2025 SABR Analytics: Watch highlights from Brian Kenny on Analytics Now
At the SABR Analytics Conference on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, Brian Kenny of MLB Network delivered the opening remarks with a talk on Analytics Now.
- Watch: Click here to watch a video replay of Brian Kenny on Analytics Now (YouTube)
Here are some highlights from Kenny’s talk:
On the front-office revolution
- “Cleveland Guardians (President of Baseball Operations) Chris Antonetti (and I) were just talking about the revolution of the front office. He said when he got to Cleveland in 1999, there were eight people, eight executives in the whole executive staff of the Cleveland Indians. They were very forward-thinking led by John Hart. And he said they now have 55 people in the Baseball Operations department alone. It’s exploded. We know Cleveland is not a big-market club; it’s not a big payroll club, but they certainly invest in their brain power, and that’s paid off.”
On embracing uncertainty in both baseball and life
- “When I’m talking about what analytics are all about, at least for me, it was always: Don’t have the answer to the question before the question is even asked. Bill James always told me, ‘A completely acceptable response is ‘I don’t know.’’ We should approach everything that way. How do you put together a winner? How much pitching is enough? How much relief pitching is enough? How strong should your bench be? How do you allocate your resources? No one quite knows the exact answers. But a lot of clubs have figured a few things out. That’s what I love — you figured a few things out that work. You can do it in your life as well: what works, what doesn’t work, what might I not be thinking of exactly here? And baseball clubs have done that.”
On honoring the legacy of LGBT baseball pioneer Billy Bean
- “I think of Billy and try to further his legacy. Be kind to someone, reach out to someone, lend your expertise to somebody else. Be cognizant that not everybody might be as quick or strong as you are. Be aware of that. If you get a chance to look up Billy Bean, he’s the best inclusion of Major League Baseball. There’s many people possible furthering his legacy.”
Transcription assistance from Yun-Kai Guo.
For more coverage of the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics.
Originally published: May 1, 2025. Last Updated: March 21, 2025.