Know thine enemy. This is new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik. The face of Beelzebul himself. He...

Know thine enemy. This is new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik. The face of Beelzebul himself. He knoweth not the redeeming power of the 32 year old "live arm." He doth consorteth with the demons that dwell is the valley of the shadow of their mothers' basements.

Geoff Baker reports:

"One new development with the Mariners that kind of got lost in the crazed aftermath of that 12-player J.J. Putz trade is that Seattle will no longer use an advance scout for games. This role is instead being transfered to the team's new department of statistical analysis. The idea is that the team will receive video of their opponents and have workers in the new department break down each pitch from a statistical viewpoint. They can grade the break on curve balls, tendencies to throw certain pitches in certain situations, figure out what hitters like to swing at, that sort of thing."

11 months ago devil_fingers 20 comments 0 recs |

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Argh.

I wish we could do something like that.

by rockchalk on Dec 13, 2008 5:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He looks like a mole man

Stupid mole men and their underground advanced statistical analysis! You shall not prevail!

by raefzilla on Dec 13, 2008 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hans Moleman?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 14, 2008 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

awesome

someone should inform LL

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 14, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't wathcing/playing the point of sports?

I know these guys aren’t hired to enjoy baseball; they’re hired to get answers. But it sounds like their sucking the life out of scouting.

On a side note: Ethiopian quisine is all the rage right now. I tried it today and was unimpressed. It was cool to eat with my hands, though.

by BrRoyal on Dec 13, 2008 5:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

But it sounds like their sucking the life out of scouting.

They aren’t doing away with scouting. They are just replacing the “advance scouts” who observe and write “the book” on a team’s opponents. And basically they are replacing advance scouts with something better. They are sucking the life out of advance scouting and replacing it with more useful information.

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Dec 13, 2008 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems like some sort of combo would be best

but no guts, no glory I guess.

by Top Ramen on Dec 14, 2008 12:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I f*cking LOVE Ethiopian food

I’ve had some mediocre Ethiopian food from some mediocre restaurants, but good Ethiopian food is fucking amazing. Anyone coming to the NYC area, I recommend Ghenet in Manhattan or Mesob in Montclair, NJ. I’m not saying good Ethiopian food is a big deal, but if you eat it, it will probably change your life forever.

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Dec 13, 2008 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+10

I don’t remember when I first had it. I think it was the Ethiopean family in my church growing up. But it’s like the Reuben sandwich of international cuisine (to mangle a line from Bill Simmons) — I never get it enough, and when I do, I always wonder why I don’t eat it more often.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 13, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I've found that it can be very hit or miss, depending on the restaurant

The first I had was at an Eritrean restaurant in Minneapolis. I don’t know if it was an ethnic difference, but the injera was white, thick and extra spongy. Overall the food really wasn’t very good. But most Ethiopian food I’ve had has been very good.

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Dec 13, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But wait, baseball teams haven't been doing that for all of the decades of baseball history

So it must be wrong.

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Dec 13, 2008 5:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Obviously, he could turn out to be a disaster

but really, it would be worth it just to have more excuses to post pictures of this guy.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 13, 2008 5:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Crap.

And the competition gets tougher.

IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON"T FIX IT!!!!11

The Nation at large.

by Royals Nation on Dec 13, 2008 7:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

wow

Using computers or whatever MIGHT be a good idea, but stripping advance scouts is not. Using both would be much more effective than just one or the other. I guarantee there are things you can see at the game that you can not with a video.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 13, 2008 8:05 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Computers can't detect grit

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Dec 13, 2008 11:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

haha

well things like that. i’m not saying using new technology is a bad idea…far from it…but there are things like defensive shifts, player emotions/reactions (MAKEUP!), defensive player range…

would sending at least one advance scout be so hard? nope. and it would likely be worth it.

mixing and matching things like stats…scouts…new technology is the right way to go, not going all out one way or the other.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 13, 2008 11:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

receive video of their opponents and have workers in the new department break down each pitch from a statistical viewpoint

Seems like they are already doing that. This one guy will be able to advance scout with video for all of that. I’m sure MLB uses many different camera angles similar to what the NFL does (well maybe not MLB is lightyears behind the NFL on prety much everything) so this one guy should be able to use the technology and advance scout the game all in one.

With F/X technology combined with the video I’m sure this tech wizard will be able to put together a much better hitting video/diagram for the batting coach and players.

Much better idea that anyone is using currently and it sounds like this GM should be able to advance F/X technology and the use of technology in the game tremendously. It won’t take long for other teams to jump on board. Really not all that shocking that a team in the Northwest was the first to think of it but kind of shocking it wasn’t the Silicon Valley A’s

It takes 46 muscles to frown but only 4 to flip 'em the bird.

by kcscoliny on Dec 14, 2008 9:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's also cool

that Zduriencik is a guy who, from everything I’ve read, is from a pretty traditional scouting background. That he’s been so proactive in combining several different approaches to get all the been information he can shows a real organizaitonal vision. Of course, it’s still a matter of how they use all the information…

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 14, 2008 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs