Luke Taylor Peever of Baton Rouge is a baseball analyst who integrates software into player tracking and bullpen charting. In this article Luke Peever gives an introduction to baseball analytics and how the top trainers, managers, and team owners are using data to improve outcomes.
The term “analytics” gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? In baseball, analytics refers to the statistical analysis of baseball data in order to better understand the game. Luke Taylor Peever says this can be used to predict player performance, evaluate strategies, and even find new ways to improve player health and safety. All of this information is collected and assessed to give teams a competitive edge.
Baseball analytics can be a lot to understand so Luke Peever of Baton Rouges says take a moment to pause, break things down, and explain some of the most important analytics used today. Luke Peever will also explore how these analytics are used and how managers build highly competitive teams using simple statistics.
What are Baseball Analytics?
In the simplest of terms, Luke Taylor Peever explains that baseball analytics is the study and analysis of baseball statistics in order to better understand the game and make better decisions. Essentially, baseball analytics is the application of statistical analysis to baseball data in order to better understand the game and give teams a competitive edge.
Which Metrics are Being Measured
Luke Peever of Baton Rouge reports that team managers, players, and analysts alike all use this information to develop effective strategies and create more competitive lineups. However, they need clear data to come up with accurate projections. This means tracking a handful of metrics, including:
1. Batting analytics
2. Pitching analytics
3. Fielding analytics
4. Base running analytics
Each analytic focuses on a different aspect of the game and can be used to answer different questions. For example, batting analytics can answer questions such as, “which players are most likely to get a hit?” or “how often do players strike out?”. Pitching analytics can be used to answer questions like “which pitchers are most effective at getting batters out?” or “how often do pitchers walk batters?”.
How are Baseball Analytics Collected?
Luke Taylor Peever explains that there are a few different ways to collect baseball data. The most common way is through a process called scouting. Scouting is when teams send personnel to watch games and collect data on players. This data is then used to assess player skills and determine which players the team should target.
Another way to collect baseball data is through the use of statistical analysis. This is when teams use data that has already been collected to answer specific questions. This data can be collected from a variety of sources, including player performance data, game data, and even weather data.
Much of this data is published by companies like FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus, and Baseball-Reference according to Luke Peever. These companies collect data from a variety of sources and then publish it for teams to use. It’s all open-source and can be accessed by anyone, from anywhere.
How are Analytics Used?
Once a team, coach, or manager has collected enough data, they can use it to answer a variety of questions, says Luke Taylor Peever. For example, analytics can be used to determine which players are most likely to get a hit, how often players strike out, which pitchers are most effective at getting batters out, or how often pitchers walk batters.
Analytics can also be used to evaluate strategies. For example, analytics can be used to determine whether a team should attempt to steal more bases, whether a pitcher should pitch to contact or strike out more batters, or whether a hitter should be more aggressive at the plate.
Luke Peever explains that analytics can also be used to find new ways to improve player health and safety. For example, analytics can be used to determine how much rest a player needs, what type of training regimen a player should follow, or how to prevent injuries. By understanding the game of baseball through analytics, teams can find new ways to win.
When Did Baseball Analytics Become Important?
The use of baseball analytics is not a new phenomenon. In fact, baseball teams have been using analytics for over 100 years. Luke Taylor Peever says the first recorded use of analytics was in 1876 when Henry Chadwick developed a system to track player statistics. This system was used to help assess player performance and ultimately led to the creation of baseball’s first statistical categories: batting average, hits, and runs.
However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that baseball analytics started to take off. This is largely due to the publication of Michael Lewis’s book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. In his book, Lewis chronicles the Oakland A’s use of analytics to build a competitive team on a shoestring budget.
As a result, teams began to invest more money in their analytical departments and hire more analysts. Today, baseball analytics is a multi-million-dollar industry and is used by almost every team in Major League Baseball.
The Bottom Line
Luke Peever explains that Baseball analytics may seem overly complicated but by tracking player stats, team managers, and coaches are better able to predict game outcomes and develop competitive strategies at the start of the season. Analytics is now a million-dollar industry responsible for revolutionizing baseball.
