Good grief. You dweebs are arguing about iPads being used for data capture, presentation and analysis in a sport? That sort of application is exactly what the device was designed for, and now it is somehow controversial?
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Apple Will Provide MLB Teams With iPad Pros for Dugout Use
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It all depends on the app. If it can show the stats on the opposing teams,new pitchers habits, shortcomings, etc. it will help with the coaches decisions. It may also speed up the game.
The iPad has proven its reliability, if it's a great app, it's a win win.
The iPad has proven its reliability, if it's a great app, it's a win win.
I agree 200% with all you said. However I think that Apple's tentative to sell the 9.7" as a laptop replacement was a false step.
I see iPads and laptops as two completely different tools, such as hammer and screwdriver.
How long is the contract with the NFL? I hate seeing those surface pads on the sidelines. What went wrong that Apple couldn't secure the NFL as well? Do people even use the Surface still? Their adverts are just plain silly, like I really don't care my MBPr is not touch screen.
Microsoft paid HUGE money to get the Surface deal with the NFL. I don't think Apple was wiling to pay that much.
Microsoft paid $400,000,000 for the NFL deal. Yikes.
http://mashable.com/2016/01/28/microsoft-surface-nfl-contract/#pXDisBpqPPqN
ITT: People that know nothing about baseball, advanced analytics, or sports science.
This is actually going to be the perfect marriage of technology and sports. Today, coaches have huge binders full of scouting reports with reams of information about the other team's players and their tendencies. These binders have to be refreshed at least every series, if not every game. They also have to come on the road with the team (onto the airplane, to the hotel, and then to the park - repeat). Moving all of that into a digital environment is going to make life a lot easier for everyone.
It also gives MLB the opportunity to talk about how they're advancing the technology of the game, which is an important issue right now given the generational shift in their fanbase. They are in a situation where they need to adapt or die. Increasing the pace of game and introducing technological advancements can help them get there.
As for Apple, this will be a great story for them to tell. Baseball is the most family-friendly and wholesome sport in the U.S. Why wouldn't they want to be associated and benefit from the air time. There are 2,430 regular season games each season - that's a lot of opportunity for advertising.
The only thing negative about this news is what you make of it.
This is actually going to be the perfect marriage of technology and sports. Today, coaches have huge binders full of scouting reports with reams of information about the other team's players and their tendencies. These binders have to be refreshed at least every series, if not every game. They also have to come on the road with the team (onto the airplane, to the hotel, and then to the park - repeat). Moving all of that into a digital environment is going to make life a lot easier for everyone.
It also gives MLB the opportunity to talk about how they're advancing the technology of the game, which is an important issue right now given the generational shift in their fanbase. They are in a situation where they need to adapt or die. Increasing the pace of game and introducing technological advancements can help them get there.
As for Apple, this will be a great story for them to tell. Baseball is the most family-friendly and wholesome sport in the U.S. Why wouldn't they want to be associated and benefit from the air time. There are 2,430 regular season games each season - that's a lot of opportunity for advertising.
The only thing negative about this news is what you make of it.
Daft gadgets, yes. Meaningless data, I don't know. Sometimes I think baseball invented mathematics.
Disclaimer: A bunch of sabermetric dudes from SoCal, Jerry Depoto and Scott Servais, now run my local team. We will see about this daft gadget thing.
Dale
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excellent points.
Baseball has always been the most stat driven sport out of the big 3 (NFL, NBA, MLB)
The easy access (touch screen) to massive amounts of data is a huge win for Baseball managers.
"But he won the World Series a zillion years ago!" - every silly Scocia apologist
I think that the cool thing is that we will see some managers rely heavily on the real-time available data, and some going "the good ol' way". It will be interesting to observe what happens and how teams will perform. It will also be interesting to see players moving from data-driven teams to "guts" teams and see if they performance improves significantly.
Wow! So many people refusing to think. Perhaps I should have explained myself better so here it is...
To those saying that baseball teams use advanced statistical analysis - sure they do. And they have to in order to maintain their competitiveness. On the other hand one might say that use of advanced analysis did not help baseball as a sport much - sport popularity is on a steady decline. It is obvious to me that if the teams did not use this analysis nobody (fans) would notice. However it is impossible (and outright ridiculous) to ban this thing thus I am not calling for it. And no one single team should put itself at disadvantage by not using this analysis so it's here to stay.
