Baseball is a sport that constantly evolves, and with it, the way we discuss and understand the game. As fans watch more baseball, they encounter a world of advanced terms and concepts that can be both fascinating and overwhelming. In this article, we'll explore how different baseball media personalities approach introducing these advanced analytics to their audiences.

Introducing Advanced Analytics: The Fine Line

Eno Sarris, a prominent figure in baseball analytics, emphasizes the importance of finding a balance when introducing advanced terms. He writes and talks about baseball for The Athletic and FanGraphs, often seen in clubhouses with pitchers. "It's a fine line to walk," Sarris said. "You may have a nerdy audience, but you may also have newcomers. You always want to be inclusive and reach out to those who might not know all the jargon."When covering the sport, the challenge is to make these advanced terms accessible without losing the interest of those already familiar with them. FanGraphs has a helpful glossary to link to unfamiliar terms, but Sarris thinks about this constantly, whether in written or verbal mediums.

Starting in Written Form on FanGraphs

Sarris began his baseball media journey on FanGraphs, where the approach to introducing advanced analytics is different. The website focuses on advanced (and not-so-advanced) stats and analysis, and Sarris got used to his audience being familiar with these terms. But when he moved to The Athletic, he had a larger audience and the ability to explain in both long and short forms.For example, an A's designated hitter like Brent Rooker once asked Sarris about a stat on the site, and Sarris had to find the answer. This shows that even players are becoming more informed about statistics.

Transitioning to Other Mediums

Mike Petriello of MLB.com also started his career on a keyboard. When he transitioned to other mediums like TV, the mission remained the same - convincing people of the importance of advanced analytics. "When I first started doing this, convincing people why any of it mattered was a battle," Petriello said. "But now, with teams making decisions based on advanced stuff and players talking about it, we've made progress."Petriello noticed an increase in the use of statistics on TV programs over time. Shows like the ESPN Sunday show now incorporate cool stats and analysis, with producers like Andy Jacobson and commentators like Eduardo Perez bringing these concepts to the forefront.

The Happy Medium

Not everyone wants to dig deeply into the numbers, and that's fair. Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, for example, keeps it simple with a love for batting average. But there are also common stats like OPS that players and fans are comfortable with.As the sport continues to evolve and players change, the need to react and adapt in our coverage becomes clear. Petriello believes that we need to keep up with these changes to provide the best coverage for our audiences.In conclusion, the introduction of advanced baseball analytics in media is a complex and evolving process. By finding the right balance and using different mediums, we can make these concepts accessible to a wider audience and enhance our understanding of the game.