Yet another GM is giving away vital, top-secret information. This time, it’s Neal Huntington of the Pirates (on their official site, no less):

The Pirates upper management has widely ignored OBP (on base percentage) in the past. How important will OBP be in player evaluation under your leadership?
– Eric S., Pennsboro, W.Va

We are going to utilize several objective measures of player performance to evaluate and develop players. We’ll rely on the more traditional objective evaluations: OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) , WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched), Runs Created, ERC (Component ERA), GB/FB (ground ball to fly ball ratio), K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings), K/BB (strikeouts to walks ratio), BB%, etc., but we’ll also look to rely on some of the more recent variations: VORP (value over replacement player), Relative Performance, EqAve (equivalent average), EqOBP (equivalent on base percentage), EqSLG (equivalent slugging percentage), BIP% (balls put into play percentage), wOBA (weighted on base average), Range Factor, PMR (probabilistic model of range) and Zone Rating.

That said, we will continue to stress the importance of our subjective evaluations. Succinctly stated, we believe that a combination of quality objective and subjective analysis will allow us to maximize our probability of success and to make the best possible decisions.

Very modern. FireJoeMorgan.com (where I found the link) states the same thought in more colorful terms.

This one is much more Krivsky-esque in the way he talks a lot but says very little, but it sure sounds a lot more fancy:

What is your roadmap to mirror the success of the Rockies, who were last place in the NL West last year?
– Michael S., Atlanta

There are several clubs in similar markets to Pittsburgh that have experienced recent success, and we hope to take successful elements from each and apply those appropriately to the Pittsburgh model. Colorado, Arizona and Cleveland all had terrific seasons and did it with young players from their scouting and development system. To attain the level of success we plan to attain, Michael, we need to successfully evaluate, sign and develop championship caliber players and staff.

We are in the process of putting in place quality personnel and systems to ensure a systematic and consistent structure to maximize the ability of every executive, scout, instructor and player in the system. We need to be creative and will have to make some tough decisions as we progress, but those decisions will be logical, rational, well researched and for the benefit of this organization.

In the end, our success is contingent upon our ability to evaluate, sign and develop championship talent.

He talks a good line but says next to nothing. After 15 losing seasons, the Pirates are going to have to do something. That neat ball park is not enough.

Comment by Joe — 11/7/2007 @ 12:36 pm

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In the second comment especially, he sounds like he swallowed a dictionary and an MBA textbook.

Comment by Chris — 11/7/2007 @ 1:06 pm

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And a load of horse manure…

Comment by Bill — 11/7/2007 @ 1:51 pm

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