Sabermetrics

The "data science" of smacking a ball around the grass with a stick

A reporter once proposed to Bill James:  "Sabermetrics is the computerized analysis of baseball statistics ... right?"  To which Bill confidently replied, "I can't imagine a worse definition."

SABR was taken from "The Society for American Baseball Research."  James, about a hundred years ago, called it "the search for objective knowledge about baseball."  In the 1970's a guy would say "Dennis Leonard should stay in the rotation because he just knows how to throw a low-in fastball to get a double play when he really needs it."  James pioneered the idea of producing evidence for the things he claimed.  One of the first things he found (as Dr. D recalls) was that no pitcher can actually produce a Grounds-Into-Double-Play on demand.

We've brought the concept of SABRmetrics full circle:  if you don't buy into Dr. Detecto's comprehensive knowledge of all things Mariner, you can take a hike.  Alternatively, you can ask SABRMatt (a math major and a SABR member) what the math says lately about the M's.  He's probably only two steps behind Dr. D.

Your friend,

Jeff

Posts in this blog:

1,000 light bulbs on Closers Getting Saves
Posted on: 08/20/13
7 Comments
M's have a secret about Farquhar?
Posted on: 08/20/13
4 Comments
They go together like steak and sprinklies
Posted on: 08/13/13
10 Comments
Posted on: 08/05/13
1 Comments
Been there, done that Dept.
Posted on: 08/05/13
Felix being the "Gamer" variety
Posted on: 07/31/13
5 Comments
A tale of Nine Justin Uptons
Posted on: 07/21/13
2 Comments
Who's your audience?
Posted on: 07/21/13
10 Comments
At long last...
Posted on: 07/20/13
14 Comments
Is Puig a .397 hitter? A .360 hitter? or what?
Posted on: 07/12/13
3 Comments
You and I run hot and cold, every day, at EVERYthing
Posted on: 07/12/13
3 Comments
Posted on: 06/18/13
6 Comments
Does the average player surf the internet?
Posted on: 05/30/13
32 Comments
Setting the bar
Posted on: 05/28/13
2 Comments
Where is this guy going to end up? Will 100 more feet tell you?
Posted on: 05/07/13
8 Comments
Upperdog? Underdog? Who cares...
Posted on: 05/06/13
21 Comments
That's what he said, Dept.
Posted on: 05/06/13
10 Comments
What's beyond Best Bet? Better Bet?
Posted on: 04/27/13
9 Comments
... the hole in BABIP and xFIP
Posted on: 04/22/13
14 Comments
BJOL chimes in on Gordon's article (well, kinda-shorta)
Posted on: 04/22/13
1 Comments
My kingdom for some luck
Posted on: 04/13/13
12 Comments
We're not as far apart as we think we are :- )
Posted on: 04/09/13
12 Comments
Bakery raises its prices ... hey, so did Starbucks
Posted on: 04/07/13
3 Comments
Now as to the PWR tool...
Posted on: 04/06/13
10 Comments
Of outdated models and "crisis points"
Posted on: 04/03/13
3 Comments

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