9781422285237 - Analytics: Sports Stats & More

In hockey, the sport is attempting to determine the best way to grade goaltenders. Per NHL.com, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending coach Ian Clark says the position may be too much for a single statistical measure because there are so many outside variables that can affect each goalie’s statistical performance. “Goalies react to the hand dealt to them,” Clark told NHL.com. “They don’t get to control play. Unlike a quarterback or a pitcher, who gets to control and dictate the play, goaltenders are recipients of the play, and as such there is a huge impact on how the team plays in front of them and statistical outcomes. Goalies face completely different things and have no control over it, whereas Peyton Manning controls what is going on over his playing surface when he lines up behind the ball. That affects statistics, and that is one of the reasons goaltending is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to using pure numbers.” Pro football is perhaps lagging a bit behind the other leagues in intensive use of analytics. The 2015 “Analytics” issue of ESPN The Magazine included no NFL teams on its list of franchises that were “all-in” on analytics. By comparison, nine Major League Baseball teams earned that ranking. However, that tide might be shifting as more coaches who grew up with thinking in terms of analytics take on more responsibilities.

34 C areers O ff the F ield • Analytics: Sports Stats and More