Do baseball players prefer traditional stats?

I agree, but the analytical stats, IMO, helps more for scouting purposes as well as used for teaching purposes. I know of many pitchers who became after being explained where there weaknesses were from analytics.

I don't think for most baseball players, their minds work analytically.

They like the stats that will get them paid

2022NYC posted:

They like the stats that will get them paid

This.  +1

I think Batting Average is a stat that is suddenly underappreciated and under rated.  And it is a stat that, when growing up, today's pro players could wrap their mind around.

3and2Fastball posted:

2022NYC posted:

They like the stats that will get them paid

This.  +1

I think Batting Average is a stat that is suddenly underappreciated and under rated.  And it is a stat that, when growing up, today's pro players could wrap their mind around.

I agree but that's why they have guys that break down the stats in baseball terms they get.

The stats they interpret, even on the college level is dope ( not my chosen word). One coach told son through stats, he knows how many hitters a pitcher struck or or got singles, HR, etc by the pitches he threw. 

That's tough to understand but really is a weapon when facing your conference foes.

The typical fan thinks a MLBer just shows up at the park for a three hour game. Most don’t know they often spend a couple of hours going over analytics and video. Excpet for David Overpriced who plays video games when hes not being surly with the media.

3and2Fastball posted:

2022NYC posted:

They like the stats that will get them paid

This.  +1

I think Batting Average is a stat that is suddenly underappreciated and under rated.  And it is a stat that, when growing up, today's pro players could wrap their mind around.

I would argue that AVG has been terribly over-appreciated for far too long. Most hitters let it impact their confidence, and sometimes their approach. If you're hitting balls hard right at defenders for outs, I would argue that you're being successful. The problem with high school and sometimes college ball is that you don't get enough ABs for the numbers to work themselves out. That is, with enough ABs many of those HHBs will end up as hits and XBHs, but with a small sample that doesn't always happen.

It would be great if someone can chime in on the arbitration hearing.  I wonder how they scrutinize to promote certain stats on a player's offensive ability

MidAtlanticDad posted:

3and2Fastball posted:

2022NYC posted:

They like the stats that will get them paid

This.  +1

I think Batting Average is a stat that is suddenly underappreciated and under rated.  And it is a stat that, when growing up, today's pro players could wrap their mind around.

I would argue that AVG has been terribly over-appreciated for far too long. Most hitters let it impact their confidence, and sometimes their approach. If you're hitting balls hard right at defenders for outs, I would argue that you're being successful. The problem with high school and sometimes college ball is that you don't get enough ABs for the numbers to work themselves out. That is, with enough ABs many of those HHBs will end up as hits and XBHs, but with a small sample that doesn't always happen.

I agree with all of that.  It is just that, in the last few years, things have flipped so far the other way that suddenly the batting average is underappreciated.  A single is more valuable than a walk.  In the pro game, you have so many players swinging for the fences that the guy who hits .230 with 40 HR's and lots of walks is considered a "good player"

That doesn't work so well in the postseason.  There will always be a place in the game for a high contact, high batting average player...  The game is already flipping back in another direction, where a mix of the 3 true outcome players (HR, Walk, K) and a mix of the high contact batting average players will be much more of a desired recipe.

MidAtlanticDad posted:

3and2Fastball posted:

2022NYC posted:

They like the stats that will get them paid

This.  +1

I think Batting Average is a stat that is suddenly underappreciated and under rated.  And it is a stat that, when growing up, today's pro players could wrap their mind around.

I would argue that AVG has been terribly over-appreciated for far too long. Most hitters let it impact their confidence, and sometimes their approach. If you're hitting balls hard right at defenders for outs, I would argue that you're being successful. The problem with high school and sometimes college ball is that you don't get enough ABs for the numbers to work themselves out. That is, with enough ABs many of those HHBs will end up as hits and XBHs, but with a small sample that doesn't always happen.

 Be it appropriate or correct, my son (in MiLB) claims he takes articles, accolades, and stats as a grain of salt, he is aware what they say but doesn't dwell on them.  His reasoning is why add the additional pressures to do what others desire or reach a certain number value.  Every day he goes out on the field he plays every opportunity to the best of his ability.  Squaring up a ball for an out is just as valuable as a base hit, they all even out eventually.  If he does what he is paid to do then the numbers will reflect it.  He is fully aware that his parent org uses a variety of stats as an evaluation tool for his advancement.  His reasoning though is instead of him striving to reach a .350 ba,  he will play his game like he is capable of and the numbers will work out.

3and2Fastball posted:

 

That doesn't work so well in the postseason.  There will always be a place in the game for a high contact, high batting average player...  The game is already flipping back in another direction, where a mix of the 3 true outcome players (HR, Walk, K) and a mix of the high contact batting average players will be much more of a desired recipe.

 

I don't think the analytics guys would agree with you. The numbers they're looking (e.g. wOBA and wRC+) are laser focused on scoring runs. The value of a 1B vs BB is already factored into the equation. Of course K's hurt your wOBA like any other out, also.

Every playoff team last year was Top 10 wOBA except Boston. Only 6 of the 10 were Top 10 AVG. (The Astros were #1 in both.) I have to think that most of the MLB now believes in those numbers.