Players like Baldelli as a person but....

[sfe306]

...... there is too much analytics, and no competition between players.  They are confused about his decisions nearly every game, as am I.  Automatically pulling pitchers for no reason.  Arraez not leading off every game is another one.  He's earned leadoff, and should be there 100% of the time. He'd be batting .375 if Baldelli would get out of his way.  Arraez is the team leader and the only one with swagger.  I could go on and on, but as a fan, I follow the games now as background noise.  The Twins have great players that are not allowed to excel. I like Baldelli as a person, but World Series winners do not manage like this. 

[Squirrel]

Players don't like him as a manager? Is that what you are saying? Do you have links to articles and comments confirming this?

While you are entitled to your opinion and to express them, it seems like you have wrapped up a bunch of your opinions, which are shared by many here, and have claimed the players don't like these things, too. I just haven't seen that out there, but then, I'm not local so don't read/hear any local reporting, nor do I subscribe to The Athletic. So, please share your sources to illuminate us all.

[Number3]

Absolutely little question that Baldelli strictly plays the analytic spreadsheets in his decision making and does not consider the human element as a high  priority. He thinks he can match hitters up with pitchers like you would with unknowns in a video game. I don't think there is much doubt about this. He is plugging in numbers; not human beings.

[adjacent]

Now, do you think that MLB organizations would run huge analytical departments, and spend millions of dollanrs in them, if they don't give you a competitive advantage? Of course they give you a competitive advantage. Don't be fooled by appearances. Some managers look more folksy, some look more like college professors, as is the case with Rocco, but all of them use their analitycal departments. And it is not just a spreadsheet, it is a huge pile of data that they collect, more than what we imagine.

[LA VIkes Fan]

This is the classic question when a team appears to be underperforming – has the manager lost clubhouse? Is the team still playing hard for him? I am genuinely curious as to whether anybody as seen or heard anything that suggests Rocco has lost this team. I haven't and I do read a lot of things and subscribe to the Athletic, but I don't listen to talk radio or anything like that. I'd really be interested if someone who actually knows something is suggested that he has lost the team because I certainly have not seen anything. This is to suggest that Rocco is a great manager, he's not, but I don't think there's an issue between him and the players.

I think the bottom line with this team is that it simply does not have talent. I don't agree with Jim Souhan very often but he is right about this lineup. The top 4/5 of Arraez, Polanco, Miranda, Correa and Buxton are above average but they are not great. They are pretty good. More importantly, there is no one superstar hitter among them who can carry a team for a month. All 5 of those guys would be great complimentary hitters around a true middle of the order stud but we don't have that guy. The back half of the lineup is a disaster. Nick Gordon is a nice player hitting a little bit above average and he could start on a contending team hitting in the 7 or 8 hole. Urshela is a classic starter on a 2nd division team, utility player/8 or 9 hitter on a contending team. Kepler is fourth outfielder you keep because of his defense. He can't hit. Celestino is a AAA centerfielder who you hope will make a meaningful contribution one or two years from now. Sanchez is a backup catcher, Leon is a 3rd catcher/AAA depth. Cave and Beckham are at best high minors depth who really shouldn't be on any MLB roster. You look in the minors and outside possibly of Helman there's nothing there that can help you this year.

The pitching staff is similar to the top 4 or 5 hitters, solid/good but not great. The rotation is fine and could be really good if it had a number 1 starter. But we don't. The bullpen is actually pretty solid 5 to 6 pitchers deep after the trades, but the quality really falls off at the bottom. Add a #1 starter and the pitching might be good enough for a contending team with a good lineup but it's not good enough to carry the weak lineup we have.

Yes, injuries have hurt, particularly the back half of the lineup and the bullpen. Yes, we will have more starters next year. . Yes there is optimism for next year because of that. All good. This year? We've been playing in June, July and August at only a little below the level of the talent we have; we should really be a slightly above .500 team not a 7 or 8 games under .500 team, but that's really where the talent is.

To me the manager test is whether the team performs at or above the level of its talent. I think this team at 4-6 games over .500 is right where its talent level takes it. Has Rocco been a bad manager and hurt the team? No, I don't think so. Has he been a great manager and elevated the team? No, I don't think that's the case either. He's been ok. Kind of like the rest of the team - not great, not outstanding, not bad, not underperforming, just ok. 

