notion to me. Also bizarre that you'd choose a journalist to blame. It's like blaming Edward R Murrow for World War II.

Math Majors thinking they know baseball by reading spread sheets.

It's a sad trend. Especially when they don't even understand the math.

 

[Dolemite censored]

I still think the more you played the deeper understanding you have, such that you can tell when a manager is making a huge mistake, whether on offense or defense.

 

[Dolemite censored]

Those of you who haven't played would not appreciate how you can get a double off a bunt.

 

[Villain]

I still think the more you played the deeper understanding you have, such that you can tell when a manager is making a huge mistake, whether on offense or defense.

Armchair managers are the worst, though.

Those of you who haven't played would not appreciate how you can get a double off a bunt.

What if I pull that off about once every 3 games on MLB: The Show?

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

I think a lot of guys (ex-jocks) think pretty highly of themselves. While I don't believe you can understand the game strictly from the math and spreadsheets, you most certainly can understand the nuances of the game without ever having played any significant baseball yourself. I'm not talking being able to manage in the big leagues but as a fan with any reasonable insight. Just because a guy never faced a 90 mph fastball or a nasty slider or curve doesn't mean he can't understand how hard it is to do. Besides, the nuances of baseball go far beyond hitting a 98 MPH heater. Hell, most of the guys in the bigs have trouble hitting that ball.
By the logic in this thread, it seems you guys think HOF announcer Vin Scully can never understand the game. I find that rather laughable.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Someone must be "blamed" for progressive thinking? That's a bizarre notion to me. Also bizarre that you'd choose a journalist to blame. It's like blaming Edward R Murrow for World War II.

You're now on the short list of people who have compared Michael Lewis to Edward R. Murrow. The list is in alphabetical order, so to sort it perfectly I basically just need to know if you're before or after "Lew-".

 

[Omar 382]

I think a lot of guys (ex-jocks) think pretty highly of themselves. While I don't believe you can understand the game strictly from the math and spreadsheets, you most certainly can understand the nuances of the game without ever having played any significant baseball yourself. I'm not talking being able to manage in the big leagues but as a fan with any reasonable insight. Just because a guy never faced a 90 mph fastball or a nasty slider or curve doesn't mean he can't understand how hard it is to do. Besides, the nuances of baseball go far beyond hitting a 98 MPH heater. Hell, most of the guys in the bigs have trouble hitting that ball.
By the logic in this thread, it seems you guys think HOF announcer Vin Scully can never understand the game. I find that rather laughable.

You're 14 posts in. You'll find a lot of retarded shit on this board

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

You're 14 posts in. You'll find a lot of retarded shit on this board

I know. I was on here a couple years back with a different handle but left because the trolling and idiocy were too annoying. Thought I would try again and besides, I'm bored. Lol

 

[richig07]

I don't think knowledge of a sport is dependent on skill... So even someone with very little playing experience can easily have as much knowledge of a sport...

And I do think statistics can tell the full story... The problem is not about the knowledge it is about sharing it and expressing it... Players wont listen to a never was... taking advice from someone with no experience is very hard, even if the advice is good...

Statistics cannot tell you why a player is failing from a mechanical standpoint.

They can tell you that he is. They cannot tell you why.

An intelligent former player will always be smarter than you when it comes to the game. They can look at the statistics, just like you. Then, they can tell you WHY a player struggles in certain areas... which you cannot.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

You're now on the short list of people who have compared Michael Lewis to Edward R. Murrow. The list is in alphabetical order, so to sort it perfectly I basically just need to know if you're before or after "Lew-".

Smell my finger.

 

[Villain]

I think a lot of guys (ex-jocks) think pretty highly of themselves. While I don't believe you can understand the game strictly from the math and spreadsheets, you most certainly can understand the nuances of the game without ever having played any significant baseball yourself. I'm not talking being able to manage in the big leagues but as a fan with any reasonable insight. Just because a guy never faced a 90 mph fastball or a nasty slider or curve doesn't mean he can't understand how hard it is to do. Besides, the nuances of baseball go far beyond hitting a 98 MPH heater. Hell, most of the guys in the bigs have trouble hitting that ball.
By the logic in this thread, it seems you guys think HOF announcer Vin Scully can never understand the game. I find that rather laughable.

