Quote:
Originally Posted by BobC
So, because some players do measure well using modern statistics, they all should? Cause that is exactly what you're implying by the statement you are making. I find stats interesting, but don't put the time and energy a lot of people do into them because they are at best, an imperfect way to measure, compare and predict performance. Aren't a lot of these advanced measures based on how well players perform against and in relation to their contemporary peers? We've gone over this BS before about how trying to compare players of today and long ago doesn't work because of all the context and other differences.
I am not going down this back and forth road. If you think James and his numbers are right, good for you. If not, good for you. Believe what you like, and I'll do the same. i just find it somewhat reprehensible when people keep putting down old players because of modern stats, and yet they've never even seen them actually play. I would tend to think the people putting Sisler in the HOF knew a lot more about him as a man and a player than Bill James ever will. So let him spew whatever crap he wants. And if you want to stick up for him, so be it. You win, Sisler is a crap player and doesn't deserve to be in the HOF. Feel better!
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Nice straw man Bob. Who said Sisler doesn't belong in the HOF? Not Bill James and certainly not me. I think he's more a mid-tier HOFer than the elite upper tier HOFer some perceive him to be. I suspect James said the same thing. Shades of gray, Bob, not black or white. You can be overrated but still belong in the Hall.
Statistics have always been used to measure and predict performance in baseball. How many people in any era saw enough games of ALL teams to make accurate comparisons just based on what they witnessed in person? I mean even if I watched every single Red Sox game over a decade, could I fairly compare Clemens to Greg Maddux, or even Randy Johnson? Most people see a relatively small sample of games. You need the stats. You can argue about which stats.