PHOENIX � For some baseball fans, hits, batting average, wins and earned run average are the best way to evaluate talent. To others, those archaic statistics mean little compared to OPS+, xwOBA, spin rate and whiff rate.
Baseball relies heavily on analytics and data, and as the oldest North American Big Four sport, the game has evolved. Through a modern lens, Cy Young’s statistics of 511 wins and 749 complete games are incomprehensible. Or Ty Cobb’s .366 career batting average and 4,189 hits with just 177 home runs across 3,034 games seems impossible.
kAmx? `hg_[ 32D632== 492?865 H96? 2FE9@C 2?5 32D632== 9:DE@C:2? q:== y2>6D 4@:?65 E96 E6C> D236C>6EC:4D] w6 567:?65 :E 2D “E96 D62C49 7@C @3;64E:G6 <?@H=6586 23@FE 32D632==]� pD DE2E:DE:42= 2?2=JD:D 92D 6G@=G65 2?5 E649?@=@8J 92D :>AC@G65[ 72?D 2?5 E62>D 6I2>:?6 32D632== 5:776C6?E=J :? a_ad]k^Am
k9cm%96 C@=6 @7 2 DE2CE:?8 A:E496Ck^9cm
kAm%96 A@D:E:@? E92E 92D D66? E96 >@DE D:8?:7:42?E 492?86 D:?46 32D632==’D :?46AE:@? :D E96 DE2CE:?8 A:E496C] (96E96C :E’D E96 :?4C62D65 G6=@4:EJ @C E96 =@H6C ?F>36C @7 :??:?8D[ 2 DE2CE:?8 A:E496C’D 5FE:6D :? a_ad 2C6 G6CJ 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96:C C@=6D :? E96 A2DE]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 96=A @7 >@56C? E649?@=@8J[ DA@CED 2?2=JE:4D AC@G6D E92E A:E496CD 2C6[ @? 2G6C286[ =6DD 67764E:G6 E96 =@?86C E96J A:E49] pD 2 C6DF=E[ >2?286CD 2==@H DE2CE:?8 A:E496CD E@ E9C@H 76H6C :??:?8D A6C 82>6 2?5 76H6C :??:?8D A6C D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? ECF6 E9C@F89@FE 2== @7 32D632== 9:DE@CJ E92E E96 >@C6 2 32EE6C 7246D 2 A:E496C[ E96 >@C6 25G2?E286 E92E E96 32EE6C 86ED[â€� D2:5 |:4926= v:CD49[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 DA64:2= AC@;64ED 7@C E96 $E] {@F:D r2C5:?2=D D2:5] â€�%92E H2D ECF6 `__ J62CD 28@[ 2?5 :E’D ECF6 E@52J]â€k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E62>D H2?E:?8 E@ =:>:E E96 ?F>36C @7 E:>6D 2 32EE6C D66D E96 D2>6 A:E496C[ E62>D 2C6 492D:?8 E96 9:896DE G6=@4:EJ 2?5 >2I:>F> >@G6>6?E]k^Am
kAm�*@F DE2CE H:E9 G6=@4:EJ] '6=@4:EJ C6BF:C6D >2I 677@CE] |2I 677@CE >62?D J@F 42?’E E9C@H 2D >2?J A:E496D] $@ E92E =625D E@ 76H6C :??:?8D A6C DE2CE[� D2:5 $4@EE qFD9[ rt~ @7 E96 $@4:6EJ 7@C p>6C:42? q2D632== #6D62C49]k^Am
kAm%96 @77:4:2= 72DE6DE >2;@C =628F6 A:E49 6G6C C64@C565 :D pC@=5:D r92A>2?’D `_d]g >A9 72DE32== 7C@> a_`_[ 3FE D@>6 D4:6?46 2?5 3:@>6492?:4D DF886DE :E >2J 36 A@DD:3=6 7@C D@>6@?6 E@ E9C@H FA E@ `ad >A9]k^Am
