Thread: Los Angeles Dodgers--Official September Thread

Originally Posted by lath19

Too many people are focused on stat totals. For Pierre to get as many hits as he does doesn't really mean that much because of the number of AB's he gets. Extrapolate out the numbers of other #1 or #2 hitters over the amount of AB's that Pierre has and you will see why he isn't very good.

Or, just look at a much more meaningful stat like OBP. There is a reason that stat category exists.

OBP isn't a perfect stat either. It's just a piece of the puzzle... but yes, a bigger piece than counting stats.

I think a lot of people, media especially, misconstrue Moneyball (which was, by the way, not written by Billy Beane) as being about OBP, when that's not the point of the book. The book was about finding value in what the market doesn't so that a small-market team can stay competitive. OBP in the 90s was that stat, but OBP (like college players in the draft) has become much more valued in the market so small-market teams need to look elsewhere.

Originally Posted by DanteHicks

My analogy with Robitaille illustrates that you might be tempted to say that someone with a higher shooting percentage would be a better option than someone who "just" scores a lot of goals, because if you extrapolate it out, it would result in more wins.

No dude, your Robitaille analogy is, for lack of a better word, garbage.

Shooting percentage in hockey is a completely different animal than in baseball for reasons I've already mentioned:

"In hockey, you have to earn your shot and missing a shot doesn't stop your teammate from taking one either (quite the opposite!). In baseball, you come up every nine guys regardless and your plate appearance is based on your place in the lineup, not based on your knack for getting up to bat."

The two sports and situations are not even close to comparable.

Originally Posted by DanteHicks

You can't only look at total runs scored, you can't only look at OBP and you can't only look at OPS. You can cherry-pick stats to back up any sort of opinion you want to form. That's why professional teams use scouts and not computers.

Yes and no. Certain stats have been proven, with mountains upon mountains of data, to be more valuable in run production than others. But I agree that it is important not to get dogmatic about one particular stat. They are complementary.

As far as scouts vs. computers: pretty much every single professional team uses a mixture of the two. It just depends on the team how much they emphasize one or the other.

Originally Posted by DanteHicks

And there it is.

My analogy with Robitaille illustrates that you might be tempted to say that someone with a higher shooting percentage would be a better option than someone who "just" scores a lot of goals, because if you extrapolate it out, it would result in more wins.

...que?

You can't only look at total runs scored, you can't only look at OBP and you can't only look at OPS. You can cherry-pick stats to back up any sort of opinion you want to form. That's why professional teams use scouts and not computers.

Obviously there isn't one universal stat that can quantify everything a player does. Don't get all caught up on OBP, I was just using it in that one example (although in the given example is was applicable).

Of course teams use scouts but you really don't think they use computers? You can't actually believe stats (which these days are calculated by computers) never come into the mix when a GM is evaluating a player. Well maybe Colleti doesn't which would explain why he signed Pierre and this team isn't in the playoffs. While I seriously doubt Ned overlooked all of Juan-for-5's stats I am sure that he didn't give enough weight and consideration to some of the numbers that should have been red flags. Had he done that instead of panicking the Giants would be stuck with Pierre.

blah blah blah "...this season is still not over" blah blah blah - Steve Lyons

Yes the season is over Steve, it's been over for months already. I'm glad we didn't stumble into the post-season this year, we can not contend with our current roster...hopefully, missing the post season = more money spent this off-season(no Pierre-like signings please Ned).

I haven't seen a game in ages it seems, I gave up on this team quite a long time ago....nice to see so many kids in the line-up...

These kids rule.

Huuuuuuu!



Also, Lurch is awful.

C'mon Rocks. Don't let this garbage team beat you. You have a chance to get into a tie for the wild card lead. Don't slip up.

I hate the ****ing Giants. Specifically their bullpen.

Are the Dodgers really doing what I think they are doing?

Unbelieveable.