The Numbers Do Lie or Why UZR is for lUZRs.

The old adage that the numbers don't lie may, in fact, be a lie. Baseball stat nerds would have you believe that a player's defensive ability or inability can be measured via some kooky formula that resembles the ridiculousness that is QB Passer Rating. I truly love the look on the face of a drunken idiot will sit there on a Sunday declaring a QB is good because of his passer rating and you ask them to explain the formula, but I digress.

Ultimate Zone Rating or UZR has become the dominant stat for the baseball nerdery, is some tricked out formula that would baffle Pythagoras, and really means nothing to me when it comes to the play of infielders. Outfielders, I can see the argument hold some weight, but infielders? It's evident that the statmasters did not play a game beyond little league. Infielders cheat, they have to. Coaches will position them but they will drift a step or two to the left or right based on the pitch that is being called and the situation, e.g. men on, number of outs, batter's speed, etc. If a shortstop sees that the catcher is calling for an outside fastball to a lefty hitter, he'll likely take the extra step to his right to be in a better position to field the ball. But what is the pitcher misses his mark and the hitter hits the ball up the middle? Had the SS not cheated, he'd have likely fielded the ball but that extra step resulted in not being able to field a likely routine grounder. But what if there was a runner on first and one out and the SS was at double play depth? He likely would have to hold his ground and if the pitcher hit the outside corner and the hitter goes the other way with it and hits the hole that the SS would normally be in. A hit that could have been an out had the runner not been on first.

The numbers are skewed, at best. We're told of which IF is better than another not based on what our eyes see but based on a formula that does not factor in what is happening between the lines.