San Francisco Giants: Analytics Are Not the Answer

Recent reports suggest that the San Francisco Giants are looking to move in a more analytical direction. This seems to be especially true with whomever they choose to hire as their next pitching coach.

Now, I don’t know how to run a baseball team; however, I do know that the Giants didn’t win three World Series championships in five years all thanks to analytics.

They won because of three things: outstanding pitching, great defense, and timely hitting.

One could make the argument that you can’t win that way anymore. Or perhaps, more specifically, that you can’t win that way with the Giants’ current roster.

I’d probably be inclined to believe that argument.

Here’s my theory, change the roster, not the philosophy. You can’t do too much about the starting rotation this year, but you can go out and get a solid defensive center fielder.

Don’t blow up the formula that has gotten you so much just because the Dodgers are into analytics.

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This sort of thing drives me crazy in sports. Whenever a team decides to follow whatever fad is fashionable that year, it usually doesn’t work out.

I’m instantly reminded of the whole read-option craze in the NFL a few years ago. That’s what I feel like this whole “launch angle (baseball juicing)” fad is going to be.

It’ll either end up with Rob Manfred doing some time in the clink, or it will go out of style in a few years.

Baseball games aren’t won or lost based on the numbers. If they were, the Giants wouldn’t have won any of their three World Series championships this decade.

You can’t win just playing Moneyball; you need some Trouble With the Curve in there as well.

Next: San Francisco Giants: Top Three Hitting Coaches to Target

So Bobby Evans (I know you’re reading), don’t fall into this launch angle trap. Remember what your predecessor did to bring about success, and hold true to the Giant tradition. Outstanding pitching great defense, timely hitting. Say it with me now. Outstanding pitching . . .