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Analytics: Sports Stats and 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.