kAmt?@ $2CC:D HC@E6 2? 2CE:4=6 7@C %96 pE9=6E:4 :? a_ac 23@FE E96 42A23:=:E:6D @7 2 9F>2? 36:?8 E@ E9C@H 2 72DE32==] y:>>J qF77:[ H9@ 92D 2 !ws :? 3:@>65:42= 6?8:?66C:?8 2?5 6IA6C:6?46 :? |{q[ 82G6 9:D >2I:>F> G6=@4:EJ E96@CJ]k^Am
kAm�(96? J@F 3F:=5 FA 2 D:>A=6 A9JD:4D >@56= E92E :D 6DD6?E:2==J 2 D6C:6D @7 4@==:D:@?D 36EH66? 3@5J A2CED[ J@F 86E 2 >2I 72DE32== G6=@4:EJ @7 23@FE `ad >A9[� qF77: D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 qF77:’D AC@;64E:@? :D 9:89=J E96@C6E:42=[ :E FD6D 2 A:E49:?8 4@?46AE 42==65 E96 �<:?6E:4 492:?� E@ 56D4C:36 E96 “D6C:6D @7 6?6C8J EC2?D76CD 36EH66? EH@ >2DD6D]� %96 A6CD@? EC2?D76CD 6?6C8J 7C@> E96 =68D E@ E96 E@CD@[ 2== E96 H2J FA E96 2C>[ 2?5 7:?2==J :?E@ E96 32==]k^Am
kAmzJ=6 q@55J � 2 DA64:2= 25G:D@C 7@C E96 q@DE@? #65 $@I 2?5 7@F?56C @7 sC:G6=:?6 q2D632==[ 2 52E2\5C:G6? 32D632== A=2J6C 56G6=@A>6?E @C82?:K2E:@? � 2C8F65 E92E 2=E9@F89 E9C@H:?8 2 `ad\>A9 72DE32== >2J 36 2 DEC6E49[ C6249:?8 ``_ >A9 4@F=5 36 A@DD:3=6]k^Am
kAm%@ 249:6G6 E9:D[ E9@F89[ 2 A:E496C H@F=5 92G6 E@ 92G6 E96 A6C764E A9JD:42= DECF4EFC6 2?5 >@G6>6?ED]k^Am
kAm�(6�== ?665 E@ FD6 ?6H >6E9@5D[ =:<6 D:>F=2E:@? @7 9F>2? >@G6>6?E H:E9 >:==:@?D @7 DJ?E96E:4 52E2 A@:?ED FD:?8 >249:?6 =62C?:?8 2?5 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 E@ 6IA=@C6 E96 6?E:C6 =2E6?E DA246 @7 A@DD:3=6 >6492?:42= @FEAFED 2?5 >FD4F=2C 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ E96 E9C@H:?8 >@E:@?[� q@55J D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E62>D 2C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 6?4@FC286 E96:C DE2CE:?8 A:E496CD E@ 492D6 9:896C G6=@4:EJ[ E96 9F>2? 3@5J >2J 92G6 C624965 :ED 46:=:?8 H:E9 E96 2>@F?E @7 DEC6DD E96 D>2== =:82>6?ED 2?5 E6?5@?D 42? E2<6] pD E96 >FD4=6D :? E96 2C> 4@?E:?F6 E@ DEC6?8E96?[ E96 E6?5@?D 2?5 =:82>6?ED 5@ ?@E DEC6?8E96? AC@A@CE:@?2==J]k^Am
kAmpD 2 C6DF=E[ DE2CE:?8 A:E496CD 2C6 >@C6 7C6BF6?E=J 25>:?:DE6C65 %@>>J y@9? DFC86CJ[ 7:CDE 25>:?:DE6C65 E@ A:E496C %@>>J y@9? :? `hfc]k^Am
kAm�%96 3:8 9@A6 :D E92E E96 4@?E:?F65 H@C< :? 3:@>6492?:4D H:== =625 E@ 2 A=246 H96C6 H6 42? 92G6 >@C6 DFDE2:?23=6 @FE4@>6D 3@E9 :? E6C>D @7 9@H =@?8 2 A=2J6C 42? E9C@H :? 2 82>6[ 3FE 2=D@ 9@H =@?8 E96J 42? E9C@H 7@C E96:C 42C66C[� qFD9 D2:5]k^Am
k9cms@ C6DF=ED\32D65 A6C7@C>2?46 5:4E2E6 DF446DDnk^9cm
kAmp?@E96C H2J E92E 2?2=JE:4D 2?5 52E2 92G6 492?865 32D632== :D E9C@F89 D4@FE:?8 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46 2?2=JD:D] %96 C6DF=ED @?=J E6== A2CE @7 E96 DE@CJ[ 2?5 25G2?465 2?2=JE:4D 2C6 @7E6? FD65 2D AC65:4E:G6 >62DFC6D]k^Am
