March 5, 20197 yr I doubt the guys teams are hiring away are using algorithms on fangraphs, otherwise why wouldn't these teams just bookmark fangraphs and instead pay an intern to read it to them? The guys who are getting hired away, and there are a lot of them, are almost certainly good at parsing the information, and also likely able to create new, team specified algorithms, tests, statistics and evaluations. I'm not even sure what you're arguing about here.
March 5, 20197 yr I'm not even sure what you're arguing about here. It seems to me you're implying that the guys working at fangraphs don't know what they're doing by arguing that you don't like the output of fangraphs. I'm arguing that once these guys are hired away, they're likely not using the output of fangraphs, they are talented enough individuals to create new things specific for their new clubs.
March 6, 20197 yr In no way am I arguing Fangraphs' stats are perfect, but to say they are bunk and useless and not any good at all? Seems like teams wouldn't be hiring them then....Beyond just the specific stats, it is pretty clear that most Fangraphs writers and analysts THINK about baseball the same way front offices do. If you go to any of the sports analytics conferences (like Sloan, SABR Analytics, Saberseminar) and listen to the front office folks talk about baseball, they speak in the same language as Fangraphs. Concepts like valuing every event in runs, replacement level, sample size, converting runs to wins, surplus value, competitive windows, projection systems and on and on are considered common knowledge. So while every team probably has their own (probably better) way of valuing events or making projections, the framework they use to fit all these pieces are very similar to the information that Fangraphs is presenting.
March 6, 20197 yr It seems to me you're implying that the guys working at fangraphs don't know what they're doing by arguing that you don't like the output of fangraphs. I'm arguing that once these guys are hired away, they're likely not using the output of fangraphs, they are talented enough individuals to create new things specific for their new clubs. And I'm saying you don't know what they are being paid. Are they being paid $200k or $50k? If they are being paid closer to $50k (and they probably are), let's not overestimate their value to the franchise. Teams are rolling the dice. Are they being paid as experts or consultants, or are they taking a job at any rate doing what they love to do? I would bet it's the latter. This is still win-win for both parties involved. We simply don't have enough information to know how much MLB truly is investing in these guys. Are they hiring them to be brainchilds of the future ($$$), or are they hiring them because they know they will be dedicated workers who will happily move numbers around for them ($)? Edited March 6, 20197 yr by Doomtints
March 6, 20197 yr Traditional scouts don't usually net six-figures either. Are the teams just rolling the dice with them? Sure, in a sense, but they also treat the information with respect and as having value. Baseball doesn't pay much, compared to other industries, for pretty much any except the top-end jobs, for all the reasons you mention. You're setting an arbitrarily high bar there. If the goal is player evaluation, then data mining and analytics being considered on a par with traditional resources sounds pretty good to me.
March 7, 20197 yr I liked Granite a lot. I'm hoping he gets a good chance with the Rangers, and wish him well. On the other hand, wasn't he on the 40? And does that leave a spot? And is Kimbrel still out there?
March 7, 20197 yr Does this really qualify as breaking news? Granite had become an afterthought. He was redundant as another LH outfielder behind Rosario, Kepler, Cave, and Wade. I would put this in the category of "Other Minor League Notes".I thought he was awful. This pitching prospect must be a real winner.
March 7, 20197 yr On the other hand, wasn't he on the 40? And does that leave a spot? Granite was DFA'd to add Marwin Gonzalez. So the 40-man is still full.
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