[Squirrel]

37 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

This is the classic question when a team appears to be underperforming – has the manager lost clubhouse? Is the team still playing hard for him? I am genuinely curious as to whether anybody as seen or heard anything that suggests Rocco has lost this team. I haven't and I do read a lot of things and subscribe to the Athletic, but I don't listen to talk radio or anything like that. I'd really be interested if someone who actually knows something is suggested that he has lost the team because I certainly have not seen anything. This is to suggest that Rocco is a great manager, he's not, but I don't think there's an issue between him and the players.

I think the bottom line with this team is that it simply does not have talent. I don't agree with Jim Souhan very often but he is right about this lineup. The top 4/5 of Arraez, Polanco, Miranda, Correa and Buxton are above average but they are not great. They are pretty good. More importantly, there is no one superstar hitter among them who can carry a team for a month. All 5 of those guys would be great complimentary hitters around a true middle of the order stud but we don't have that guy. The back half of the lineup is a disaster. Nick Gordon is a nice player hitting a little bit above average and he could start on a contending team hitting in the 7 or 8 hole. Urshela is a classic starter on a 2nd division team, utility player/8 or 9 hitter on a contending team. Kepler is fourth outfielder you keep because of his defense. He can't hit. Celestino is a AAA centerfielder who you hope will make a meaningful contribution one or two years from now. Sanchez is a backup catcher, Leon is a 3rd catcher/AAA depth. Cave and Beckham are at best high minors depth who really shouldn't be on any MLB roster. You look in the minors and outside possibly of Helman there's nothing there that can help you this year.

The pitching staff is similar to the top 4 or 5 hitters, solid/good but not great. The rotation is fine and could be really good if it had a number 1 starter. But we don't. The bullpen is actually pretty solid 5 to 6 pitchers deep after the trades, but the quality really falls off at the bottom. Add a #1 starter and the pitching might be good enough for a contending team with a good lineup but it's not good enough to carry the weak lineup we have.

Yes, injuries have hurt, particularly the back half of the lineup and the bullpen. Yes, we will have more starters next year. . Yes there is optimism for next year because of that. All good. This year? We've been playing in June, July and August at only a little below the level of the talent we have; we should really be a slightly above .500 team not a 7 or 8 games under .500 team, but that's really where the talent is.

To me the manager test is whether the team performs at or above the level of its talent. I think this team at 4-6 games over .500 is right where its talent level takes it. Has Rocco been a bad manager and hurt the team? No, I don't think so. Has he been a great manager and elevated the team? No, I don't think that's the case either. He's been ok. Kind of like the rest of the team - not great, not outstanding, not bad, not underperforming, just ok. 

I pretty much agree with all of this. And, at both the beginning and mid-season I said I thought they were a .500 team. Surprised the offense isn’t performing better, but not surprised with the pitching, especially the BP. But the OP has said the players don’t like Rocco and I really want the OP to let us in on what he’s read. Other than the Gray snippet, which is very debatable attributing that as a dislike of Rocco, I’ve only heard assumptions based on personal opinion of posters

[4twinsJA]

I agree with LA, the Twins are built with good depth of players, but lacking elite, high quality players. Twins do have Correa and Buxton but both are under performing this year. The Twins minor league teams have had a lot of success this year, but seem to have same issue, good depth but lacking potential elite, All-Star quality players. In regards to Rocco, his relatively quite demeanor and player friendly attitude seems to have led to some lack of urgency to win.  

[nicksaviking]

The bullpen killed this team early and has only gotten marginally better with the new additions. And the veteran hitters aren't coming close to carrying their weight. This team needs new/better pitching and bullpen coaches and better hitting coaches. 

If Baldelli is a cause of this, or stands in the way of this, he can go too. But the analytics stay. Sorry, I know it's not popular with a lot of us, but this team will fall back to the bottom of the league again if they go back to Terry Ryan era baseball. Every other team takes advantage of math, it's free after all.

[Blyleven2011]

To those that likes Rocco,  GREAT ... 

To those that Don't like Rocco  , GREAT  ...

Rocco played little league baseball  and was taught the rules to play  a certain way ... I'm sure he played , babe Ruth and legion and college and played the same way he was taught , he played mlb ball and I'm sure at the beginning he played the way he was taught as a youngster  ....

