MLB Media Salivating over Exit Velocity is Getting Ridiculous

[MMMordabito]

Is a base hit by a player who has basically failed in year one on a horrible team in a 14-2 loss a big deal or great play?

No.

But, according to MLB Media it's worthy of front page news. 

Why? Because of the exit velocity.  

Who cares? The point of the game isn't to see who can hit the ball the hardest.

I just don't see how this is a draw for the game. 

I've taken my three kids to games at target field and let them each choose three players in the lineup.  Whoever ends up with the most home runs wins? Hits are the tie-breaker. Runs are the second tie-breaker.

I just don't think we would ever change to whoever hits the ball the hardest.

This game must be passing me by.

[RpR]

5 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

Is a base hit by a player who has basically failed in year one on a horrible team in a 14-2 loss a big deal or great play?

No.

But, according to MLB Media it's worthy of front page news. 

Why? Because of the exit velocity.  

Who cares? The point of the game isn't to see who can hit the ball the hardest.

I just don't see how this is a draw for the game. 

I've taken my three kids to games at target field and let them each choose three players in the lineup.  Whoever ends up with the most home runs wins? Hits are the tie-breaker. Runs are the second tie-breaker.

I just don't think we would ever change to whoever hits the ball the hardest.

This game must be passing me by.

It used to be a game of simple talent and personalities behind that talent but any bookie will tell you,  - numbers don't lie. ?

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Is a base hit by a player who has basically failed in year one on a horrible team in a 14-2 loss a big deal or great play?

No.

But, according to MLB Media it's worthy of front page news. 

Why? Because of the exit velocity.  

Who cares? The point of the game isn't to see who can hit the ball the hardest.

I just don't see how this is a draw for the game. 

I've taken my three kids to games at target field and let them each choose three players in the lineup.  Whoever ends up with the most home runs wins? Hits are the tie-breaker. Runs are the second tie-breaker.

I just don't think we would ever change to whoever hits the ball the hardest.

This game must be passing me by.

It's front page news because:
#1 - It's the hardest anybody has ever hit a baseball in recorded MLB history.
#2 - It was hit by a player who is also arguably the fastest runner in MLB today.
#3 - It was hit by a 23 year old rookie who has the potential of being a super star.

Basically, the same hype Byron Buxton was getting when he was first coming up.

[Mike Sixel]

I never get why anyone cares what the media hypes. Can you explain why you care? I'm really curious. Nothing about how the media covers it has to do with what you see on the field when there, so I don't get that last part at all? 

[MMMordabito]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I never get why anyone cares what the media hypes. Can you explain why you care? I'm really curious. Nothing about how the media covers it has to do with what you see on the field when there, so I don't get that last part at all? 

I don't care. That's the point.  I just don't get why they think any baseball fan would care about a single in a 14-2 loss by a guy who basically can't hit.  It reads like it's something fans should get excited about.  

[prouster]

1 hour ago, MMMordabito said:

I don't care. That's the point.  I just don't get why they think any baseball fan would care about a single in a 14-2 loss by a guy who basically can't hit.  It reads like it's something fans should get excited about.  

Fans shouldn’t get excited about displays of extreme talent?

[LonelyseatinMOA]

12 minutes ago, prouster said:

Fans shouldn’t get excited about displays of extreme talent?

I don't think he's saying we shouldn't, but hes saying he doesnt care. I could be reading that wrong though. I personally think its pretty cool, just the video of it screaming off his bat and smacking into the wall I think is highlight worthy at least 

[MMMordabito]

33 minutes ago, prouster said:

Fans shouldn’t get excited about displays of extreme talent?

I guess they can if that's how they judge baseball talent.

In all likelihood, those fans are likely to tune in and see three Ks, a pop-up and negative defensive value.  Cheers for blind squirrels though.

[prouster]

15 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I guess they can if that's how they judge baseball talent.

In all likelihood, those fans are likely to tune in and see three Ks, a pop-up and negative defensive value.  Cheers for blind squirrels though.

Well if we accept that hitting a baseball is a baseball skill, then I think producing the hardest known hit is “baseball talent.” I don’t know what appreciating that has to do with that non sequitur at the end of your post. 

[prouster]

41 minutes ago, LonelyseatinMOA said:

I don't think he's saying we shouldn't, but hes saying he doesnt care. I could be reading that wrong though. I personally think its pretty cool, just the video of it screaming off his bat and smacking into the wall I think is highlight worthy at least 

I agree with your opinion. I read the OP pretty differently, though. 

[chpettit19]

I think it's super impressive. I was also super impressed when he uncorked a throw across the diamond at the beginning of his callup this year that is now the 2nd hardest recorded throw by an infielder (if I'm remembering correctly). I thought it was super impressive when Wynn beat him with a throw in the Futures Game. 

