Already, we have seen the Los Angeles Dodgers taken to task by pundits in the national media with their sad exit in game five of the NLDS.
Now, it’s happened again. Honestly, I wanted to peruse this video and be critical of Doug Gottlieb. I wanted to tell you that Gottlieb doesn’t watch enough baseball to be critical of Dave Roberts and any managerial decision made in the past or future.
However – Gottlieb was spot on – at least in this segment.
It’s towards the end of the video below, but the quote that hit deep in the core was this one.
“The idea that Dave Roberts isn’t about analytics, well Dave your team is completely built on analytics.”
While I wanted to side with my team, the host is 100 percent right. Of course, you can see the entire segment below from Gottlieb and FOX Sports airwaves. Moreover, let’s take a look at what other points that Gottlieb makes in that disaster of a defeat of game five.
?@GottliebShow: "Last night was a win for analytics…
…The idea that Dave Roberts would say that 'It's NOT about analytics'…
…We know Dave, but the Dodgers are completely BUILT on analytics. So now on the biggest stage, you're just gonna go with your gut?" pic.twitter.com/u1f5h3zX8A
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) October 10, 2019
Equally important, Gottlieb’s thesis of the entire segment is that the Dodgers have shown why you cannot be built by analytics in a sport that has human element in such high-drama spots. First, think about what I am saying here. Then, read the quote below.
“Last night was a win for analytics, and a loss for all those ‘go by feel, go by history of a guy, go by name’.”
Without question, Gottlieb is referring to Roberts sticking with Clayton Kershaw in a bad spot for Kershaw. We know by his comments that Roberts did this based on ‘feel’. Undeniably right or wrong, Roberts trusted his gut and not the data. While in a way that is an admirable trait to someone like me, Gottlieb’s following comments start to make one realize that you cannot just go off gut in that situation.
“Um, he’s not one of the best pitchers in baseball anymore. He’s your third best starter, and he’s your starter not a reliever. That’s not what he does – and you’re going by what he’s done over the last ten years and not what he’s done this year. Adam Kolarek against Juan Soto, and Soto was hitless in three at-bats. Couldn’t hit the guy, but you leave Kershaw in.”
Finally, Gottlieb has issue with the fact that Roberts didn’t even walk out to the mound for a chat. Instead, he just sat in the dugout and allowed two gopher balls to be tossed.
“It’s a tie game, and you don’t even go out there and ask [Kershaw] ‘are you alright man’.”
Sometimes, you expect to be able to have a different take then the pundits or experts. And sometimes, you simply have to tip your hat and agree. Admittedly, I am with the critic on this.
