Analytics: The New Manager

It's time for another Sunday Edition of "Sunday Reading!"

Before I get started,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!!!

Now, Back to the article.

In Today's age of technology and where the Internet can rule everything, We dive into where Analytics have taken over the Sports word.

I'm only going to tackle baseball, Hockey and others may or may not be written about at a later time.

In a recent Interview on a Fox Sports segment, Former Mets Manager, Terry Collins was asked about today's Managers and about their roles. What he said was absolutely shocking and eye opening!

I won't go into the nitty-gritty, but Terry mentioned that The Manager's role has severely Diminished! He went on to say that the Manager doesn't pick and choose the lineup, Who plays, who gets a day off, who to use, who to send down, who should be called up, etc. etc. etc.

What does that mean?

It means that the Manager's role has devolved into nothing more than a "Yes Man" role. 

Collins continued by saying it's all the Analytics department and the Front office that virtually makes every Baseball decision, including on the field/In game decisions to a major extent! 

After listening to this, Collins makes a lot of sense and the moves some, if not all teams makes that are 100% Questionable are moves that Manager that is in control doesn't make!

A Manager has virtually no control in today's game! You look at managers such as Joe Maddon, Buck Showalter, Bruce Bochy, Tito (Terry) Francona, Joe Girardi and others, they aren't/weren't in control the last several years. You can make the argument that even though they are/weren't "Yes Men" that they are now to when it comes to the Analytics department of their respective teams they Manage/Managed.

New managers such as Mickey Callaway, Aaron Boone, Alex Cora, Brad Ausmus, Brandon Hyde, Davey Martinez (Just to name a few) are all "Yes Men" To the Front office staff and the Analytical Departments.

As stated before, Managers virtually don't any decisions based on what they see with their own 2 eyes or even the eyes of the coaching staff. It's all the Analytics department and the General Manager (Whomever it is) making the On the Field decisions for the Managers.

Major League Baseball has 100% Bought into this new Analytics regime! The League trusts these analytics so much, that the Manager could be used as the Metaphorical Scapegoat when Team isn't winning games! The Analytics Department is full of people who most likely haven't been on a Baseball field or even played the game and who probably only look at stats and the advanced stats to make determinations and decisions necessary Like who plays, where a player Bats in the lineup, how many at-bats, defensive positioning, where to be positioned for when the opposition bats, who pitches, what pitches they throw, when to bring a relief pitcher in, etc etc etc.

It's virtually annoying to see how much the game has Devolved, yes Devolved! It's devolved so much that Managers can't manage on instinct anymore rather than being told what to do each and every minute. 

Look, here's my take on Analytics and Conclusion:

If you want to use to help study the opposition? That's fine. Want to use Analytics to find out which match-ups work best? That's fine. Let the Manager make the final Lineup decisions though, Let the Manager make the In-Game decisions, Let the Manager manage the game! Analytics are good for studying the opponent, but when you let the Pencil pushing eggheads in the Analytics Department (Picture shown Above for Comedic Relief) make all the decisions for you, In my humble opinion you're only ruining the Great game of Baseball! I want to see Managers act on instinct and what they see, not by what the Front Office or what the Analytics department sees!

That'll draw the end of this one today.

Again, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL!

Until the Next Article my Friends,

LETS GO METS!!!