Is there a secret to success the best Major League Baseball teams have already found?
The article argues that the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers’ success shows that sustained results in Major League Baseball do not depend solely on large player payrolls. It says teams can gain an edge by investing in analytics and scouting, especially when they use that work to improve coaching, roster decisions and recruitment.
The article says 19 of MLB’s 30 teams have reached the World Series since 2010, compared with 18 of 32 NFL teams reaching the Super Bowl. It cites the Rays, Brewers and Dodgers as having large analytics departments and strong international scouting, pointing to young players such as Junior Caminero and Jackson Chourio as examples of the returns. It contrasts them with the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels and Athletics, which it says have the smallest analytics departments.
- Winning does not depend only on player payroll.
- Analytics can inform coaching, recruitment and roster building.
- The Rays, Brewers and Dodgers are cited for strong scouting.