My point is if Rocco is going to remain manager is that he changes his methods and utilizes and implement old school baseball along with his analytical spread sheets ... steal , bunt , hit and run , hit behind the runners and move them into scoring position  and situational hitting , 2 strike hitting , runners in scoring position  , put the ball in play  ,,,, RBI's,  batting average still matter  , strike outs suck .... 

I also think the Twins players have talent but the coaching staff does capitalize  and tap into that talent and make them better players ...

We know Rocco doesn't do enough fundamentals  , even doesn't require players to take batting practice  ...

Have the players quit on Rocco  ,,, it's quite possible , we  had the pitching coach quit mid season  and I thought that was low and not wait for seasons end  ... 

We have had other coaches leave for other venues also  ,,,  some left for better positions  but some left for the same position  ,,, Maybe they didn't like the methods of Rocco  but liked him as a person  ....

[TwinsDr2021]

The guys on the radio said it pretty clear yesterday, there are times when a starter has to go longer, and between the pitchers failing and at times Rocco not letting the starter pitch though things it has caused issues with the bullpen. They said when you off days you can let the starter pitch 5 and bring 4 one innings guys to get a win, but when you play 6 games in 7 days or whatever that can't work there aren't enough relief pitchers to pitch that many innings that many days in a row. It was the 5 inning yesterday (I am paraphrasing) but they said Ryan has to be able to finish at least the 6th today with his low pitch count but he will probably need to go 7.

To me that is were Rocco lacks the most understanding that not every game can be played like the playoffs, sometimes you have to let a pitcher (Starter or Relief) pitcher try to go a little further or try to get out of trouble, because it affects more than just the game being played it can affect a whole series or the next few days.

For example pulling Bundy after 5 1/3 worked a couple of days ago, but did it have an effect the last couple of days? IDK

Not saying Bundy should have went further, just saying how many games did they win doing this but end up costing them games after that?

[TwinsDr2021]

32 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

The bullpen killed this team early and has only gotten marginally better with the new additions. And the veteran hitters aren't coming close to carrying their weight. This team needs new/better pitching and bullpen coaches and better hitting coaches.

100% agree on the hitters, besides Arraez ever other hitter has been disappointing. Buxton, Correa and Polanco have a combined 43 doubles, 17 players alone have over 30 and Freeman has 40 that is pathetic. Miranda has been really, really god the last few months but spent the month plus as an automatic.

The Bullpen killed the teams no doubt, but was that because they were terrible or because of the usage? I would say a combo of both. The Twins knew at the beginning of the year there starters would be held back on pitching count/innings and they did nothing to prepare for this, then later in the year when the pitchers were hurt, they again didn't change the pattern. As of late they have changed a bit using relief pitchers long (or multiple innings) what the heck took so long? Using Smeltzer for 3 the other night has been what we have been screaming for all year?

[IndianaTwin]

28 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

The guys on the radio said it pretty clear yesterday, there are times when a starter has to go longer, and between the pitchers failing and at times Rocco not letting the starter pitch though things it has caused issues with the bullpen. They said when you off days you can let the starter pitch 5 and bring 4 one innings guys to get a win, but when you play 6 games in 7 days or whatever that can't work there aren't enough relief pitchers to pitch that many innings that many days in a row. It was the 5 inning yesterday (I am paraphrasing) but they said Ryan has to be able to finish at least the 6th today with his low pitch count but he will probably need to go 7.

To me that is were Rocco lacks the most understanding that not every game can be played like the playoffs, sometimes you have to let a pitcher (Starter or Relief) pitcher try to go a little further or try to get out of trouble, because it affects more than just the game being played it can affect a whole series or the next few days.

For example pulling Bundy after 5 1/3 worked a couple of days ago, but did it have an effect the last couple of days? IDK

Not saying Bundy should have went further, just saying how many games did they win doing this but end up costing them games after that?

We'll also never know, but would yesterday's game have played out differently if Ryan isn't asked to start the seventh after a sixth inning with two walks, plus two hard-hit balls wrapped around a single that turned into a force out at second. 

I know it comes with the territory of being an MLB manager, but it feels like Rocco is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't when it comes to making pitching changes. 

