From: 91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca (roger maynard)
Subject: Re: Value of Stats
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 22:04:39 GMT

In <1992Jul21.202050.10869@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca> sinhaa@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Anand Sinha) writes:

>In article <1992Jul21.193135.6882@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca> 91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca (roger maynard) writes:
>>
>>The only time the argument "who is the better player" has any meaning at all
>>is in spring training when one player is trying to beat another out.  And
>>seldom is that decision based mainly on statistics.  Of course the nerds well
>                                                                    ^^^^
>NERDS? what is there a new movie coming out? The Revenge of the Bad News Bears
>by the Nerds? The Tri-Lambdas go to spring training with the Bad News Bears?

>>try to say that it should be...

>Actually, spring training is the one time when "nerds" say that spring training
>numbers do not mean anything. Ever heard of "sample size"? I didn't think so
>Roger. 

>the rest of the time the question "who is the
>>better player" is impossible to answer.  You can determine who has the 
>>better DA or OPI or OBA or whatever but that is only going to tell you who
>>has the best statistics and not who the best player is.  And if you think that
>>they are one and the same then you have closed your eyes to a large part of
>>the game.

>Do you ever get anything through your thick skull?? No one has said that
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What is the purpose of this statement?  Do you enjoy being called a nerd?

>stats show you who the best player is.  They do HELP to show who the better
>player is.  

>READ MY LIPS ROGER AND THE REST OF YOU ::

won't have this problem anymore because I won't be able to see your "LIPS".
You are now parked in a different directory in a file named "kill".

>STATHEADS(tm) ARE BASEBALL FANS FIRST. WE USE STATISTICS TO, IN OUR OPINION,
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Nobody is questioning this.  Why do you feel that it is necessary to say so?

>GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GAME. WE DON'T BELIEVE IN INSIPID STATS LIKE

My opinion - and I don't have to spell it with my capslock on - is that
stats can give you a distorted view of the game.  Certainly a different
understanding and not necessarily "better".

>"hitting .250 against LHP with runners on 3rd on a Sunday after a full moon". 
>NUMBERS LIKE OBA, SLG, DA, HELP US TO APPRECIATE TALENT. 

>As an example of this...Alfredo Griffin has long been one of my favourite
>players. (Ok I admit this).  I was sorry to see him leave Toronto so that 
>Tony Fernandez could play SS. I was glad that he was on the Dodger team
>that won the WS in '88.  On the other hand, I hold no illusions about his
>value to the Blue Jays in 1992. He has little or none, save that he may be
>a good influence to the rest of the team. I'd be a good influence for less than
                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
not likely...

>1/10 of the $1mil he's making this year. 
>And, probably, I could generate about as much offense as Alfredo.  

Well you have generated more offense in this post than Griffin is likely to
produce this year... 

>Now this does not take away that fact that I like
>the player.  I just think that he is a waste of a position on the bench, and
>will do little to help the Jays with the WS this year.  The statistics that
>Alfredo has managed over the years only helps to prove that he is, offensively
>and defensively, a liability.  His clubhouse spirit is not measurable, nor can

Alfredo had, "statistically", the best range of any regular SS in the NL 
last year.

>you show me a) that it *does* help a team b) that he actually does have team
>spirit, and c) that there aren't 100 million other people in the world who 
>can do exactly what he does for the ball club.  Get it yet Roger? Or did you
                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Naw...better put it in caps...

>lose interest in my post once I used the "statistic" word?

>To the other netters sorry for my tone with Roger. I have a personal peeve
>with the "gentleman" for his ad hominem attacks on my hometown in rec.sport.
>hockey, and I think that his attitude deserves this kind of treatment.

Are you the clown from Hamilton?  Are you this upset because I don't think that
Hamilton is a major league city?  Sheesh...I was born 22 miles from Hamilton...
I think my opinion about Hamilton is just as valid as yours...Maybe you
should get out of town some more...Ever go to Buffalo????

rm

>Anand Sinha
>Blue Jays #1 -> all the way in '92
>Robbie Alomar for MVP
>Juan Guzman for Cy Young
-- 
roger maynard                    
91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca