Analytics have taken over baseball. To some, it might be something they had nightmares about. To others, this is what they have been waiting for. Baseball has gone from an almost "naked eye" approach when evaluating and developing talent, to a computer being able to tell you a lot about what goes on with individual players and teams. I want to dive into why I think this statcast era of analytics and development that we live in, is great for baseball when you pair it with some old school aspects too.

First off, as a player I have always been against weighted balls. They're widely known for causing Tommy John Surgery and ending careers. I tried them a few times in high school, and honestly just wasn't bought in. However, after my sophomore year of college I stumbled upon Kyle Boddy's Twitter page.

Kyle is the owner of Driveline Baseball. To sort of sum this up in short, with Driveline you do throw overload/underload weighted balls. You do lift heavy. And yes, analytics are involved. I saw numerous pro players that were involved, including probably the most well known to this point, Trevor Bauer. I've always been a big fan of Trevor because he's not afraid to be different and open regarding different ways to improve. This isn't the most in depth explanation of Driveline, and theres no way I could even start to explain all of the good they do for players, so we'll save my praise for Driveline for another post.

So to move forward, I bought into Driveline. I needed something to get me over the hump with arm care and also have a shot to gain some velocity. I didn't go up to Seattle, but I bought Kyle's book "Hacking The Kinetic Chain" and read it. After that, I started doing the whole Driveline protocol. From the warm-ups, to the J-bands, wrist weights, plyocare balls, overload/underload baseballs, plyocare rebounders on the trampoline, overhead tosses, and the mobility work with the lifting, I did it all.

To continue, the biggest thing I took away, is how good I felt. I've had a first rib resection for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and a grade 3 AC joint separation on my throwing shoulder. I hadn't felt like I used to until I did this kind of training and bought into what Kyle was saying. I felt right again. I had a great junior year on the mound seeing that my arm had much less fatigue and I never really was uncomfortable in my arm. Weighted balls when done the right way, are a no brainer to me. I think on this program, every pitcher should do it.

So about those Houston Astros... They won the World Series last year. A lot of people criticized this team before this win. Jeff Lunhow, the Astros GM, is widely known for analytics. The Astros Manager, AJ Hinch, is also known to be bought into analytics. The Astros are a team that values players as people, but analytics play a part that can give a team a slight advantage, and the Astros use it. So why do people still hate numbers?

At Major League Baseball games you can now see launch angles and exit velocity projected on the scoreboard in center field. On TV, you'll hear people talk about a hitter's BABIP. (Batting average of balls in play) Some will say that exit velocity is a direct representation of how a hitter is doing at the dish. Some will argue that launch angle is a term that shouldn't ever be used in baseball. Others like Josh Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP, will tell you to always lift the ball.

In conclusion, some will say that weighted balls of any fashion will cause harm. Others will say not to count it out until you do your research and try it. Some will say that the numbers will never take over the old school concept of seeing players. People will always go back and forth. As a player that is right in the middle of it, to you coaches/players that don't look at analytics and don't use them to your advantage, you should. The old school concept of seeing that a kid has movement and gets outs will always be there. Being a sinker ball pitcher myself, I hope it never goes away. However, baseball is changing in front of us.

I never thought I would be a numbers or research guy as a player. I never thought I'd love throwing weighted baseballs. However, both of these happened. I love getting better, and analytics/research are a part of it. Not looking at the research, not bettering your career out of being scared, not maximizing your potential as a coach or player isn't fair to yourself or others. Coaches, do what is best for us as players. Players, take a risk. Do what you think is best for your career. Be open-minded. Either way you choose to go, look around you. Baseball is changing. It will always be America's pastime, but numbers and research have become a part of it.