Detroit Tigers: Al Avila Wants to Use Analytics to “Catch Up With the Industry”
By Matt Snyder
New Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila is looking to expand the front office’s use of analytics in decision making.
If we learned one lesson from the Star Wars movie franchise it’s that filmmakers should be very discerning with their use of CGI.
A second lesson, and perhaps one that’s more applicable to the current state of the Detroit Tigers, is that the student does not always turn out to be just like the master.
Such is proving to be the case for Al Avila, who worked under Dave Dombrowski as the assistant general manager in Detroit since 2002. Avila certainly learned a lot under Dombrowski’s tutelage — one would have to exert and extreme amount of effort not to learn from one of the game’s best — but he’s apparently not steering the ship in exactly the same direction now that he’s taken the helm.
According to an article in the Detroit News by Tony Paul , Avila wants to increase the role analytics play in the front office’s decision making process.
More from Detroit Tigers
- Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
- Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
- 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings
- Javier Baez Listed Among Worst Contracts in MLB by The Athletic
- Tigers’ Interest in Kenta Maeda Could be a Disaster for 2024 and Beyond
"“One thing I will bring different is expanded analytics,” Avila said. “I will tell you that I feel that we have a ways to go to catch up with the industry. We have been making some strides, but we’ll fast-forward a little bit and add to that department.“You’ll see a big difference there.”"
The study of sabermetrics is about finding objective truth in baseball. That process can often lead to the finding of hidden value in players who might otherwise be cast aside.
Statistics, antalyics, and sabermetrics (whatever you want to call it) cannot (and should not) completely replace traditional scouting in the world of baseball, but it is another potentially valuable tool to add.
Avila, a former director of scouting himself, seems to realize the need for a balanced two-pronged approach. Here’s Tony Paul quoting Avila again:
"“The combination is what works, the scouting with the analytics,” Avila said. “You have to have one balance out the other — the opportunity to use both in order to put together the team.”"
We obviously don’t know how Avila will ultimately perform as a general manager responsible for building an entire team, but it’s hard not to like the things he’s saying and doing.
In retaining (and promoting) many of the front office members he’ll be able to hold on to many of the things that led to the Tigers’ string of success, but in doing so he’s also keeping an eye out for new ideas and tools to improve upon the status quo.
Next: Miguel Cabrera Expected to Return Friday