1. What have you read to think and learn more about your topic and questions?
So far I have glanced over my sources and started to gather information for my project. A few topics this covers is the growth of analytics and advanced statistics in baseball, the evolution of statistics in baseball and the difference between subjective scouting and objective data, how different stats can misrepresent data, and more. This all points back to my main question of “What do baseball statistical categories fail to capture and how do we improve them?” It also helps address the correlation between statistics and how good a player is among other questions.
2. Who do you plan to speak with internally? What do you hope to learn from these conversations? What is the first question you want to ask that person? the most important question you want to ask that person? (List the first question and the most important question for each potential internal expert.)
The first internal expert I plan to speak to is Ms. Powers. I hope to gain a better understanding of how statistics can be applied to baseball and understand how data can be affected when we start to include subjective data.
First Question: How can data be affected when you start to include subjective data and could create results that differ from expectations?
Most Important: Are there ways to eliminate the variation in subjective data and make data collection easier even when the data is subjective?
The second internal expert I plan to speak to is Mr. Curtis. I hope to gain a better understanding of how you can approach baseball with a better understanding of statistics and why statistics and so necessary in baseball.
First Question: How do statistics affect your decision making in coaching baseball?
Most Important: What is something that you think needs to be changed about baseball statistics? (Such as modifying what a category track, creating a new category, etc.)
3. Who do you want to communicate with externally? What do you hope to learn from these conversations? What is the first question you want to ask that person? the most important question you want to ask that person? (List the first question and the most important question for each potential internal expert.) This conversation is required if you're going for an E.
The first external expert I want to talk to is Benjamin Baumer. He is a current Assistant Professor of Statistical and Data Sciences at Smith College. I hope to learn from him about his insights on how baseball teams approach statistics as he worked for the Mets for 8 years and also how to create better statistics.
First Question: In your opinion, what is the most overvalued statistic used in baseball and why? Is there a way we could improve this statistic to make it more relevant?
Most Important: If you could create a new statistic what would it incorporate and what would it exclude?
The second external expert I want to talk to is Christopher Phillips, a History professor at Carnegie Mellon University. I hope to learn more about his thoughts about the difference between the subjectivity of baseball data and the objectivity of baseball data. I would also want to learn more about his thoughts on the difference between scouting and stat keeping.
First Question: Why is it so important to establish the difference between the subjectivity and objectivity of statistics in baseball?
Most Important: Is there a more effective way to evaluate players for scouting that makes it less subjective than it is today?
The third external expert I want to talk to is Jim Albert, a statistics professor at Bowling Green State University. I hope to learn about his research showing trends in baseball and understanding what statistical categories are bad and good. Understanding his work and batting average being luck or ability could be very interesting
First Question: Do you think baseball statistical categories need to be revamped if we want to get better information about the game?
Most important: How do we make more advanced statistics more relevant if the current statistics are poor indicators of performance?
4. What are the next questions that will help you develop your thinking on your topic?
How have statistics evolved over time with baseball and can they continue to evolve?
What do more advanced statistics incorporate that basic ones do not?
How do we apply more advanced statistics to baseball to improve the game and the product?
5. What more do you need (research-wise, refinement of ideas-wise, what ideas or questions do you need to clarify, etc.)?
Since I already have my sources gathered and just need to annotate them the only thing I think I need to do is maybe expand my topic and questions. Maybe come up with 1 or 2 more questions at this point.