[brildum]

Baseball is easier to predict from statistics when compared to most other sports. Most plays in baseball occur in isolation (relatively).

For example: pitcher vs. batter -- each pitch is essentially a new, repeatable experiment.

In basketball, I would guess that there are very few repeatable experiments. (Different players, strategies, locations, etc). It is a much more fluid game and therefore determining an indicator of success is much more difficult.

[darksaga]

Agreed. Also keep in mind baseball probably keeps track of more stats than any other sport, making it easier to spot potential.

I once read an interview with a Major League scout who said he relied heavily on the numbers. He basically said, "We can get any stats, on any of these guys, at any minute, and find out exactly where they are, and if they have the numbers for the big leagues."

Talk about pressure. . it was an eye opener.

[CC11526]

Stats work well in baseball because there is no time component to the game.

The clock completely changes the approaches you have to take in analyzing any other sport.