Use of electronics in dug out is a totally different matter. Let's assume it works wonderfully. So, now the batters know more about the pitcher patterns and adjust their game accordingly. Let's say ERA is going up 0.2. Obviously nobody on the stands have any idea that some hitter change his stand a little after looking at iPad so they see nothing and feel nothing differently. Then the pitchers take up iPads and analyze the game. As a result they start, say, pitching more inside to a given hitter. The ERA goes down 0.2. What's the end results? We, as a society, wasted (luckily not that much) efforts on equipping the teams, developing super sophisticated software but in the end it is for nothing. Baseball fans get nothing. Would not it be better if these resources were directed towards something more meaningful?
Now, unlike in the case of statistical analysis it is very easy for MLB to ban electronics in the dugouts. But they won't do it. While there no benefits for baseball as a game here there are other benefits. Those who mentioned marketing money are correct.
BTW, since I do not go to ball parks I am really curious how are those iBeacons doing? The press stopped mentioning them in 2014 so I wonder if those are still active. Ballpark app in App Store has just 548 ratings so my guess would be that very few really bothered with it.
New MLB job posting: Dugout Technical Security: Maintain a manager defined exclusion zone between players and any/all on field technical equipment. Especially, but not limited to, pitchers seeking video of big strike outs and hitters seeking video of any and all homers.
Expanding the iEconomy...
Dale
Expanding the iEconomy...
Dale
Likewise. I've been going to games at an iBeacon-equipped ballpark ever since they were supposedly rolled out, but have seen no signs of the tech. I believe we are supposed to be looking at the MLB app to see this magic, but when I open the app I am prompted to log in or create an account, which I have no interest in doing.
Anyhow, live video might be the most important feature of the teams using iPads in the dugouts, especially since the advent of the instant replay challenge. Currently someone has to retreat to the clubhouse to watch the replays on TV before they decide whether to issue the challenge. Really slows down the game, even when no challenge results. Presumably this will make the process faster, so it's all good from a fan perspective.
You literally have no clue what you're talking about. Up until this announcement, electronic devices were banned in dugouts.
If you can't see that convenience alone is enough to make this move, then you're blind to reality.
Yep just like every cell phone company has a boss. Who ever controls the sky is the boss. No true competition between these company's only for your entertainment.
Hardly necessary. Ballgames are pretty much like everywhere else these days. Lots of people petting their electronic hamsters instead of paying attention to the real stuff going on around them.
And how do you know? "LEt's say" is meaningless here. We're talking about data, it's up to the manager being able to read it and connect the dots. Some will do better, some will do worse. Statistics is part of baseball, and this is an extra tool which is provided to the coach. Does a fan know if the manager is reading OPS instead of just listening to his guts? No. Since you can't see the alternative path there is no way to prove your point. As of 3/30/2016 you can't see how iPads will impact dugout decisions in the long run.
It's a multi-billion industry, which provides jobs and entertainment to many many people. Even if they stop using it after Opening day fifty iPads will not be the problem.
WTH? THIS is the day that baseball stopped banning electronics in the dugout. Today. 3/30/2016.
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Let me add one more thing. I think that you're confused about what is going on here. We are talking about a tool that will be used by professionals for their job. We're not talking about the fans.
I go to a baseball game for entertainment. I pay, watch the game, go home, and sleep. At most I discuss the game the next day, but that's it. My business transaction is over. A small change in SB can be superfluous to me.
On the other side, for teams it's a job. It's their full time job, and it begins with the Owners and ends with the grass keeper. For them a small change in SB can be make the difference between winning and losing. It can make the difference in multi-million trades. It makes the difference in their job. That's why they are provided with a new tool that they can choose to use. To do their job more efficiently. The benefit for fans can be a consequence (faster game, slightly better decisions) at most.
I think you are confused. Their job is to entertain us. Whether they all use tablets or not have no bearing on the entertainment value of the game - as long as all teams are in the same boat and none of them have an unfair competitive advantage. There are so many other things that could be used to help them do their jobs: bigger bats, headphones/radios and scooters for each player and on and on.But we do not do that.
Actually, I'd expect Apple to get the NHL as well considering MLB Advanced Media is now the operator of their apps and streaming technology. Hockey has yet to have an analytics revolution, partly because of the relative speed at which the game takes place.