Numbers Game

Now more than ever before, sports have evolved into games of numbers. Every play, shot, and pitch is dissected. Each trade, draft pick and free agent signing is scrutinized, even if it hasn't happened yet. It can feel overwhelming at times to see every little thing picked apart and broken down. Maybe someday everyone's brains will turn to mush after reading so many articles referencing HR, WAR, PER or any other statistic that ends with the letter "R."

Critics have argued that this infatuation with data and analysis is ruining sports. I disagree. When it comes to the "Moneyball" debate, I'm in Billy Beane's camp. I love all this number-crunching. I eat, breathe, and sleep statistics, so I'm excited to see analytics gain a more prominent role in sports. I've embraced the statistical revolution, probably because I've been visiting sites like FanGraphs and baseball-reference on a daily basis for years.

Analytic data is awesome because it provides so much insight that can shape the way one thinks about the game. It can wipe away misconceptions that have survived generations. Analytic data is thus a powerful tool, one that should influence every aspect of sports from scouting and player development to roster construction. marketing, and media. Sports is a business, so it only makes sense to operate a team as efficiently as possible. With millions upon millions of dollars on the line, it's imperative that teams make informed decisions and spend their money wisely.

I think the sports world has struck a proper balance in the use of sports analytics. Sports haven't become so numbers-oriented that they've turned everybody into robots. The human element still exists. My friend values Derek Jeter's leadership ability the same way I appreciate Tom Brady's poise under pressure. Intangibles matter, just not as much as they used to. There is something to be said for "heart" and "toughness"even though these qualities can't be measured.

That said, the sports world is much more enlightened than it used to be, and that is unquestionably a good thing. Knowledge is power. Fans, journalists, owners, and athletes are smarter and more resourceful. They know more about the games than ever before. The intellectual movements that originated when Bill James pioneered sabermetrics more than 30 years ago have become mainstream, but there's still room to grow. Many organizations have been slow to embrace sports analytics and represent untapped potential. I have to believe it's only a matter of time before they are forced to adopt analytics in order to keep up with the competition.

I would like to see reporters use more analytics, partially because I want to see analytics promoted. Ignorant/uninformed fans and media personalities get on my nerves, so I'd support any strategy that educates them. I think analytics improve the quality of articles as well. I find stories to be more credible, interesting, and thought-provoking when they are founded on concrete data. Lastly, with the role of reporters transitioning from breaking news (as they become replaced by Twitter and the 24 hour news cycle) to providing commentary, it's critical that they emphasize top-notch analysis. At the very least, reporters should continue using analytics at their current level. Using less would be a step in the wrong direction.

So much progress has been made in the field of sports analytics. Why not take advantage of it?