kAmâ€�(6 =@@< 2E 9@H J@FC A2DE A6C7@C>2?46 :D >@DE =:<6=J E@ AC@;64E J@FC 7FEFC6 A6C7@C>2?46[â€� v:CD49 D2:5] â€�(6’G6 8@EE6? 2H2J 7C@> ;FDE E96 C6DF=ED 2?5 >@C6 E@H2C5D E96 42FD6D @7 E96 C6DF=ED]â€k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 36DE C6D@FC46D 7@C 72?D E@ D66 H92E :D �42FD:?8 E96 C6DF=ED� @7 E96:C 72G@C:E6 A=2J6CD :D E96 H63D:E6 q2D632== $2G2?E] w6C6[ 52E2 =:<6 32CC6= C2E6[ 92C5 9:E C2E6[ H9:77 C2E6 2?5 =2F?49 2?8=6 42? 36 FD65 E@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 H92E =625D E@ 2 A=2J6C’D C6DF=ED]k^Am
kAm#2E96C E92? =@@<:?8 2E 2 A=2J6C’D 32EE:?8 2G6C286[ H9:49 @?=J 724E@CD :? H96E96C 2 A=2J6C 8@E 2 9:E @C ?@E[ 2 A=2J6C’D 6IA64E65 32EE:?8 2G6C286 724E@CD :? 6I:E G6=@4:EJ 2?5 =2F?49 2?8=6]k^Am
kAmx? E96 62C=J a_`_D[ q2D632== #676C6?46 :?4@CA@C2E65 H92E :D ?@H @?6 @7 E96 >@DE C676CC65 E@ DE2E:DE:4D[ H:?D 23@G6 C6A=246>6?E] (p# 6IA=2:?D 2 A=2J6C’D G2=F6 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 2G6C286 C6A=246>6?E A=2J6C :? E92E A=2J6C’D A=2J:?8 E:>6]k^Am
kAmq236 #FE9 92D E96 9:896DE (p# :? |{q 9:DE@CJ 2E `ga]e[ :? =2C86 A2CE 5F6 E@ C6A=246>6?E A=2J6CD :? E92E 6C2 36:?8 H6== 36=@H E96 C6A=246>6?E A=2J6CD :? E96 >@56C? 6C2] q2CCJ q@?5D 92D E96 9:896DE (p# 2>@?8 >@56C? A=2J6CD 2E `ea]g[ H9:=6 #2?5J y@9?D@? C@F?5D @FE E96 E@A b_ H:E9 `_`]`]k^Am
kAmx? a_`a[ (p# 6?E6C65 E96 >2:?DEC62> 5FC:?8 E96 p>6C:42? {628F6 |'! C246 36EH66? |:<6 %C@FE 2?5 |:8F6= r23C6C2] r23C6C2 H@? E96 %C:A=6 rC@H?[ =625:?8 E96 p{ :? 32EE:?8 2G6C286[ 9@>6 CF?D[ 2?5 CF?D 32EE65 :?] xE H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 `hef H96? r2C= *2DECK6>D<: 5:5 D@ 7@C E96 q@DE@? #65 $@I]k^Am
kAm&D:?8 32D6\=6G6= DE2E:DE:4D[ r23C6C2 H2D 36EE6C E92? %C@FE[ 3FE 3642FD6 @7 %C@FE’D DA665 2?5 5676?D6[ 9:D (p# H2D `_]d 4@>A2C65 E@ r23C6C2’D f]`] x? H92E 4@F=5 92G6 @E96CH:D6 366? 2 F?2?:>@FD |'! 7@C r23C6C2[ %C@FE C646:G65 D:I 7:CDE\A=246 G@E6D[ 2?5 E96 42D6 42? 36 >256 E92E 96 H2D >@C6 56D6CG:?8 @7 E96 2H2C5]k^Am
k9cms2E2’D 67764E @? |2;@C {628F6 q2D632==’D CF=6Dk^9cm
kAm|{q C6=:6D @? 52E2 2?5 2?2=JE:4D E@ 492?86 E96 CF=6D @7 E96 82>6[ >2<:?8 :E >@C6 6?;@J23=6 7@C 72?D E@ H2E49] x? a_ab[ E96 =628F6 C6DEC:4E65 E96 H2J 5676?D6D 42? D9:7E E@ 3C:?8 324< 2E9=6E:4:D> H:E9 >@C6 32==D :? A=2J 2?5 >@C6 @776?D6]k^Am