It's front page news because it gets clicks. Many people watch sports to see people do things the rest of us can't. And in this case even other major leaguers haven't (that we know of). What is wrong with trying to get a little excitement for a game that is often times considered slow, boring, and unathletic by young people these days? Nobody is telling you you have to care about it, or even that it means anything beyond being the hardest hit ball ever recorded. Why does the NFL put highlights on their front page of the fastest sprint, hardest throw, or most incredible catch on a play when nobody scores and that team loses the game? It's just a highlight. Why are we upset about a highlight?

[DocBauer]

If it is impressive in any way, exit velocity, tremendous defensive play, triple, triple play, anything that is a great moment is something worth recognizing, especially if it shines a positive light on baseball to gain attention and interest.  That's all good for baseball.

Speaking directly to exit velocity, generally speaking, I don't care a ton. If Buxton hits 40HR on a season and all 40 just clear the fence, I don't care because they count the same. But at the same time...COME ON...he cranks a rocket that hits the 2nd deck isn't exciting?? It pumps me up, his team, and the fans. It's worth an extra fist pump. 

Anything done great is good, unless it's against the Twins, of course, lol.

 

[MMMordabito]

36 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

If it is impressive in any way, exit velocity, tremendous defensive play, triple, triple play, anything that is a great moment is something worth recognizing, especially if it shines a positive light on baseball to gain attention and interest.  That's all good for baseball.

Speaking directly to exit velocity, generally speaking, I don't care a ton. If Buxton hits 40HR on a season and all 40 just clear the fence, I don't care because they count the same. But at the same time...COME ON...he cranks a rocket that hits the 2nd deck isn't exciting?? It pumps me up, his team, and the fans. It's worth an extra fist pump. 

Anything done great is good, unless it's against the Twins, of course, lol.

 

If Buxton hit.one in the second deck during a 14-2 loss, I might say something like, "Well, he got that one. At least we didn't get shut out", if I was still paying attention. It certainly would not get a fist pump, unless one of my kids caught it.

I just see the product taking the game the wrong way for my liking.  They even use exit velocity to try to get us more excited about what doesn't happen on a hard hit ball while trying to get us to diminish what does happen on a softly hit ball.

 

 

[terrydactyls]

Just yesterday (or maybe the day before) one of the "highlights" in the recap of another Twins loss was Kepler reaching 107 MPH exit velocity.  It was an out but Kepler did good because he hit it hard.  Whoppee!!!  A bunt against the shift would impress me a lot more.

[Mark G]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

Just yesterday (or maybe the day before) one of the "highlights" in the recap of another Twins loss was Kepler reaching 107 MPH exit velocity.  It was an out but Kepler did good because he hit it hard.  Whoppee!!!  A bunt against the shift would impress me a lot more.

Agreed!  If the single heard round the world had been a scorcher right at the left fielder, would anyone have raved about it?  Not that we will ever know, but I do wonder.  The way teams shift players these days it doesn't matter how hard you hit it if you hit it right at someone.  A baseball skill, at least in my extremely humble opinion, is the bunt, hitting to the opposite field, getting a ball in the air for a sacrifice fly when it is needed, not the speed the ball leaves the bat.  Bat control and being able to hit it where you want to is far more impressive.  Those things should be the highlights because they win games.  

[Trov]

20 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Is a base hit by a player who has basically failed in year one on a horrible team in a 14-2 loss a big deal or great play?

No.

But, according to MLB Media it's worthy of front page news. 

Why? Because of the exit velocity.  

Who cares? The point of the game isn't to see who can hit the ball the hardest.

I just don't see how this is a draw for the game. 

I've taken my three kids to games at target field and let them each choose three players in the lineup.  Whoever ends up with the most home runs wins? Hits are the tie-breaker. Runs are the second tie-breaker.

I just don't think we would ever change to whoever hits the ball the hardest.

This game must be passing me by.

Let me ask you this.  If he would have hit with a launch angle that would have made it the farthest HR ever would that be news worthy to you?  

[terrydactyls]

9 minutes ago, Trov said:

Let me ask you this.  If he would have hit with a launch angle that would have made it the farthest HR ever would that be news worthy to you?  

Who cares what the launch angle was?  Longest home run ever is interesting but I don't care about launch angle or exit velocity.  You might as well add what he ate for breakfast or read before the game while sitting on the toilet.  Longest HR ever is about the history of the game.  Highest exit velocity only includes the years 2015-2022 and ignores the first 176 years of baseball.

