Statistics are a valuable tool in the evaluation of any journey that has a progressive and results-oriented goal. We would like to address the importance and relevance as well as the dangers of Stats. There is good and bad in the numbers.
Our life, whether we like it or not, is measured in numbers for our entire lives. Credits, debits, scores, grades, balances, averages, bonuses and wages. It is a part of life. The sooner we accept that reality, the better then chance we have to not let them dominate us in either a negative or over confident way. Stats are merely a tool, a measuring tape, a guide to reveal performance and show where need to focus some time or highlight where the hard work has paid off.
Know this - HARD WORK ALWAYS PAYS DIVIDENDS!! I have seen it so far with some examples like Q driving the ball, Stairs battling through adversity mentally, Carter dealing with injury but contributing by adjusting at the plate, Sebastian contributing to his new team with a key sacrifice. Coaches notice the little things not just the obvious. Be pesky, be industrious, and have fun doing it.
Keeping stats is difficult, subjective and as coaches we have strong rules of conduct wrapped around them. The integrity of the numbers is important so they can be trusted. If you don't like the numbers - CHANGE THEM! Work Hard and change them, stats are averages they don't shoot up immediately they take time to show the work. Do the work, they will improve. Pouting has never raised one batting average. It certainly works towards the negative easily. Conversely, don't get too puffed up and over confident because you have some glorious number right now - you got there with hard work, keep it up.
Statitistics are an exellent way to measure the performance, the development and achievements of a players, as well as create some light on areas needed for improvement. Coaches also read them differently than most, we combine and subtract numbers to find things we are looking for. Stats do not account for the mental part of the game too. Analytics combines some stats to view variables.
In the end stats are a great tool, but not the only tool by which baseball performance is measured, it is merely a result of hard work, it always starts with hard work.
