January 14th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka As most baseball fans know, Twitter is, hands down, the single best source of news and information about our national pastime. Simply put, there is no faster way to get the latest up-to-the-second breaking news about your favorite team or about the game itself – period.
The reason for this is because nearly every national and local baseball writer, reporter, and broadcaster is on Twitter, and they tweet (as they say) the very latest news and information hours or in some cases days before their written articles are published or their television or radio broadcasts are on the air.
The beauty of Twitter is that you get to choose who you want to follow (or unfollow) without any retribution. The key, of course, is to follow those who cover your favorite team(s) and / or the national writers – again, of your own choosing.
Although a number of national writers can get a little long-winded at times and have a tendency to veer off the beaten path, there are a handful whom I consider ‘must follows’ on Twitter. Among them is noted Fox Sports correspondent Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal on Twitter), who also serves as an in-studio reporter for MLB Network and is a senior writer for The Athletic (subscription required).
(Image courtesy of Fox Sports)
On Saturday evening, the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation held their 13th annual foundation dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. In addition to the many baseball scouts on hand, the prestigious and popular annual event was attended by numerous current and former major league baseball players and executives, including MLB’s current Chief Baseball Officer and former Yankees and Dodgers manager Joe Torre; and, of course, a large contingent of national and local baseball writers.
Among the national writers on hand was Ken Rosenthal. But unlike the many other media-types on hand, Rosenthal went well beyond the expected handshakes and high-fives between former teammates, coaches and colleagues that are commonplace at such reunions.
Instead, Rosenthal went right to the heart of something that, for those who have been paying attention, is literally taking over our beloved national pastime – analytics … and not in a good way.
Rather than bore or confuse you with my interpretation of what Rosenthal saw and heard, here is his three-part tweet which he posted on Twitter on Sunday morning that pretty much sums up the state of the game today, and exactly what I have been writing about here on ThinkBlueLA.com and, of course, posting on Twitter over the past several years:
“Had pleasure of attending scouts’ foundation dinner last night in LA. It is a difficult time for scouts in baseball. They continue to lose jobs and lose influence as teams make greater use of analytics. The world has changed, but one thing about the shift strikes me as wrong.
“For years, analysts were rightly frustrated their voices were not being heard. Now, scouts are experiencing the same frustration. Teams claim they want both perspectives, but often that is lip service. If teams truly value information, they need to be more inclusive.
“Scouts need to do their part and adjust to the changing times. But the best of them clearly have something to offer, insights that cannot simply be gleaned from data. It’s mind-boggling that some teams are dismissive of scouting expertise while claiming to crave more information.”
Sound like anyone we know?
Bravo, Ken Rosenthal. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
* * * * *
Posted in 
IMHO, eventually everybody in baseball will figure out that analytics isn’t the be all and end all. The last two World Series’ should open some eyes.
Which brings us to the “anyone we know”. If anybody should have his eyes opened it’s Friedman. Analytics has failed him two straight years just short of the brass ring.
I may be in the minority but I consider 2017 & 2018 as successful seasons for the Dodgers like 1947,49,52,53 ETC, ETC. The Dodgers didn’t win the World Series but they were the best team in the N.L. and represented the league in the World Series
No, using “Analytics” didn’t help them win the fall classic, but I’m sure it got them there. Proving it was not the “End All”, but comes pretty close to it.
That said, I don’t think baseball could do without scouting either.
You are definitely in the minority, Joe.
As I’ve said countless times (about as many times as you’ve said that it is ok to get to the World Series but not win it), finishing second in the World Series is like kissing your sister or finishing second in a gunfight.
I can absolutely positively guarantee you that there isn’t one member from the 2017 and 2018 Dodger teams that consider either “as successful seasons.”
I remember years back when the Denver Broncos has a series of SuperBowl failures many fans were saying they’d rather they not get in again rather than fail in the game.
I was not in agreement. Chances of winning are zero if one is not there. But I do understand their thinking. Even more so I understand now.
Agree 100 percent, you certainly can’t win it if you aren’t in it. But to be satisfied with just being there and not winning is unacceptable. I’m pretty sure that the players feel the same way.
I’m happy to say I’ve always felt this way. Well, everybody has their own opinion.
Looking back at your previous post got me to thinking. You’ve been a Dodger fan longer than most, maybe all, of us. Those four years you mentioned were when they had never won the World Series. Could that have something to do with you being more accepting of losing the World Series?
Regarding analytics again: 1965 World Series, game 7, would analytics have led Alston to send out Sandy Koufax on short rest when Don Drysdale was available on normal rest? Would analytics have him kept in the game when he making due with only his fastball, again with Drysdale available?
1988 World Series, game 1, would analytics have had Mendoza Line batter, then a seriously gimpy Kirk Gibson going to bat down by one with two out in the bottom of the ninth?
To be as honest as I can be, I think it was the losing years especially these last 30 some odd, that made me feel the way I do. I mean if you only count the years that we won the World Championships, unless you’re the Yankees, what have you to look back upon?
As far as “analytics” go, since the Dodgers are said to have used it “very often”, I’m assuming, since they won the pennant, it helped them win it.