[Dave The Dastardly]

1 minute ago, terrydactyls said:

Who cares what the launch angle was?  Longest home run ever is interesting but I don't care about launch angle or exit velocity.  You might as well add what he ate for breakfast or read before the game while sitting on the toilet.  Longest HR ever is about the history of the game.  Highest exit velocity only includes the years 2015-2022 and ignores the first 176 years of baseball.

I've read some interesting things while sitting on the toilet but my personal exit velocities and launch angles at that particular moment are of more importance than what some player might have done the previous day. Maybe even more exciting...

[terrydactyls]

1 minute ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

I've read some interesting things while sitting on the toilet but my personal exit velocities and launch angles at that particular moment are of more importance than what some player might have done the previous day. Maybe even more exciting...

Tru dat!

[chpettit19]

7 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Who cares what the launch angle was?  Longest home run ever is interesting but I don't care about launch angle or exit velocity.  You might as well add what he ate for breakfast or read before the game while sitting on the toilet.  Longest HR ever is about the history of the game.  Highest exit velocity only includes the years 2015-2022 and ignores the first 176 years of baseball.

I think you're focusing on the wrong thing here. You're not supposed to be amazed by the launch angle, that hypothetical is asking if you'd have been impressed if that ball flat out left the stadium in Pittsburgh. They still would've lost that game, but would you be ok with seeing a highlight of that on the front page of the MLB website if it was a HR instead of a single? Or is the general stance here that highlights by losing teams just don't need to ever be included in any highlight packages?

[MMMordabito]

27 minutes ago, Trov said:

Let me ask you this.  If he would have hit with a launch angle that would have made it the farthest HR ever would that be news worthy to you?  

There you go trying to get me excited about something that didn't happen. It's just like the announcer who tells me the expected batting average on a caught line drive. There is more to this game than raw power.

[terrydactyls]

3 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I think you're focusing on the wrong thing here. You're not supposed to be amazed by the launch angle, that hypothetical is asking if you'd have been impressed if that ball flat out left the stadium in Pittsburgh. They still would've lost that game, but would you be ok with seeing a highlight of that on the front page of the MLB website if it was a HR instead of a single? Or is the general stance here that highlights by losing teams just don't need to ever be included in any highlight packages?

Talk about focusing on the wrong thing.  Or maybe I wasn't clear enough.  I did answer that I would be impressed by the length of a home run that left the stadim.  But not by the exit velocity.  Exit velocity only compares numbers from the past seven (7) years and ignores almost 96% of baseball history.  Talk about a small sample size!  What was the exit velocity of Mickey Mantle's 565 foot home run?  No one knows but I'm pretty sure it could have been higher.  But, once again I say, Who Cares? 

[Reptevia]

This exemplifies everything I hate about analytics. Most of the metrics measure “potential “ outcomes. Apparently, the “counting” categories (you know, counting things that actually happen) are meaningless in today’s game. If we’re only putting value on potential outcomes, why not just have a pro day and hand out the trophies?

[chpettit19]

5 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Talk about focusing on the wrong thing.  Or maybe I wasn't clear enough.  I did answer that I would be impressed by the length of a home run that left the stadim.  But not by the exit velocity.  Exit velocity only compares numbers from the past seven (7) years and ignores almost 96% of baseball history.  Talk about a small sample size!  What was the exit velocity of Mickey Mantle's 565 foot home run?  No one knows but I'm pretty sure it could have been higher.  But, once again I say, Who Cares? 

I mean you said "who cares what the launch angle is" and I corrected you because nobody was telling you to care about 35 degrees vs 20 degrees, they were simply suggesting that if he'd hit it slightly higher it would've been a HR and not a single. 

How scientific do you think the HR measurement of Mickey Mantle's 565 foot home run was? When they first came out with reports about it they had it listed at 643 feet. Which one is right? Why should I believe 565 if I couldn't believe 643? But I'll give you the 565, and agree it's impressive. My follow up question would be, why do you care about that number but not 122? They're the same idea. Distance impresses you, but velocity doesn't? Why? What if the 565 went foul? Does it then not impress you? You're impressed he hit it 565 feet, but if we switched that to him having hit it 130 mph you're suddenly not impressed? Sounds like you just want things to be measured the way you want them measured. And that's 100% fine. But it's weird to me that you act like distance is so clearly an acceptable way to measure things, but velocity is just ridiculous and nobody should care about it.

And I care. I'm guessing millions of other people care as well and that's why those things are on the front page of the league's site where their entire goal is to get people to click on things they find interesting. If people didn't click on those kinds of links they wouldn't put them on there. People care. Lots of them, in fact. Nobody said you have to, though. That's why they have articles about other things on their as well. Beauty of the internet is you get to click on whatever interests you while ignoring the things that don't interest you, but interest others.

[chpettit19]

26 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

There you go trying to get me excited about something that didn't happen. It's just like the announcer who tells me the expected batting average on a caught line drive. There is more to this game than raw power.

