Don’t Want No Stat-ic | Dusty Baker Let The Baseball World Know Just What He Thinks Of The New Stat Era

Don’t Want No Stat-ic | Dusty Baker Let The Baseball World Know Just What He Thinks Of The New Stat Era

by | Jun 24, 2024 | 5TH SLOT

Baseball has found a new way of bringing discussions of sports science to fans, media, scouts and front office executives. Seemingly every week, baseball announcers are calling out the newest advanced statistic to bring a deeper meaning to the game particularly when it comes to hard hit balls coming out of the batter’s box.

 

It became so prevalent that MLBbro.com has gotten in the advanced stat business trying to analyze the combination of computer and advanced metrics.

 

 

While this newer form of information continues to become more complex and detailed. More and more developmental programs are being started to supposedly help the generation get to the next level in the game but with more understanding of why. While the game is going more toward the computer age to generate more power and bat speed, is technique starting to take a backseat?

 

 

The MLBbro managerial Icon, Dusty Baker had an emphatic statement that made it to social media when he was managing the Houston Astros that leads most to believe that advanced stats aren’t everything…

 

“I see you guys in the video room, just looking at your swings, reading all of these stats. At some point, you have to say f— all that s— and go out there and hit. All I hear is y’all talking about launch angle and tendency and exit velocity. F–king exit velocity?! Motherf–king exit velocity?! How about motherf–king exit hits?!”

Is Dusty Baker bashing advanced stats here? No. This is probably nothing more than a social media post taking a quote out of context for clicks. But this MLBbro great is wise enough to know that hitting a baseball has simple steps that don’t need multiple advanced stats to reinvent the wheel. From his first baseball spring in MLB in the ’60s with the Atlanta Braves (with Hank Aaron as his teammate) to currently being an special advisor with the San Francisco Giants, championships included as a player and manager shows one thing…

 

The man may know what he is talking about when it comes to hitting. He does have enough clout in the game that Willie Mays gave him a statement to share to fans in Birmingham.

 

The bottom line is baseball is a very difficult sport. The speed of the game has increased. The complexity of the pitches are seemingly increasing every week and the pressures of the hitters to produce are growing with each at-bat.

 

But what Dusty Baker is trying to say is to not forget the basics of hitting a baseball. Sometimes it just comes down to…

 

  • Keeping your head down…
  • Keeping your hands back…
  • Keeping the eye on the ball…
  • Time it right and trust the mechanics that were taught…

 

Advanced stats in any sport, particularly baseball, don’t tell the story of what happens in a game, or the passion and heart of a player. If you disagree, MLBbro.com will leave you with this video about the late Willie Mays, who didn’t need analytics and advanced stats to shine.