Opening Day 2011

One word: sabermetrics.

“Sabermetrics” is one of those rare words I have actually retained from the “New words I learned” feature in my Bookworm post series. I think I first read it in Chuck Klosterman’s Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. The definition, courtesy of my MacBook dictionary, is, “the application of statistical analysis to baseball records, esp. in order to evaluate and compare the performance of individual players.” Basically, it is the one-word description of nerdy, esoteric, and borderline pointless statistical categories. I’m talking VORP, OPS, and XR — stats you think the baseball nerds at ESPN create to justify in depth analysis of Albert Pujols’ batting glove preference or a pointless, time filling Top 10 ranking.

Ah, but I have to admire baseball’s tireless mathematicians. When their ballpoints or sharpened graphite hit the page, making note of strikes, hits, and bases, it means another season of the great American pastime is underway. (At the beginning of each season, I always relished the first few games when the previous season’s stats are used in telecasts. When is it, I wonder, that enough current season stats accumulate to be useful?)

Right now I am listening to the Cubs and Pirates on KXIC. It is a cold and drizzle soaked Opening Day at Wrigley Field — the complete opposite of yesterday’s sunny and 85º game time at Dodger Stadium — and the top of the seventh inning begins with Pittsburgh up, 4-2. Now it’s 6-2 and the Cubs have pulled Dempster. Time to head to the Deadwood for $1 PBRs.