[TwinsDr2021]

23 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

We'll also never know, but would yesterday's game have played out differently if Ryan isn't asked to start the seventh after a sixth inning with two walks, plus two hard-hit balls wrapped around a single that turned into a force out at second. 

I know it comes with the territory of being an MLB manager, but it feels like Rocco is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't when it comes to making pitching changes. 

First I have been done complaining about when the Twins take out Pitchers, it is pretty easy to guess/know when Rocco is going to take somebody out, If you pay attention to batters faced, innings, and pitch count you should be able to know about 90% of the time. It is what it is.

But couldn't you also say/ask this "We'll also never know, but would yesterday's game have played out differently if Ryan was allowed to face Taveras in the seventh?"

[SwainZag]

50 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

First I have been done complaining about when the Twins take out Pitchers, it is pretty easy to guess/know when Rocco is going to take somebody out, If you pay attention to batters faced, innings, and pitch count you should be able to know about 90% of the time. It is what it is.

But couldn't you also say/ask this "We'll also never know, but would yesterday's game have played out differently if Ryan was allowed to face Taveras in the seventh?"

The offense still put up a big fat 0 on the board for runs, so would it have mattered at all?  You can nitpick small managerial decisions all day long, but at the end of the day if you get shutout...you aren't winning the ballgame.

[LastOnePicked]

I've had the opportunity to study and teach nonverbal communication. It sounds absolutely crazy, I know, but I've always though that Baldelli's constant displays of "grief eyebrows" might have an impact on team morale. I think he's a very decent human being, but he must be a bit hard to fight for as a player because he almost always looks overwhelmed, fatigued, apologetic and deflated. Watch his postgame conferences, and you'll see this expression constantly. It does not convey toughness, and if players are often seeing this, too, it may impact their ability to perform at peak levels.

 

[nicksaviking]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

The guys on the radio said it pretty clear yesterday, there are times when a starter has to go longer,

If Danny Gladden managed this team, starters would be told to 'tough it out' even if their shoulder is shot and they were lobbing up 75 MPH meatballs, every baserunner would try to steal 2nd on the first pitch, and he and the starting pitcher would get tossed before the 3rd inning every game because he'd order a beaning every time one of his own batters took a pitch high and tight.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

5 hours ago, adjacent said:

Now, do you think that MLB organizations would run huge analytical departments, and spend millions of dollanrs in them, if they don't give you a competitive advantage? Of course they give you a competitive advantage. Don't be fooled by appearances. Some managers look more folksy, some look more like college professors, as is the case with Rocco, but all of them use their analitycal departments. And it is not just a spreadsheet, it is a huge pile of data that they collect, more than what we imagine.

I never had any professors at undergrad or grad school look like that

[adjacent]

1 minute ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I never had any professors at undergrad or grad school look like that

Well, that was the exception.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I never had any professors at undergrad or grad school look like that

You never turned in the term papers that I did.

[bean5302]

It's a pretty big leap to say the players are confused about Baldelli's decisions in game.

While Gray is obviously not happy with being pulled early, I don't see him acting pissed when Baldelli walks out to change pitchers as if he was totally blindsided. I'd be surprised to find out the players don't understand the philosophy or the decisions Baldelli is making. They may not like it or agree with it, but that doesn't mean they don't comprehend the concept.

[cHawk]

2 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I never had any professors at undergrad or grad school look like that

I think I saw that photo as someone's avatar somewhere...I can't remember whose avatar it was...

[CRF]

I'm no Rocco fan, and I don't agree with a lot of what he does, or his decision making, but if I was going to say anything in his defense, it would be that I believe he's a "manager in training". He had zero managing experience before he became the Twins manager. He went from being a player, to three years as a roving minor league instructor and special assistant, to being a 1st base coach, and finally a major league field coordinator. Yes, sure he had to have picked up some knowledge about how to manage a ball club, but the point is...I think he was pretty green when he got here. Now, I don't remember who else Falvine considered for the job, but I think they basically rolled the dice on Baldelli, and hoped they would discover a diamond in the rough. I'm sure he came relatively cheap, as managers go too. Have we had some regular season success under Baldelli? Yep...but I don't really think he's learned all the skills and nuances that are needed to be a successful major league manager. A lot of big league managers bomb out in their first gig, then hit it big at the next stop, or even the stop after that. I really don't expect him to get canned, but for me personally, I'm ready for the next guy. Just my two cents.

