Worst Analyst

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

As the "best/worst announcer" thread rages on, I'd like to see who we think is the worst analyst in the game. I'm talking about the guys on MLB Network, ESPN, or those who deliver pre-/postgame analyses.

I'd have to go with MLBN's Harold Reynolds. He looks like an old man with a bad botox job; his lips never move, only his jaw up and down like a puppet. Everything that comes out is in such a dryly monotonous, I lose interest even before he begins spewing meaningless observations.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I'm not a big fan of Mitch Williams on the MLB network. He's always giving relievers too much credit and he acts like his generation was some sort of throwback era where his peers were tough and this generation is more pampered. Maybe it comes from being on the 93 Phillies. He almost acts like he was Rich Gossage where Gossage sometimes pitched 3 innings in a game. I dont think he claims he has done that but he sure acts like he did.

[ol' aches and pains]

As long as we're bashing MLBN, I'm not fond of Matt Vegetarian, or however you spell it. Too smug by half for my taste.
Technically, I suppose he's not an analyst, but he gets on my nerves.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As long as we're bashing MLBN, I'm not fond of Matt Vegetarian, or however you spell it. Too smug by half for my taste.
Technically, I suppose he's not an analyst, but he gets on my nerves.

Mine too. I like Baseball IQ, but Vasgersian's a scenery chewing twit (especially when he won't shut up about "Need an answer..."). Kevin Millar would have made a much better host.

[epaddon]

Every one who works for TNT. That entire network lost all credibility for me all-time when after Halladay's no-hitter their studio guy rushes a clip of Larsen's perfect game and says, "Dal Maxvill" was the final out and none of the guys in the studio were bright enough to correct him on that.

[Bothrops Atrox]

I'm not a big fan of Mitch Williams on the MLB network. He's always giving relievers too much credit and he acts like his generation was some sort of throwback era where his peers were tough and this generation is more pampered. Maybe it comes from being on the 93 Phillies. He almost acts like he was Rich Gossage where Gossage sometimes pitched 3 innings in a game. I dont think he claims he has done that but he sure acts like he did.

He always looks/talks like is having a hangover. And too many cliche platitudes too.

[RangerRed]

Anybody on the Eastern Sports Propaganda Network.

[Blue387]

I would like to nominate Dan Shaughnessy as a bad analyst.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Getting all this out gives me a rush.

It seems all of the analysts on MLBN, ESPN, or wherever try to follow the Moneyball train of thought with numbers, but they use them so meaninglessly and try to get so technical that their ignorance (or whomever is devising them) angers me.

"Yeah, Cliff Lee has a 3-0 record in his last three starts against the Mets so he's gonna be tough to beat tonight."

With no mention to how Lee actually performed or how much run support he received from the Phillies. Like his wins are due to some unavoidable law of science.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Getting all this out gives me a rush.

It seems all of the analysts on MLBN, ESPN, or wherever try to follow the Moneyball train of thought with numbers, but they use them so meaninglessly and try to get so technical that their ignorance (or whomever is devising them) angers me.

"Yeah, Cliff Lee has a 3-0 record in his last three starts against the Mets so he's gonna be tough to beat tonight."

With no mention to how Lee actually performed or how much run support he received from the Phillies. Like his wins are due to some unavoidable law of science.

Assuming that you are equating Moneyball with sabermetrics...

Nothing could be further from the truth. Sample size and context are the backbones of which baseball analytics were founded. People like the ones you are describing above that ignore sample size and contextual factors, tend to be "baseball people" like Tony LaRussa and Joe Morgan, who go with their guts and small sampling. Sabermetricians tear apart people when they use pitcher-batter matchups to say a guy is getting "owned." Entire chapters of prominent sabermetric books (The Book" Playing the Percentages, for example) were written just to tear down the notions you are describing. If you hate people using small sample sizes of past succes to predict victory in-game, in-series, or vs. a batter/pitcher, I would suggest crossing over to being analytically minded immediately.

[NJYankeeFan]

Assuming that you are equating Moneyball with sabermetrics...

Nothing could be further from the truth. Sample size and context are the backbones of which baseball analytics were founded. People like the ones you are describing above that ignore sample size and contextual factors, tend to be "baseball people" like Tony LaRussa and Joe Morgan, who go with their guts and small sampling. Sabermetricians tear apart people when they use pitcher-batter matchups to say a guy is getting "owned." Entire chapters of prominent sabermetric books (The Book" Playing the Percentages, for example) were written just to tear down the notions you are describing. If you hate people using small sample sizes of past succes to predict victory in-game, in-series, or vs. a batter/pitcher, I would suggest crossing over to being analytically minded immediately.

Could not agree more. As for worst analyst, Joe Morgan by a landslide.

[Joltin' Joe]

Joe Morgan is one of my favorite analysts. I like the stories that he tells and some of them can only come from the actual experience of being a MLB player for so long.

[CandlestickBum]

I would like to nominate Dan Shaughnessy as a bad analyst.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ij0ovv8AUw

Wow, was that ever bad. I'm still laughing. Good one.

[Blue387]

It seems all of the analysts on MLBN, ESPN, or wherever try to follow the Moneyball train of thought with numbers, but they use them so meaninglessly and try to get so technical that their ignorance (or whomever is devising them) angers me.

I mentioned this once before but how about ESPN's Jim Bowden and his fancy pants new stat, OPSBI?

I get asked all the time which two or three common statistics I would pick to evaluate a team or players. My quick answer would be the following:

1. For a team: Run differential
2. For a hitter: OPS + RBIs, or OPSBIs
3. For a pitcher: ERA, WHIP, SO

Bowden's article:

http://espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post/_/id/389/simple-stats-to-evaluate-teams-players

[Cap78]

MLB Network - Dave Valle is the worst - why is this guy on here? He seems to know next to nothing outside of the Mariners - he cannot go a segment without inserting them in some way - shows me he knows nothing outside of that region...as for Mitch Williams, I actually like him, brings humor to the shows...not afraid to poke fun at himself