They also have sprint speeds, throw velo's, route efficiencies, etc. It's not just about raw power. They're just giving context to the things the players are doing. Buxton looks fast when he's running so they provide you with what his sprint speed is so you can see how that compares to other baseball players. Or football players if you so want. And if you don't want then you don't have to. All the statcast type data you're complaining about is meant to do is give an answer to the debates on who hits the ball the hardest or farthest, or who runs fastest, or who gets the best jump in the outfield, or who throws it the hardest. If you don't care about those things that's cool. Some of us do. I like to know who has the best arm or runs the fastest. I find it interesting. Doesn't mean they're the best players or that's all I care about. It's not even the main thing I care about. But it's fun to have that info for when I feel like checking out if my eyes are lying to me.

I'm pretty sure there were other articles on the front page of the league site when you went there. I don't think they were all about exit velo. Most of them were probably about the things you actually care about. Why can't those of us who care about exit velos have 1 article on the front page next to all the game summaries? Right now there's 1 article about MVP candidates, 1 about being able to stream games for free, and the rest are game recaps (or the Twins injury news because I'm signed in and they give me new Twins news as well).

[MMMordabito]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

They also have sprint speeds, throw velo's, route efficiencies, etc. It's not just about raw power. They're just giving context to the things the players are doing. Buxton looks fast when he's running so they provide you with what his sprint speed is so you can see how that compares to other baseball players. Or football players if you so want. And if you don't want then you don't have to. All the statcast type data you're complaining about is meant to do is give an answer to the debates on who hits the ball the hardest or farthest, or who runs fastest, or who gets the best jump in the outfield, or who throws it the hardest. If you don't care about those things that's cool. Some of us do. I like to know who has the best arm or runs the fastest. I find it interesting. Doesn't mean they're the best players or that's all I care about. It's not even the main thing I care about. But it's fun to have that info for when I feel like checking out if my eyes are lying to me.

I'm pretty sure there were other articles on the front page of the league site when you went there. I don't think they were all about exit velo. Most of them were probably about the things you actually care about. Why can't those of us who care about exit velos have 1 article on the front page next to all the game summaries? Right now there's 1 article about MVP candidates, 1 about being able to stream games for free, and the rest are game recaps (or the Twins injury news because I'm signed in and they give me new Twins news as well).

Can I get a front page article about Luis Arraez perfectly placing a groundball single between the infielders when the Twins lose 14-2? Unlikely. 

[chpettit19]

23 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

Can I get a front page article about Luis Arraez perfectly placing a groundball single between the infielders when the Twins lose 14-2? Unlikely. 

Oh man, you're missing out if you've missed the Arraez articles and video segments on there. I promise you they're on there. A number of the MLB network shows even do segments on him and his swing.

Just from this week:
August 22nd, front page video article titled "Is Luis Arraez underappreciated?" as part of the Young Stars Week specials.
Separate video segment on MLB Central same day as part of the Young Stars Week.

Earlier in the year:
July 16th article "Contact kind Arraez showing off versatility"
June 27th Intentional Talk had Arraez on as their special guest.
June 22nd "How do you pitch to Arraez? Ask his teammates first"
June 21st "This budding star is hitting like peak Ichiro"
June 14th "Arraez's fan club has found its president: Ichiro!"
June 13th MLB Central breaks down Arraez's approach.
June 11th "Watch out, AL: Arraez is hitting homers now"  (I guess this one is about power so goes with your argument)
That's just me going back through June and finding Arraez specific video segments and articles that would have been somewhere on the front page.

They also put up highlights of his hits everyday. They're not all front page all day like that 122 MPH one was, but they're up there right after the happen in the middle section that is full of highlights. To be fair, I don't know if that's just cuz I'm signed in, though. But no, it's not unlikely that you could get a front page article about Luis Arraez. I just gave you 2 from this week.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, Reptevia said:

This exemplifies everything I hate about analytics. Most of the metrics measure “potential “ outcomes. Apparently, the “counting” categories (you know, counting things that actually happen) are meaningless in today’s game. If we’re only putting value on potential outcomes, why not just have a pro day and hand out the trophies?

Potential outcomes are more predictive of the future, that's how they are used by teams. 

I still don't understand why anyone cares if the media focuses on this or not. I still don't understand how it changes what you like about baseball. If you watch the games, why do you care what the media says at all? How does what they say (or not) change what you liked about watching a game?

[Reptevia]

I literally couldn’t care less what the media thinks. Unfortunately, all that hype has made it a runaway train that front offices and managers care about, and that affects what I like about baseball in the sense that I see less and less of it. 

[ashbury]

Managers and front offices check the morning's feature articles to find out how to run their teams?