MLB: Innovative Analytics Conclude Traditional Plays Win

This season, the Tampa Bay Rays have proven how a move from MLB’s flannel days works with ease in a modern-day, analytical game.

Under the tent of Teflon and upon plastic green grass, some of the oldest, time-tested strategic baseball line up maneuvers are being used with precision by the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s an age-old traditional MLB strategy that our great-grandparents and grandparents saw under blue sky and upon dirt and grass infields.

What is occurring is the fundamental confrontation of MLB that is the battle between the Pitcher and Batter. Winning this confrontation is the central focus of baseball. When the batter wins it’s a bat-flipping walk-off good time, when the pitcher wins there is no joy in Mudville as the mighty Casey has struck out.

It’s a generations-old strategic managerial decision from the Age of Flannel Uniforms brought back by cutting edge, innovative statistical analysis.