From: ez027993@dale.ucdavis.edu (Gary Throwing Hard Huckabay)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Cordero
Date: 18 Dec 92 01:07:30 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: People Who Realize Limbaugh's A Mindless Bozo, Ltd.

Mr. Brian Spencer writes:

>Cordero Has some problems, like being unable to turn a
>smooth double play. 

Mr. Spencer, this post is NOT intended as a flame.  My apologies if
it comes across that way.

This is a question that pops into my head when people make subjective
observations like this...

How do you know?  What, exactly, should a shortstop do when pivoting
to turn a DP?  What makes a pitcher's mechanics good?  When playing the
outfield, how should your hips be aligned to the batter?  Where should
your plant foot be?  When turning your hips to make an off balance throw,
what three things do you have to do in order to make the best throw possible?

The fact is, 99% of baseball fans, and 80% of professional baseball players
can't answer these questions accurately.  That's why I have serious 
doubts about the stat-bashers on the net who claim that they prefer to go
by observation.

It takes a great deal of effort to learn the mechanics to play a position.
To incorporate them as second nature requires a great deal of practice.
I've studied the mechanics of playing baseball fervently for twelve years,
and I don't know a third of what I WANT to know.

That's why I rely heavily on statistics.  PROPER analysis of recorded,
systematic observations can provide insight into the game that my eyes
alone cannot.  And through application of statistical tools, you really
can make accurate assessments of player contribution.

Does no one else see the inherent arrogance of stating "All you statheads
spend your time doing statistics, while the rest of us are observing and
enjoying the game"?  

My challenge is this:

The next time someone (Jason Miller, Roger Maynard, Ron Graham) bashes
statheads again, or statistics in general, I hope they'll think about this.

I PLAY baseball.  At a level I'm very proud of.  I can throw 82-83 mph
for a long period of time, and occasionally turn it up a notch.  I can
hit minor league pitching fairly well.  I play consistent defense at
three different positions, and I'm relatively well respected as a manager
in the area.  (Though I admit, a lot of players don't like playing for
me, and a lot of other managers think I'm nuts.)  

But I don't claim to be able to observe baseball so perfectly that I can't
learn a great deal through the careful study of statistics.

Open your minds, stat-bashers.  Ask questions.  Listen to the answers you
receive.  Question those answers.  Ask why the methodology that was used
to attain those answers was used.

Make the effort.  No one's trying to shove something down your throat here.
All that the 'statheads' here are trying to do is learn and exchange
information and insight.

-- 
*     Gary Huckabay     * "He's just another Limbot.  Ignore him, and he'll *
* "Entering his prime." *  go away - kind of like a festering cold sore."   *
* "Ardent feminist, and * "Do you think they'll let him breed?"             *
*     proud of it."     * "Only in captivity.  Don't sweat it."             *
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball.fantasy