Having Fun With Data: Sabermetrics Style

Description:
In this episode, learn one way that you can have fun with data.  We’ll discuss Sabermetrics, and how using data can enhance your enjoyment of the game of baseball.

Timeline:
00:55 - Welcome to the Show
03:05 - Why I Love Baseball
04:36 - A Few Baseball Rules
07:58 - A Pivotal Moment in Baseball
12:00 - Basic Statistics
15:34 - More Contributions from Bill James
17:05 - Lasting Effects on the Game
22:40 - The Last Record

Useful Links:
Retrosheet.org
Baseball-Reference.com
Fangraphs WAR
Baseball-Reference WAR

The Last Record:

1. Data can be fun, and there are so many questions that you can answer using data.  In baseball that means questions like…
   • Do better hitters get fewer good pitches to hit?
   • Or what impact does the composition of the ball have on a hitter’s performance?
2. This leads to the 2nd key takeaway that data can enhance your understanding of something that you enjoy, even if it is only a hobby.  And sometimes, if you enjoy the data that much, it can even lead you to a career.
3. Data often has gaps.  Advanced statistics were created to try isolating the performance of the player being analyzed.  In your own analysis, it is important to be cognizant of the gaps that may be present.