The most interesting thing about this interview which I found somewhat annoying (I don't like it when people break sports) is the implication that having a "system" is the modern way for front office nerd types to demonstrate their pimp hand. Heat Culture in Moneyball clothing.
This is a good quote to expand on. Ethan, you said, "You here about how we should do youth sports differently, and usually it's parents shouldn't over specialize or you shouldn't yell at your kids, and it's all true, but there's this other aspect of, maybe we should be better at getting them doing something that them, because it feels good to improve at things, it opens your eyes." Also, I agree with the criticism that our kids don't get good at soccer like the kids in Europe because instead of working on drills, we tend to let kids run around sort of aimlessly because drills are boring and not as fun as playing.
What I find interesting about all this is how the same holds true for other things like learning an instrument; For example, I'm a classical pianist and teach piano. First, I never yell at my students, too many people are driven away from piano by overly strict teachers. Still, I am assertive and have high expectations that I make the students aware of from day 1. The way kids or anyone starts learning how to play begins with technique. So, you learn how to sit at the piano, where to place your hands, how to rest your shoulders while keeping your elbows in, staying relaxed, etc. At the same time, practicing the fundamentals: scales, chords, appeggios, sight reading, and finger exercises for dexterity. The problem is, learning the technique and fundamentals is difficult and certainly not as fun as playing. And getting over the initially hump is frustrating which is why most people stop trying. That said, the amount of joy and satisfaction I see in my students that get through the initial frustration is inspiring. Delayed gratification is a powerful thing, it justifies all the boring practice and mundane details that aren't fun. Working through the boring and mundane makes playing all the more fun. I think the same applys to sports.
Very good pod. New thinking is welcome in sports. I loved where a computer only knew the rules of chess but had no history and made moves. As an ex coach of youth basketball ( girls and boys) in a rec league I learned some kids are there for fun and being part of a group. Others are driven and want to get better. The second group needs to be put in a situation where their needs are met without ruining the experience for the first group. Other countries have academy’s . I will take exception to the Astro exec saying I’d do everything over after the biggest cheating scandal in baseball and employees suspended , team fined 5 mil and the losing of draft choices and league wide shame. As to pitchers control , news flash , in the book Ball Four written 50 years ago Jim Bouton. Remarked on “ pinpoint control” . He said 18 inches from target is “pinpoint”
Lots of great stuff here. I too am curious about the aesthetic(?) dissonance in "the thinking man's game" as pitch placement is shown to be luck and ability to make contact denigrated for smash factor. Size and force are again and again shown to be superior to "strategy and guile" and there is lots of fun status-mapping on those changes in all sports and society as a whole.
But what to do when what works to win is at odds with what is aesthetically preferred:
Wrestling has won out over BJJ and even striking, but Dana White is able to play with matchmaking to blunt wrestling's dominance in favor of what fans want to see.
Three true outcomes, though diminished in importance, has certainly come at some cost of baseball's entertainment. On the other hand, pressing has led to much more exciting soccer games and the dominance of passing has electrified American Footballl.
It may be an inappropriate binary to apply to basketball and the D'Antoni->Curry->Harden->Luka evolution...we shall see.
Perhaps Boddy's work and growing popularity of the strategy behind Sports Science will give smashing dingers the complexity that the thinking man desires.
This guy sounds like a G! I always thought I had at least a 'cursory' interest in baseball. But, the fact I never heard of Boddy until now, makes me question that assumption about me. Looking forward to giving this one a listen.
The most interesting thing about this interview which I found somewhat annoying (I don't like it when people break sports) is the implication that having a "system" is the modern way for front office nerd types to demonstrate their pimp hand. Heat Culture in Moneyball clothing.
This is a good quote to expand on. Ethan, you said, "You here about how we should do youth sports differently, and usually it's parents shouldn't over specialize or you shouldn't yell at your kids, and it's all true, but there's this other aspect of, maybe we should be better at getting them doing something that them, because it feels good to improve at things, it opens your eyes." Also, I agree with the criticism that our kids don't get good at soccer like the kids in Europe because instead of working on drills, we tend to let kids run around sort of aimlessly because drills are boring and not as fun as playing.
What I find interesting about all this is how the same holds true for other things like learning an instrument; For example, I'm a classical pianist and teach piano. First, I never yell at my students, too many people are driven away from piano by overly strict teachers. Still, I am assertive and have high expectations that I make the students aware of from day 1. The way kids or anyone starts learning how to play begins with technique. So, you learn how to sit at the piano, where to place your hands, how to rest your shoulders while keeping your elbows in, staying relaxed, etc. At the same time, practicing the fundamentals: scales, chords, appeggios, sight reading, and finger exercises for dexterity. The problem is, learning the technique and fundamentals is difficult and certainly not as fun as playing. And getting over the initially hump is frustrating which is why most people stop trying. That said, the amount of joy and satisfaction I see in my students that get through the initial frustration is inspiring. Delayed gratification is a powerful thing, it justifies all the boring practice and mundane details that aren't fun. Working through the boring and mundane makes playing all the more fun. I think the same applys to sports.
Very good pod. New thinking is welcome in sports. I loved where a computer only knew the rules of chess but had no history and made moves. As an ex coach of youth basketball ( girls and boys) in a rec league I learned some kids are there for fun and being part of a group. Others are driven and want to get better. The second group needs to be put in a situation where their needs are met without ruining the experience for the first group. Other countries have academy’s . I will take exception to the Astro exec saying I’d do everything over after the biggest cheating scandal in baseball and employees suspended , team fined 5 mil and the losing of draft choices and league wide shame. As to pitchers control , news flash , in the book Ball Four written 50 years ago Jim Bouton. Remarked on “ pinpoint control” . He said 18 inches from target is “pinpoint”
I don’t know, though it kind of sucked
Unreal talent stack on Brody, extremely high level in terms of interesting info and knowledge, below replacement player level in terms of delivery.
Lots of great stuff here. I too am curious about the aesthetic(?) dissonance in "the thinking man's game" as pitch placement is shown to be luck and ability to make contact denigrated for smash factor. Size and force are again and again shown to be superior to "strategy and guile" and there is lots of fun status-mapping on those changes in all sports and society as a whole.
But what to do when what works to win is at odds with what is aesthetically preferred:
Wrestling has won out over BJJ and even striking, but Dana White is able to play with matchmaking to blunt wrestling's dominance in favor of what fans want to see.
Three true outcomes, though diminished in importance, has certainly come at some cost of baseball's entertainment. On the other hand, pressing has led to much more exciting soccer games and the dominance of passing has electrified American Footballl.
It may be an inappropriate binary to apply to basketball and the D'Antoni->Curry->Harden->Luka evolution...we shall see.
Perhaps Boddy's work and growing popularity of the strategy behind Sports Science will give smashing dingers the complexity that the thinking man desires.
This guy sounds like a G! I always thought I had at least a 'cursory' interest in baseball. But, the fact I never heard of Boddy until now, makes me question that assumption about me. Looking forward to giving this one a listen.