[Mark G]

17 hours ago, adjacent said:

Now, do you think that MLB organizations would run huge analytical departments, and spend millions of dollanrs in them, if they don't give you a competitive advantage? Of course they give you a competitive advantage. Don't be fooled by appearances. Some managers look more folksy, some look more like college professors, as is the case with Rocco, but all of them use their analitycal departments. And it is not just a spreadsheet, it is a huge pile of data that they collect, more than what we imagine.

Now, I say this mostly tongue in cheek, but the idea is that a team will use the analytics to gain the competitive advantage.  But if all teams are using it now, then the team you are trying to gain the advantage on is, at the same time, getting the advantage on you.  So how can it be considered an advantage?     

[rv78]

This = "I'd be surprised to find out the players don't understand the philosophy or the decisions Baldelli is making. They may not like it or agree with it, but that doesn't mean they don't comprehend the concept."

So if we take this a step further, if they don't like it or agree with it, then maybe that's why they are playing like they don't care. Last time I checked they get paid the same whether they win or lose. I think the players realize after getting their butts handed to them by the Dodgers and some of the other better teams that they are probably just playing for a paycheck and if they ground out, fly out or strike out verses getting a hit, oh well, I'm still getting paid. Who have been the best hitters this year? Arraez, who is playing for a batting title, and Miranda who is playing for a future. Both have something to play for besides a paycheck, the rest, not so much, especially if they don't like or agree with the philosophy. Watching them play it looks like they are just going through the motions. If they get a hit ok, if not, no big deal. Maybe they have gotten so use to grounding out into the shift or hitting lazy fly balls or striking out on pitches out of the zone that it doesn't bother them, that they expect it or have come to the conclusion that this is as good as they are. 

[tfbw]

4 hours ago, Mark G said:

Now, I say this mostly tongue in cheek, but the idea is that a team will use the analytics to gain the competitive advantage.  But if all teams are using it now, then the team you are trying to gain the advantage on is, at the same time, getting the advantage on you.  So how can it be considered an advantage?     

Using analytics to remain competitive.

[tfbw]

22 hours ago, Number3 said:

22 hours ago, Number3 said:

Absolutely little question that Baldelli strictly plays the analytic spreadsheets in his decision making and does not consider the human element as a high  priority. He thinks he can match hitters up with pitchers like you would with unknowns in a video game. I don't think there is much doubt about this. He is plugging in numbers; not human beings.

How do you know all this?  You'd have to be in the dugout.  Specifically, Arraez has said that he is fine with hitting wherever it is an advantage to the team.  Baldelli has made many moves "against the book" and based on what he thinks will help win the game.   Players are confused? That is too general to even ask for proof.

 

On 8/21/2022 at 1:04 PM, sfe306 said:

...... there is too much analytics, and no competition between players.  They are confused about his decisions nearly every game, as am I.  Automatically pulling pitchers for no reason.  Arraez not leading off every game is another one.  He's earned leadoff, and should be there 100% of the time. He'd be batting .375 if Baldelli would get out of his way.  Arraez is the team leader and the only one with swagger.  I could go on and on, but as a fan, I follow the games now as background noise.  The Twins have great players that are not allowed to excel. I like Baldelli as a person, but World Series winners do not manage like this. 

 

[Number3]

Yankees analytics: Judge hits homers, Yankees win. He doesn't Yankees lose. Twins analytics, set the MLB home run record in 2019, Twins win Central. Twins can't hit a barn door in 2022, struggling to stay above .500.  Execution is the key, not analytics. If the Twins do make the playoffs and are allowed to use analytics and their opponent is not, do you think that would propel the Twins into WS champions? As many fluke hits result from the shift as are prevented by the shift. It doesn't take analytics to know if a player has a tendency to pull the ball. That is old fashioned scouting report. As many game are lost by managers "thinking" too much as are won. Just play the game and execute.

[Number3]

On 8/22/2022 at 10:50 AM, adjacent said:

Now, do you think that MLB organizations would run huge analytical departments, and spend millions of dollanrs in them, if they don't give you a competitive advantage? Of course they give you a competitive advantage. Don't be fooled by appearances. Some managers look more folksy, some look more like college professors, as is the case with Rocco, but all of them use their analitycal departments. And it is not just a spreadsheet, it is a huge pile of data that they collect, more than what we imagine.

