Laurila: Q&A with Brad Ausmus on analytics, closer mentality, and pitch framing

From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on June 14, 2017:

Brad Ausmus is hard to label. Many see him as an old-school manager — and, based on some of his beliefs and actions, that’s perfectly understandable. On the other hand, he’s Ivy League-educated and well versed on most analytic concepts. From a knowledge standpoint, the manager of the Detroit Tigers is far from a troglodyte.

This interview doesn’t add much clarity to Ausmus’s identity. For one thing, it’s narrow in scope. While other subjects are touched upon, closer usage and pitch-framing comprise the bulk of the conversation.

Of note: this material actually comes from three separate conversations. The first two were in group settings with Detroit beat writers (with my questions eliciting most of these responses) on back-to-back days. I then had a shorter, one-on-one conversation with Ausmus to fill in a few blanks. Because of the manner in which these quotes were obtained, some have been resequenced for continuity.

Read the full article here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/brad-ausmus-on-analytics-closer-mentality-and-pitch-framing/



Originally published: June 14, 2017. Last Updated: June 14, 2017.