Cleveland Guardians Offseason Discussion 2021-22

[Scrote Squad]

“I was always really curious on individualization (of hitters and athletes),” Valaika said. “We worked with force plates at Sparta Science. Taking that over to Chicago, it wasn’t necessarily the technology as much as it was really understanding how each athlete moves and how they tick and being able to try to tailor a plan based on what they do well, what they don’t do well, rather than just trying to throw blanket drill packages or approach or goals”.

Welcome to the modern world, Cleveland hitters.

Here's more if you want to learn more about your new hitting coach.

New hitting coach Chris Valaika ready to pop the hood on Cleveland Guardians’ hitters

Chris Valaika has traveled many paths in his baseball career and they've all led him to Cleveland.

www.cleveland.com

Is the major league staff big into analytics? I know the front office is, mainly from what you've said, but curious about the manager/coaches.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Is the major league staff big into analytics? I know the front office is, mainly from what you've said, but curious about the manager/coaches.

To a degree, yes.

A lot of their assistants typically pump the analytics up the chain. Main guys still have final say though.

In the past, some relied on and used their assistants input way more than others. Doubt that is the case this season though.

 

[sportscoach]

Hopefully it's a good mix of analytics and just old school baseball... i think you always need a good balance of the two in my mind to be a successful organization.

 

[CDAV45]

Hopefully it's a good mix of analytics and just old school baseball... i think you always need a good balance of the two in my mind to be a successful organization.

Isn't that an oxymoron?

 

[sportscoach]

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Naw, you honestly need a good mix to be successful... remember the Ian Snell in the playoffs... the analytics said take him out and the baseball said keep him in. Cash went with the analytics and it failed him. Knowing when to use it and when to go with your gut is the most important part. If you do too much of one or the other their will be more failures than successes...

Developing players can be used through analytics but you cannot ever take the human factors out of the development as well. On paper if I told you, someone who is 5'6 could be an All-Star you would laugh me out of the room, but Altuve proved that with the right training, it's possible. Kwan fails at combine stats but his game film so far has been impressive. Don't choose both sides, see both sides and combine both sides...

 

[Urban]

Think Cash's mistake was to go to his closer who had given up a earned run in 6 straight appearances

 

[CDAV45]

Naw, you honestly need a good mix to be successful... remember the Ian Snell in the playoffs... the analytics said take him out and the baseball said keep him in. Cash went with the analytics and it failed him. Knowing when to use it and when to go with your gut is the most important part. If you do too much of one or the other their will be more failures than successes...

Developing players can be used through analytics but you cannot ever take the human factors out of the development as well. On paper if I told you, someone who is 5'6 could be an All-Star you would laugh me out of the room, but Altuve proved that with the right training, it's possible. Kwan fails at combine stats but his game film so far has been impressive. Don't choose both sides, see both sides and combine both sides...

Can or should we presume to know the outcome had a different decision been made?

Jose Altuve is not a prototype for any other 5'6" ballplayer. They either produce and remain relevant or they find themselves exiting after a few short years. What you can do is look at the analytics that overwhelmingly suggest that 5'6" men aren't likely to make it in MLB. Kwan's analytics suggest he can play so I don't know how you're determining that some "old school approach/method" is keeping him in the game.

Was it analytics that had Cash pull Snell or was it his gut?

 

[Steve_424]

Good for TB and for Wander

 

[Ohio]

Good for TB and for Wander

Woah. This is kinda stunning given where TB typically is in payroll. Cool to see.

Did that salary floor (payed for by taxes on teams spending more than $200 mil) proposal get passed?

 

[Steve_424]

Woah. This is kinda stunning given where TB typically is in payroll. Cool to see.

Did that salary floor (payed for by taxes on teams spending more than $200 mil) proposal get passed?

Nothing new has passed, I just think they know that's a steal for a player as talented as Wander. This is the way to go if you're going to give out big contracts - give up pre-arb years to lock up prime years. Much smarter than giving a 10 year deal to a 27 year old like NY/Lindor.

 

[sportscoach]

Can or should we presume to know the outcome had a different decision been made?

Jose Altuve is not a prototype for any other 5'6" ballplayer. They either produce and remain relevant or they find themselves exiting after a few short years. What you can do is look at the analytics that overwhelmingly suggest that 5'6" men aren't likely to make it in MLB. Kwan's analytics suggest he can play so I don't know how you're determining that some "old school approach/method" is keeping him in the game.

Was it analytics that had Cash pull Snell or was it his gut?

Analytics said to take him out... that being stated that did get them there for the most part...

You kind of served my point with Altuve, analytics say he wouldnt make it and Kwan is a small guy who honestly is an average athlete if not below average for the OF, but his one the field numbers say something completely different... you wouldn't look at the guy and say OF, you may say 2B if he's lucky...

All I am saying is analytics are good, but it doesn't take into account human factors like personality, intangibles, outliers etc. Making sure you do both with a good balance is important otherwise you will miss players and/or make the wrong decisions more often than the right one.

 

[Derek]

Analytics said to take him out... that being stated that did get them there for the most part...

You kind of served my point with Altuve, analytics say he wouldnt make it and Kwan is a small guy who honestly is an average athlete if not below average for the OF, but his one the field numbers say something completely different... you wouldn't look at the guy and say OF, you may say 2B if he's lucky...

All I am saying is analytics are good, but it doesn't take into account human factors like personality, intangibles, outliers etc. Making sure you do both with a good balance is important otherwise you will miss players and/or make the wrong decisions more often than the right one.

You have it backwards with Altuve. Analytics would say to ignore his diminutive stature and just focus on the fact that he rakes.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Good for TB and for Wander

I hope Cleveland has a hitter soon that a similar deal will make sense to do. A risk but a good one if you see a true star at a very young age.

 

[DCTribefan]

I hope Cleveland has a hitter soon that a similar deal will make sense to do. A risk but a good one if you see a true star at a very young age.

He’s now a verywell-paid diva, and yes he’s very good at baseball.

 

[Steve_424]

He’s now a verywell-paid diva, and yes he’s very good at baseball.

Why is Wander a diva?