# Does baseball have too many statistics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 8, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408 "2003-06-08T05:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/21 "2003-06-09T14:39:08Z")
Well, I stand by my OP. Who really cares which Z hitter has the most HR’s-Zeile or Zernial. But you’re right, some of what I referred to are 1sts, & not really statistics. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/22 "2003-06-09T14:45:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Who really cares which Z hitter has the most HR’s-Zeile or Zernial. Nobody does. Do you see any serious baseball fan putting stock in such curiosities? It might be interesting, but that’s all. And it’s something broadcasters will blather on about when they can’t think of anything else to say. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/23 "2003-06-09T15:15:35Z")
Aw, c’mon, the Z-names record and such are tongue in cheek. They fill air time, and poke gentle fun at the pretentiousness behind the statistics that are so prevalent in the game, and can be so much fun _if kept in their proper place_. What baseball does have too much of is fans who get so absorbed in the stats that they miss the fun of simply watching the game. They lose sight of the fact that the players are humans, not machines, and that stats tell one much less about what’s really happening than they suppose. That even goes so far among some that they can simply ignore any factor for which stats can’t be created, or try to torture some into existence. Not all that matters can be quantified, and not all that can be quantified matters, and there are too many who don’t keep that in mind. ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/24 "2003-06-09T19:24:56Z")
I don’t disagree with you, **Elvis** , that it’s possible to over-quantify to the point of meaninglessness, but I think that to be fair, you need to say instead that baseball has too many fans who believe that their preferred way of enjoying the game is the “right” way to enjoy the game, and that someone else who likes different aspects of the game is a Philistine. Some stat-heads sneer at the people who don’t pay much attention to stats as uneducated morons who don’t understand the game, and some non-stat-heads sneer at people who do pay a lot of attention to stats as roto-geeks who don’t like “real baseball,” or some such. I figure, to each their own, and _both_ camps are pretty boorish when they criticize the other side’s way of enjoying the game. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/25 "2003-06-10T04:51:48Z")
As I said initially, I think the Zeile HR stat was to give an excuse to mention Gus dated Marilyn… Where was Joe? I know baseball has been around 130+ years & has a lot of time to fill. The guy is right-to each his own. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/26 "2003-06-10T13:03:09Z")
So who holds the Q record? I think it’s Jamie Quirk. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/27 "2003-06-10T14:19:53Z")
I thought it was Jack Quinn. Dan Quisenberry would hold the Q save record, most likely. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/28 "2003-06-10T15:00:39Z")
W/o looking, the U record must be Tom Umphlett. I love the only guy traded for himself- Harry Chiti -for a player to be named later-which was Chiti. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/29 "2003-06-10T15:12:35Z")
I get a kick out of justifications of these stats such as “they fill air time” or they allow you to strike up conversations during those stretches when “not much is happening.” Gee whiz. What adjective other than **boring** better fits an activity where air time predictably needs to be filled and that regularly contains stretches where not much is happening? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/30 "2003-06-10T15:21:15Z")
Umphlett only hit 6 homers. Willie Upshaw hit 123, which is the U record. Let’s see how many I can get without looking it up: A - Aaron, 755 B - Bonds, 600+ whatever it is now C - Canseco, 460 or so D - Dawson, 440 or so E - Darrell Evans F - Jimmie Foxx, 534 G - Gehrig, 493 H - Frank Howard? I - No idea J - Reggie K - Killer L - I guess it’s Greg Luzinski M - Mays N - Nettles? O - Paul O’Neill, think P - Palmiero Q - Quinn or Quirk R - The Bambino S - Schmidt T - I actually can’t figure this one out U - Willie Upshaw V - Greg Vaughn W - Ted Williams X - I do not believe anyone has ever played big league baseball with a last name starting with X Y - Ed Yost? Z - Zeile ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/31 "2003-06-10T15:30:43Z")
