Science vs. Faith

Welcome aboard. I think you’ll find a little bit of both here.

Most of us here have gone through this transformation at some point. For me, it probably began with Rob Neyer and this column. Nothing like a few digs at Derek Jeter to endear yourself to a Mets’ fan.

gets a Rec from me, but this was a good piece regardless. I’m with you DJ – I still think there’s some room for blind faith even if the numbers don’t bear it out, but the stats really do enhance the understanding of the game.

cuz it works, bitches!

have been for at least the last five years, but I have to say

Locke>Shepard

Jack is just so freakin annoying.

Seriously though, I think these advanced stats make the game far more enjoyable. You have a better understanding of what happens on the field and why. Of course there is some faith involved.

I swear, John’s gonna come back in the last season as Rene Descartes and go “I think on the island therefore I am on the island” or something. I mean, for real, come up with some original character names. Desmond Dave Hume? John Locke? No more Enlightenment era European philosophers please.

Anyway, very nice post and welcome to the fold. I was one of those sitting through the rain to watch Ventura’s slam. We all have our ways of making the world make sense. Some ways just make more sense than others ;). We’re all fans here though, so no matter how much our rational minds try to take over, its still always the faith that’s going to come first (except on days when Omir Santos is in the lineup).

I am a man of science, even have a degree in it. In my rational mind I say the Mets are done, D-O-N-E, over, ended, Fin. But the John Locke (he is so damn cool) part is telling me that this is going to be the race of the century, the one that makes us forget 06,07 &08.

Damn I hope Locke is right and the cavalry arrives in time for us to win this thing.

You speak of Metsblog. I have never been a big fan but I do read it from time to time to catch a starting time, SP, line up etc. But it seems to me that Cerrone has simply lost his mind. It is no longer about the Mets its about HIS interpretation of the Mets. Its a very strange thing to stop people commentating, almost like he is afraid someone will point out his shortcomings. I think he has lost the plot, thanks for keeping AA real!!!!

My first comment got bumped because of some weirdness with the mobile posting, but all I wanted to say was that I seem to recall the ‘Lost’ analogy also coming up in a Ted Berg piece a while back. Guess someone who’s never seen the show, like myself, just has no idea.

But, hey, good post. Welcome.

through Sports Illustrated ironically. They used to mention OPS and WHIP and I wanted to know what they were. Before that I used the traditional statistics to evaluate a player, I guess like everyone else. Although in the past I would always say that OBP would be better because it tells you how many times the player is on base. But when I began reading Fire Joe Morgan I really got into sabermetrics.

is what got me into obscure statistics. For all their nerdiness, they were also the kings of common sense.

Issue 1:
You enter every season cheering for YOUR team. This is your team not because computer models tell you that they will “win it all”, or because they have the best pitchers in the history of the league. For most of us (at this site at least) it is because we just fans of the team we like. It is all faith.

I love the Mets because of a number of reasons, but none of them are better than the reasons my older brother has for being a Yankee fan. The Mets are my team, and that’s how I like it.

My kid is going to be raised a Mets fan in Mets gear. The kid is gonna listen to the Mets on the radio on long car rides. But I know that living in Baltimore is gonna be tough. That kid could fall in love with Adam Jones or the orange and black, and that will be that. It is out of my hands.

Im just excited for the opportunity to be a dad with my kid at a game. Every once and a while Uncle Catsmeat will be there, too. We’ll try our best.

Issue 2:
Better stats have made being a fan more fun. I am serious.

That being said, I still disagree with Neyer about Jeter. At the time, Jeter was worth every penny for reasons stats cannot cover. (don’t groan, I think I can make a valid point.)

He was a media darling – a walking myth. People all over the world purchased Jeter jerseys and posters because he carried with him the perception of being the greatest ball player of all time (without actually being the greatest of his generation.) You can put a price on that.

Were he on a Yankees team that only won one series (like the Braves) he would be looked upon fondly at retirement (like Chipper Jones.) But since he won those rings, and made one or two great plays on national television, he became bigger than life.

For better or for worse, baseball players will always be judged for what they did as well as what we think they did. The science and faith people will argue points and theories until the end of time. Ultimately, it is good for baseball. We’ll all keep watching.

My all time favorite metsblOg writer….
I hope you’re not just toying with the nerds hearts around here with your professions of love for the latest analytical toys. Whenever I need to assess whether Oliver Perez is in over his head—i just use my eyes and failing that, I don’t look at FIP, my G.U.T. tells me. But it looks like you ingratiated yourself pretty good here. I’m glad you’re back, the blargosphere missed you.

A presence of rationality and sanity (and intelligence) on Metsblog is truly a great benefit (since Ted Berg’s role there is so limited).

Speak of your MetsBlog days! Do you trust the Mets? Does Mike Nichols really crawl around on all fours with cheese doodles up his nose? Do they call Regis Courtemanche ‘REEG’? Were OPS and UZR redacted from your posts by the state italics monger?