Welcome, please stay.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Math Majors thinking they know baseball by reading spread sheets.

It's a sad trend. Especially when they don't even understand the math.

I was a math major so I am a little biased... And strongly do believe that with the right numbers and thorough enough analysis you can get the full picture...

The thing is, that you need to watch and understand the game to form the analysis that you believe in.... People who just spit out numbers don't understand the game...

But if you start differentiating the difference between a top of the lineup type guy and what kind of stats you want from him compared to a middle of the lineup guy or what stats you want to see from your pitchers... that's where stats are helpful IMO... The problem is not the stats, its the people using it, and how many just use them wrong...

 

[broncosmitty]

I was a math major so I am a little biased... And strongly do believe that with the right numbers and thorough enough analysis you can get the full picture...

The thing is, that you need to watch and understand the game to form the analysis that you believe in.... People who just spit out numbers don't understand the game...

But if you start differentiating the difference between a top of the lineup type guy and what kind of stats you want from him compared to a middle of the lineup guy or what stats you want to see from your pitchers... that's where stats are helpful IMO... The problem is not the stats, its the people using it, and how many just use them wrong...

Of course stats are helpful. Atleast the ones that dont hail from tLand of MakeBelieve.

But anybody can read a spreadsheet from highest to lowest. And a majority are capable of spitting the numbers back out.

Too many confuse that with baseball "knowledge".

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Of course stats are helpful. Atleast the ones that dont hail from tLand of MakeBelieve.

But anybody can read a spreadsheet from highest to lowest. And a majority are capable of spitting the numbers back out.

Too many confuse that with baseball "knowledge".

well, i am just naturally confused... and more so, i am damn confusing...

 

[broncosmitty]

well, i am just naturally confused... and more so, i am damn confusing...

It is the Milky Way.

I usually follow your logic. Aside from the Henderson/Cobb thing last month. But I might've missed the context there.

 

[Iffster]

You're 14 posts in. You'll find a lot of retarded shit on this board

A lot of it springs from the youthful, uneducated, naive mind of one Omar382. I figure he has at least 10 years until he reaches the levels of 'merely' incompetent and 'mostly' socially inept.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

It is the Milky Way.

I usually follow your logic. Aside from the Henderson/Cobb thing last month. But I might've missed the context there.

WHat was the Henderson cobb thing... Was it that I think Henderson is a top 5 player of all time, and would rather have Henderson than Cobb??

 

[navamind]

" I really haven't seen them play...slidepiece...Dave Concepcion."
- Joe Morgan

 

[JohnU]

I spent a bunch of time reading these comments. The issue is whether you need to be good at baseball to understand it. A lefthanded pitcher has almost zero idea how to play shortstop at the professional level. So, there's that.

If you are a basketball player and are 5-feet-8, you will never have a clue what it's like to play competitively in the NBA, even if you were all-state in high school. So the point is, limitations even inside the game will affect your ability to understand it. But if you hang around the game, you will learn to empathize.

Hitting a baseball is hard and no matter how much you practice, if you lack bat speed and vision, you are fucked.

Actually, it's been claimed that you cannot actually teach somebody how to catch a ball in the air. Some people can't do it.

But if you never played, you will really not get a true understanding on how to actually play the game. You don't have to be "good" at it, but you need to have been between the white lines.

Other than that, if this is about appreciation for the game, hell ... most people go to a ballgame for the nachos and can't even tell you who's playing. Some of us know way too much about the game and lose sight of the joy it ought to produce. I think my avatar and team logo speaks to that perspective.

 

[broncosmitty]

WHat was the Henderson cobb thing... Was it that I think Henderson is a top 5 player of all time, and would rather have Henderson than Cobb??

I don't know. It was something about Henderdon being better.

I laughed. And let you taste the rainbow, I think.

But Atleast it wasn't a comparison as a leadoff hitter. Lol