kAm%62>D 7@F?5 E92E E96 H2J E@ =:>:E E96 52>286 @7 6IEC6>6 AF== 9:EE6CD =:<6 s2G:5 ~CE:K[ y@6J v2==@ @C r9C:D s2G:D H2D E@ D9:7E E96 :?7:6=56CD E@ E96 A=246D H96C6 E96J >@DE 7C6BF6?E=J 9:E E96 32==] $@F?5D D:>A=6[ C:89Enk^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=ED H6C6 C6>2C<23=6] uC@> a___ E@ a__h[ E96 =628F6 32EE:?8 2G6C286 H2D 23@FE ]aed] uC@> a_`_ E@ a_aa[ :E H2D 23@FE ]ad`]k^Am
kAm%96 =628F6 D2H E9:D 2D 2 AC@3=6> 2?5 >@5:7:65 E96 D9:7E:?8 CF=6D D@ E92E E62>D >FDE <66A EH@ :?7:6=56CD @? 6:E96C D:56 @7 D64@?5 32D6[ 2?5 E96J >2J ?@E A@D:E:@? E96>D6=G6D @? E96 @FE7:6=5 8C2DD]k^Am
kAmxE :D :>A@CE2?E E@ 24<?@H=6586 E92E 4@CC6=2E:@? :D 4@>>@?=J 4@?7FD65 H:E9 42FD2E:@?] x7 EH@ DE2E:DE:4D 2C6 4@CC6=2E65[ E92E 5@6D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J >62? E92E @?6 G2C:23=6 :D =625:?8 E@ E96 @E96C] x?4C62D65 G6=@4:EJ[ >@C6 A:E496CD 2?5 36EE6C 2?2=JE:4D 7@C A:E496CD 4@F=5 2=D@ 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E96 =@H6C 32EE:?8 2G6C286D]k^Am
kAmxE :D E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 7C@?E @77:46D 2?5 D4@FED E@ 7:?5 E96 >@DE C6=6G2?E DE2E:DE:4D 2?5 56E6C>:?6 :7 2 42FD2E:@? 6I:DED]k^Am
kAm�%96C6 2C6 2=H2JD ?6H 52E2 D@FC46D 2?5 D@FC46D @7 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E9@D6 2?5 FD6 E96> 67764E:G6=J 2D 72DE 2D J@F 42?[ D@ J@F’C6 29625 @7 E96 :?5FDECJ :D A2CE @7 @FC ;@3D[� v:CD49 D2:5]k^Am
k9cm(92E 5@6D E96 7FEFC6 9@=5nk^9cm
kAm%9:D D62D@? 92D 2=C625J D66? E@CA65@ 32ED >2<6 E96:C :>A24E @? E96 a_ad D62D@?] %96D6 C6=2E:G6=J ?6H 32ED[ A@AF=2C:K65 3J E96 }6H *@C< *2?<66D[ 4@F=5 36 E96 ?6IE 3:8 E9:?8 :? |{q]k^Am
kAmx? DAC:?8 EC2:?:?8 2?5 E9C@F89@FE E96 >:?@C =628F6D[ |{q E6DE65 E96 2FE@>2E65 32==\DEC:<6 DJDE6>[ 2?5 :E >2J ?@E 36 E@@ =@?8 367@C6 :E >2<6D :ED H2J E@ E96 >2;@CD]k^Am
kAm�(6’C6 4@?DE2?E=J ECJ:?8 E@ E2<6 H92E6G6C E96 ?6H6DE E649?@=@8J :D 2?5 FD6 :E E@ 96=A @FC A=2J6CD :>AC@G6] (92E’D E96 ?6H E649?@=@8Jn x 5@?’E <?@H] qFE H92E6G6C :E :D[ H6 92G6 E@ C624E E@ :E BF:4<=J :? @C56C E@ :?E68C2E6 :E :?E@ @FC DJDE6>[� v:CD49 D2:5]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 D@>6 @7 E96 C646?E CF=6 492?86D[ E96C6 2C6 DE:== D@ >2?J @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C E62>D E@ :??@G2E6 E96 82>6 H:E9 ?6H 6IA6C:>6?ED]k^Am
kAm“x�5 =@G6 E@ D66 DEF5:6D @? H92E H6 42? 5@ H:E9 E96 32== @C E96 32ED E@ C65F46 E96 E9C66 ECF6 @FE4@>6Di 9@>6 CF?D[ H2=<D 2?5 DEC:<6@FED] (92E 42? H6 5@ :? E92E DA246 E@ 86E >@C6 32==D :? A=2J[ 86E >@C6 A6@A=6 CF??:?8 E96 32D6D[ 2?5 86E 6G6? >@C6 2E9=6E:4:D> :?E@ E96 82>6[� qFD9 D2:5]k^Am