You meant Mark Quinn, perhaps? It is, according to baseball almanac, held jointly by Quirk and Quinn (I _knew_ a Quinn was in there somewhere, but I couldn’t remember his first name). And **Dinsdale** , leave us not forget such other exciting sports like football, where we get similar meaningless filler. “Yup, the Cowboys are 24-0 when Emmitt gets 40 carries and they have a 12 point lead at halftime. Things look bad for the Redskins, don’t they Jack?” Or basketball, with the final minute of play taking 15 minutes to air. Pretty much _any_ sport has dead time. Baseball is hardly uniqie in that respect. - **g8rguy** , who is going to miss most of the season while on an extended business trip type thing, and is so irked that he’s actually going to a D-Rays game this weekend. I am so ashamed. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/32 "2003-06-10T15:37:30Z")
**Dinsdale** , imagine how much harder it is for cricket fans. Those matches take all week, not just a few hours. I - [I got some help](http://www.baseball-reference.com/i/)Pete Incaviglia? Mike Ivie? Maybe an Iorg? T- Ralph Terry? V - Mo Vaughn probably has more than his cousin Greg Y - Yaz FWIW, Quiz and Quirk were the only all-Q battery. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/33 "2003-06-10T16:38:46Z")
T must be Frank Thomas-the Big Hurt, not the ex Met/Phil/Cub/ Pirate etc… Ralph Terry? The guy who gave up Maz’ 1960 HR ,doubt it. Yost, the walking man? Don’t think so- doubt he had more than 20-30. Yaz is probably correct. Well, didn’t know Mo had a primo in the bigs. Inky had more than Ivie, or Iorg, I think. Agree-never heard of an X man. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/34 "2003-06-10T17:39:28Z")
I think **Elvis** meant HOFer _Bill_ Terry, **doc**. 🙂 He only had 154 home runs; Frank Thomas is at 376 and counting. Of course, Jim Thome may yet catch him–he’s got 334. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/35 "2003-06-10T17:45:00Z")
Yeah, Bill Terry, thanks. I always confuse him with the guy who sang “Streets of London”. BTW, the reference I gave confirms there have been no X-name players in MLB. Perhaps there’s a first name of Xavier in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/36 "2003-06-10T17:46:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by g8rguy \* > \*\*And **Dinsdale** , leave us not forget such other exciting sports like football, where we get similar meaningless filler. “Yup, the Cowboys are 24-0 when Emmitt gets 40 carries and they have a 12 point lead at halftime. Things look bad for the Redskins, don’t they Jack?” Or basketball, with the final minute of play taking 15 minutes to air. Pretty much _any_ sport has dead time. Baseball is hardly uniqie in that respect. \*\* Actually, a football game is SLOWER than a baseball game. The average NFL game takes a bit longer to play than the average major league baseball game, and there isn’t actually any more action. Out of the 60 minutes on the play clock, 50 or more is spent between plays standing around. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/37 "2003-06-11T02:40:33Z")
Watching Baseball tonight on ESPN. Reynolds said DeVanon should still be playing because he’s the 2nd switch hitter to hit HR’s left & right, in back to back games.They didn’t say who was 1st. Was it Mantle, Murray? Or a Baerga/ Bellhorn type. Agree w/ above post- I always can watch a WHOLE football game on my VCR in about 25 minutes,w/fast forward going most of time. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/38 "2003-06-11T12:26:05Z")
the Vaughn Cousins: Greg - 352 HR Maurice - 325 HR So Greg Vaughn is currently the V homer champ. His career’s toast, though, so Mo has a very good chance of passing him. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/39 "2003-06-11T12:55:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*the Vaughn Cousins: > > Greg - 352 HR > Maurice - 325 HR > > So Greg Vaughn is currently the V homer champ. His career’s toast, though, so Mo has a very good chance of passing him. \*\* I’m pretty sure Mo’s career is toast, as well. Julie ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408/40 "2003-06-11T13:28:16Z")
Yep, if Mo is looking at a knee replacement (a predictable consequence of letting himself get so fat), he’s done. Greg, however, just caught on with Colorado. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-baseball-have-too-many-statistics/180408.md?page=3)