Meant to quote this on last post so I will add that the best manager's decisions are old fashioned hunches, not a new formula in a spread sheet and how do you think huge piles of data are organized? On a legal pad? Why don't teams pay the analysts millions of $ a year instead of the players? Or maybe they do. Just play the game and execute.

[chpettit19]

3 hours ago, rv78 said:

This = "I'd be surprised to find out the players don't understand the philosophy or the decisions Baldelli is making. They may not like it or agree with it, but that doesn't mean they don't comprehend the concept."

So if we take this a step further, if they don't like it or agree with it, then maybe that's why they are playing like they don't care. Last time I checked they get paid the same whether they win or lose. I think the players realize after getting their butts handed to them by the Dodgers and some of the other better teams that they are probably just playing for a paycheck and if they ground out, fly out or strike out verses getting a hit, oh well, I'm still getting paid. Who have been the best hitters this year? Arraez, who is playing for a batting title, and Miranda who is playing for a future. Both have something to play for besides a paycheck, the rest, not so much, especially if they don't like or agree with the philosophy. Watching them play it looks like they are just going through the motions. If they get a hit ok, if not, no big deal. Maybe they have gotten so use to grounding out into the shift or hitting lazy fly balls or striking out on pitches out of the zone that it doesn't bother them, that they expect it or have come to the conclusion that this is as good as they are. 

If getting their butts kicked by the Dodgers caused the players to quit trying hard it isn't a Rocco problem it's a players problem. If they only have 2 competitors on the team (Arraez and Miranda according to you), and they're only competitors because Arraez wants a batting title and Miranda wants to stay in the bigs (I assume that's what you mean by "a future") the team is screwed anyways. It's an incredibly huge leap to suggest the players have just quit because they lost a couple games to the best team in baseball. Even if Correa doesn't care about winning with the Twins, he certainly cares about getting hundreds of millions of dollars after the year so I'd be awfully surprised if losing to the Dodgers made him just quit caring about performing well. 

As for the players as a whole not liking or agreeing with Rocco's strategy, all I've seen is the 1 Gray clip that people attribute to him being mad at Rocco and not at the way the game is played now or not himself for not performing better. Maybe that was him being mad at Rocco. But I've seen far more praise of Rocco from players like Buxton and Correa than I have seen of guys complaining. This mostly seems to be fan projection of their own dislike of modern baseball strategy than anything else. The Twins aren't doing anything extreme with the pitching or hitting strategies they employ.

Most times when a team scores 3+ runs in an inning they win the game. What's the easiest way to score 3+ runs in an inning? It's not with hit and runs and stolen bases, it's with big flies. And that's why teams pay for power and not stolen bases. The year they set the HR record they weren't lightyears ahead of the competition, they beat the Yankees by 1 homerun. The 4 highest single season HR totals for a team all came in 2019. The leader board for total team HRs in a season is riddled with modern teams because it's what the math says is the best way to win. 17 of the top 50 team HR totals ever have come in 2019 or 2021. And NYY and ATL are likely to join the top 50 this season as well. So 19 of 50 in 3 years. This is modern baseball strategy.

Starting pitcher inning totals have cratered leaguewide in recent years. This isn't just a Rocco or Twins thing, it's a baseball thing. In 2012 Verlander lead the league with 238.1 IP. There were 31 guys who threw at least 200 innings. In 2019 (used pre-2020 so can't blame it on shortened season usage changes) Verlander lead with 223 IP. There were 15 guys who threw 200+ innings (including Jose Berrios, because the Twins aren't doing anything extreme!). In 7 years the number of guys throwing 200 innings a season was cut in half. This is modern baseball strategy.

If the players on the Twins are quitting on the Twins because they don't like or agree with the strategies being used they may as well retire.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

7 hours ago, Mark G said:

Now, I say this mostly tongue in cheek, but the idea is that a team will use the analytics to gain the competitive advantage.  But if all teams are using it now, then the team you are trying to gain the advantage on is, at the same time, getting the advantage on you.  So how can it be considered an advantage?     

Good point.  If everybody else is in on metrics maybe we should go opposite to foil them.  Like bunting to the open side of the infield once in awhile.