Bob Ryan: I don't think the "average" fan cares about advanced metrics in MLB

Xan, I think one big problem with your idea is that most fans are of the opinion announcers talk too damn much already. If they are hearing announcers give them unfamiliar (to many of 'em) subject matter, that impression will be redoubled even if the information is of value.

 

Steve Hirdt has been part of national broadcasts for well over a decade, and probably closer to two.

He's mostly been behind the scenes, but it's not like broadcasters don't have access to this information.

And, more former players are conversant in advanced statistics. David Cone on YES is very good.

 

SOMETIMES HE DON'T
BUT SOMETIMES DUUUUUUU!
XAN HIT IT TO A PLACE, OH!
WHERE NOBODY DARED TO GO.
YES HE CAME THROUGH
THE LOVE WE CAME TO KNOW
THEY CALL IT Songbird!

-- John Sterling '14

 

Just dealing with the most basic of sabermetrics, I think the slash line has added to baseball. It is a better barometer than straight batting average. Don't see how that can be disputed.

Things like WAR ... it's a matter of whether the statistic has a concrete connection to better baseball. Deeper minds than me have deemed that it does, and appear to have the concrete proof to back it up. That's enough for me to give it credence.

All that said, what Ryan said is undoubtedly correct. The "average" fan does not give a shit about advanced metrics. That doesn't mean they're right. That just means they don't.

 

Why should I move on? You still haven't admitted defeat on the one argument. And you did lose. Badly.

 

People obsess way too much about WAR.

There are advanced statistics with a transparent methodology that are far more useful, something like wOBA comes to mind.

 

We should all strive to be better than average.

 

That doesn't mean they're right. That just means they don't.

And Dick, just plug in any ol' acronym that strikes your fancy. Actually, I think "woe-buh" has a nice ring.

 

Frankenstein peaked with a 3.6 WAR in 1902. Positionally inflexible, but walked a lot.

 

The wOBA formula for the 2012 season was:

wOBA = (0.691×uBB + 0.722×HBP + 0.884×1B + 1.257×2B + 1.593×3B +
2.058×HR) / (AB + BB – IBB + SF + HBP)

Yeah I can totally see that reaching a mass audience.

 

If you're going to capture the imagination of an "average" fan, the numbers have to be easily relatable.

Give me an outstanding line and a Mendoza line on wOBA, make it clear, and people will follow.

Like .300 and .200. Like 2.00 and 4.00. Why do we think they've held up over time?

 

Dracula and the Wolfman had incredible splits in night games, but it's like they never even showed up for day games.