Launch Angles, Crooked Sticks and Baseball Bats _ A Rant

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

I totally understand if this is not helping your (or anybody's) enjoyment of baseball. I do think that calling it fruitless is a bit of a poor choice of words - there have been a number of examples through recent years of players focusing on launch angle and with results being fruitful (Josh Donaldson is the poster boy of this). And also just how the game is trending, with more fly balls and strike outs, part of which can be attributed to launch angle data - and this is not just a few teams, but most teams are putting the data to use in this way. Again, if this stuff doesn't appeal to you, I get it, but players, coaches, front offices, etc. are certainly utilizing it (and probably other data the public is totally unaware of, too).

You can call me a faux contrarian and you may be correct. To be honest I had similar feelings and arguments with respect to the introduction of similar technology years ago in the game of golf. On the driving range a respected golf ball maker measured my launch angle, spin and clubhead speed using my own balls and then with several of theirs. The inconsistencies in my swing resulted in superior results with my balls rather than theirs. They of course concluded independent of the results, that I would do better with their brand.

Whether or not the practical application of launch angles evolves in baseball remains to be seen in my opinion. I do have my doubts, but my mind remains open. Until then I shall remain focused on true analytics best exemplified by BABIP, BADABING & BADABOOM.

Long before the WAR, baseball was a statistical haven, which in large measure attracted me to the game in the 50s.

Where does the game go from here. If the ability to review plays improves to a matter of seconds, let’s review them all. Calling balls and strikes electronically seems entirely feasible as well. We don’t really need umpires, do we.

Perhaps the game will evolve and one day a game will be played in which the visiting team hits 9 home runs and strikes out 27 times (if leading the home team could only have 24 strikeouts). Precise launch angles and 100+ mph pitching will eliminate singles, doubles and triples. Improved pitching will virtually eliminate walks, except for intentional walks.

Obviously much of my input in this thread in said tongue in cheek. I leave it to the reader to decide which “cheek”.