"the Royals have two sabermetricians working for them" - GMDM -- if so, do we know who they are...

"the Royals have two sabermetricians working for them" - GMDM

-- if so, do we know who they are and if they're any good?

almost 3 years ago benfunke 22 comments 0 recs |

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Brian Bannister and that Tim guy that annoys me by yelling in between innings at the stadium

too bad one is a mediocre pitcher and the other is just a douche bag

Farnsworth's imitation tight-pants now on sale at Dick's!

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on Jul 13, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

good thought

wily move by DM to include Banny as one of them, b/c he technically is an “employee”

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

We hired them away from the Rays

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 13, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Wow! Check out their stats!

by AxDxMx on Jul 13, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice arc in that curveball!

I’d assess that pitch f/x data anytime.

Get treated. Royally.

by Royals Nation on Jul 13, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

They look very toolsy

If all else fails, stop using all else

by ksuroyals on Jul 13, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless you want to get banned

Don’t you dare suggest that they are doing a bad job.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Jul 13, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

This is the Front Office staff:

Look at the bio’s in the Baseball ops depatment. I’m guessing Jin Wong and Kyle Vena.

EVERYONE else is a scout.

by kcbottom9th on Jul 13, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

oops

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=kc

by kcbottom9th on Jul 13, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Kyle Vena

Vena assists GM Dayton Moore and the baseball operations staff in all facets of the club’s Major League daily operations, including roster and statistical analysis, coordination of professional scouting coverage, and overseeing the Royals baseball operations internship program.

So he’s been there fourteen years, aka “The Royals Glory Years”

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 13, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah keep reading

He was the bat boy. He’s really only been in his position three years, after graduating from UMKC Law school.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 13, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

What pics does him and Swartz have on Dayton

Jeff Zimmerman - Protecting the world from RBI's and Wins from my mom's guest house.

by Jeff Zimmerman on Jul 13, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

that follows under the strategy

if you don’t want a task to get done (but want to pretend like you do), appoint someone who doesn’t know how to do it.

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

so we’ve basically got a guy who wears a “statistical analyst” hat, among many others, and an assistant who used to be a bat boy, clubhouse guy, and an intern (not that you can’t be those things and also be smart).

that’s 2 guys, neither of whom is a full-time stats guy. that’s what i expected, but i don’ t want to hear the FO saying they have sabermetricians when they don’t

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

the Rays, on the other hand...

no surprise here, but they have AT LEAST 3 guys with full-time statistical analysis jobs in the FO, and i’m pretty sure they’re overseen by 2 VPs who are involved in the stats.

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

does that count Josh Kalk (formerly of DM and THT) and Peter Bendix (formerly of BtBS and FanGraphs)

both of whom were hired this past offseason?

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Jul 13, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

no, i was just looking at guys on the Rays page that i know do stats

but it’s not like we’re really finding out anything new (or doing anything other than preaching to the choir).

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

but if GMDM is has any sort of a out, it would be to accept the role of statistical analysis and being incorporating it. hearing him say he had two people working sabermetrics surprised me and i’d have been glad to find that he’s actually making progress. but he’s not.

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe Royals' SuperFan is one of them

That kid in a cape who drives around following the Royals…

Using a computer outside of my mother's basement since 1988.

by Royal Revival on Jul 13, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Jin Wong is one

hence all the jokes. Here he is with Royals legends Paul Phillips and Gabor!:

At least through Last season, they were also using Mats Olkin as a consultant… Olkin also worked (maybe still does) as a consultant for the Mariners… Yes, it goes that deep.

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Jul 13, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

a spy!

we’ve unearthed a major piece to the puzzle that is our failure in the Battle For Grass Creek: Mats “Two-Faced” Olkin

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

doing research on Jin Wong's background

Hanging up the bat and glove, Wong decided to accept an internship in baseball operations with the Atlanta Braves post-graduation.

Wong largely credits Mary Washington and his degree in Business Administration for providing the necessary skills to make it in the front office of a professional sports franchise.

Now the Director of Baseball Operation for the Royals, Wong handles day-to-day operations including player acquisitions, contract negotiations, and operation budgets.

no kidding, he worked for the Braves? we’re all so surprised. i don’t read any mention of a budding skill in sabermetrics.

http://www.collegestudentathletes.com/expertsarticle.cfm?EXID=48

by benfunke on Jul 13, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions