The Impact of Analytics on Baseball: How Data is Shaping Strategy

From Moneyball to Statcast, analytics have reformed how teams draft and evaluate players, build strategies, and win games.

By: Romir Vishwanath

https://hittingperformancelab.com/baseball-analytics

Baseball is no longer a game of instincts — it is a game of numbers. The applications of statistics to Major League Baseball have revolutionized the game like never before. But how did the game shift from the use of simple stats like batting average, home runs, and runs batted in (RBI) to WAR, OPS+, and the use of exit velocity and launch angle?

For most of baseball history, success was marked by traditional stats like RBIs and batting average. However, the early 2000s marked a revolutionary shift in the use of statistics in baseball — Moneyball. When Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane needed to find a way to compete with teams like the Yankees, who had plenty of financial firepower and could use it to sign star free agents to expensive contracts, he turned to analytics. Beane implemented the use of objective statistics to scout players, namely On Base Percentage (OBP). They avoided drafting players based on unquantifiable traits such as “grit”, “swagger,” or “potential” for high school players. Instead, they focused on college prospects who had already established a record. In addition to avoiding overhyped stats like home runs and runs batted in(RBIs), they also looked for players with some kind of flaw that reduced their value in the market, like bad defense or being an aging veteran, yet still harnessed the offensive capabilities that the team needed. After applying these principles, the Athletics amassed 102 wins in 2001, 103 wins in 2002, and 96 wins in 2003, winning the division twice in this stretch ( Baseball Reference ). The calculated use of statistics was documented in the 2003 book, Moneyball, by Michael Lewis, and has been famous ever since. Moving closer to modern day, we come to the Statcast era.

In 2015, every MLB team began implementing high-speed cameras and radars to collect data on players in real time. These cameras can measure exit velocity, the speed at which the ball leaves the bat, launch angle of the ball, and spin rate and speed for pitchers. Hitting coaches have started working with their players to change their swings so they can maximize their chances of hitting the ball at the optimal angle for a long hit or a homer. On the pitching side, pitchers optimize their mechanics and pitch grips for increased speed and movement on their pitches, usually compromising their arm health and longevity in the process. The modern Statcast era has also seen the rise in the Three True Outcomes, which are home runs, strikeouts, and walks, outcomes that fielders do not interfere with. As emphasis is put on hitting the ball hard and in the air, less weak contact is created, which is caused by the environment of the Statcast era.

As the game of baseball continues to evolve, harnessing the use of data will not just be an advantage for teams, but rather the foundation for winning.