Numbers don’t tell entire story
Different ways you can go to win, Hinch says
Both the Dodgers and Astros have been lauded for progressive approaches to their respective 100-plus win seasons.
Analytics has been a big tool for both, but as Houston manager A. J. Hinch cautioned to future copycatters out there, not the only one.
“I think too often we chase that what the last guy did,” Hinch said. “There are different ways you can go to win games. If you want to, there’s traditional values that are always going to be in our game. There’s progressive growth that can happen in the game.
“If you describe too much to either, you’re probably going to miss a lot of content that’s going to help you win.”
Hinch has ultimate respect for the way the Dodgers were built, but noted the formulas have differed.
“( The Dodgers) are winning in ways only they can win right now based on how their team is set up, how their players respond to the information they’re provided,” Hinch said. “On the flip side, we went our way and at the end of the night one of us is going to be crowned a world champion and that doesn’t make it right for everybody else to copy.”
Dodgers counterpart Dave Roberts said the respective construction of this year’s AL and NL champs is far too complicated for sweeping assumptions.
“I think people are always going to make knee- jerk assumptions but you have to be open-mined and forwardthinking and that’s the way we’re going to grow,” Roberts said. “I know guys in our organization feel that way and I know A. J. feels that way on the other side.
“I can’t tell you what’s going to transpire ( in the future) and I really don’t care. I know that we have a good thing that we believe in and it’s worked.”
BIG DAY FOR AA
Welcome to November baseball!
That was the greeting from former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos who has been surviving the wild World Series ride as the Dodgers vice- president of baseball operations.
“It’s been emotionally exhausting, just the ups and downs,” Anthopoulos said. “Everyone who is watching the games can imagine how us who are in the middle of it are feeling as well. It’s been amazing.”
For Anthopoulos, t he World Series experience has been incredible, especially after falling just short with the Jays in 2015 in their ALCS loss to the Royals. But this is next level, a series for the ages both from the perspective of those with direct rooting interests and for the game at large.
“Both teams want to win,” Anthopoulos said.
“From an industry standpoint and f or t he f ans, everybody l oves Game 7. Two years in a row, an exciting series. It’s great for the game.”
WALK THIS WAY
Prior to Game 7, Roberts was asked to channel his inner NHL coach.
The specific reference was Philadelphia Flyers’ coach Ray Shero’s line prior to Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup final when he wrote on the blackboard: “Win together today and we walk together forever.”
“I absolutely agree with that,” said Roberts, who like his Astros counterpart appears to have a strong bond with his players. “This is what you put your heart and soul into to be a champion and the champions are remembered.
“For me, there’s no need for a message. We understand what’s at stake and what this moment is for the city.”
As for S hero’ s Broad Street Bullies? They shut out the Bruins 1- 0 to become the first NHL expansion team to win the Cup and they did indeed walk together forever.