I’ll probably regret asking, but what’s life without a few regrets…
- Where do you stand on the stats vs story debate that refuses to die?
- Does this dichotomy exist in the corporeal world or only in the mind of the perceiver?
- Bonus points if you can:
- Quantify your response (e.g., on a scale of pi to 42, with blue as the midpoint), and/or
- Offer a compelling narrative to support your position
* * *
- The Economics of Baseball’s Spring Training (Governing). Ryan Holeywell notes that “since 2003, a half-dozen teams have traded citrus for cactus and moved their spring headquarters west, primarily due to lucrative deals and the heightened geographic concentration of teams, which reduces travel times.” [h/t BBTF]
- Forbes claims Padres “most profitable team” in MLB, Padres President says numbers “grossly inaccurate” (Gaslamp Ball). Quoth President/COO Tom Garfinkel: “It’s curious how they can get financial numbers for 30 private businesses. The only answer is that they manufacture them.” Of course, nobody knows for sure… because the numbers are private. How convenient.
- Peavy vs. Webb: Similar Pitchers, Paths, States of Mind (Beyond the Box Score). They were good, now they’re hurt; what comes next?
- 2011 Organizational Rankings: #20 San Diego (FanGraphs, h/t reader Didi). I was hoping for #6. Hey, at least we’re ahead of the Dodgers (#23) and Diamondbacks (#29). I disagree with two statements made by the estimable Jonah Keri:
- His assertion that the Padres have “little chance of contending in 2011″ doesn’t ring true in a division that should be fairly wide open despite the presence of Colorado and San Francisco.
- Keri says of Chase Headley that “he’s got a history of solid power production in the minors, albeit generally in hitter-friendly parks.” Headley’s big power year was 2007, when he played half his games at San Antonio’s Wolff Stadium, one of the harshest offensive environments in all of organized baseball.
- Book Review: The Beauty of Short Hops… (The Book). I hesitate to post this because it seems like a colossal waste of time, but maybe I can help save you some money otherwise spent on what sounds like a dreadful book.
- Team Joy Squad 2011: #10 – #6 (FanGraphs). Former Padres right-hander Ivan Nova makes the cut.
- $10M Civil case against Brian Giles starts today, Ex now engaged to Knoblauch, Trevor Hoffman could take the stand (Gaslamp Ball). Meanwhile, over in the TMI department…
- A love of baseball, by the numbers (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune). Ever hear of Glenn “Gos” Gostick? Odd cat… [h/t BBTF]
- Bartlett back with Friars, hopes to succeed (Padres.com). “Hopes to succeed”? Well, that is comforting to know. I’d be worried if he felt otherwise.
The article you linked to is, at the very least, stats before story and I could barely read it.
I guess that’s my answer.
Is a populist story teller more compelling than a lecturing intellectual? The PT Barnum answer is yes: because you will never go broke underestimating the intelligence of your audience. The populist story teller will further argue that his common sense beats out intelligence every day of the week. While the intellectual just shrugs his shoulders and walks away.
In the real world, if an intellectual wants to get a valid point across, he learns how to tell a story. If he cannot do that, he will forever remain on the fringes.
OT – I don’t like this story …
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApAqmtoxM02ftkXIMEeNA.wRvLYF?slug=ap-padres-latos
… much prefer the (2010) stats.
(Padres RHP Mat Latos has sore right shoulder)
On another note, Tango has a per team playing time survey. Only three people have filled out the Padres survey – maybe the Ducksnorts community can help add to that number.
http://www.tangotiger.net/survey/
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you your 2011 Padres Opening Day Starter, Tim Stauffer!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/03/25/padres.latos.ap/index.html
Who’da thunk it?
Good for Tim!
very happy for Tim.
and by that last comment, i supposed i like story but with supporting numbers.
though, i don’t see why both has to be exclusive from each other.
if some numbers are interesting, it’ll make a good story provided the writer has the chop to weave the tale. but, then, isn’t that what good writers do, make uninteresting subjects into compelling narratives.
somehow, i got up this morning and i just can’t wait for the season to start even though march madness isn’t over yet. wow.
Go Padres!
I think the answer lies somewhere in between.
I disagree with Field39′s view that the “story” is just a dumbed-down, entertaining version designed to appeal to the masses. That can be true in some cases, but there are shortcomings with the “stats” version as well: often the “stats” version is void of proper context.
I can memorize every stat available concerning the 1964 World Series, but I would learn a great deal more by reading “October 1964″. Should Halberstam be viewed as a carnival huckster who was peddling lowbrow schlock, while the true intellectuals are the bloggers posting WAR and BABIP on their website?