I argue the core tenet of Driveline Baseball is this: if we can measure it, we can improve it.
That is at the root of the scientific process which founder Kyle Boddy helped usher into 21st century pro baseball with Driveline, the sport’s most influential garage startup.
Why did velocity start increasing? The portable radar gun allowed its measurement, and velocity-training was then accelerated by the uniform MLB pitch-tracking systems that demonstrated the performance benefits of velocity gains beyond a reasonable doubt.
When we can track something, we can create a feedback loop. We can then monitor what improves a system or player, and what makes it worse.
We have since seen what data-based feedback loops mean for pitch design, bat-speed, and bat-path training.
We have even begun to embed a real-time feedback loop within command tracking at Driveline. with Intended Zones Tracker, pitchers like Janson Junk are pioneers enjoying massive benefits.
Data is the lamppost that illuminates the way.
So, where is the game still lagging in data-based breakthroughs? Injury prevention. That frontier remains the Holy Grail, and little progress is being made.
Yes, a big part of that is because pitchers are throwing with record velocity, which is producing incredible force on their elbows and shoulders. But it’s difficult to envision an incentive created that compels pitchers to try and reduce skill level instead of improving it.
Consider what Tejay Antone, a long-time Driveline client, told me recently for a profile documenting his remarkable comeback from a third Tommy John surgery.
“When you really flip the script and you say, ‘OK, why are you wanting to throw harder?’ Well, that’s because the athlete wants to play the next level, whatever level they’re at,” Antone said. “Hard throwers get more opportunities. It’s not unfortunate, but it is inevitable… That trickles down to the minor leagues and moves down to college baseball, and that trickles down to high school baseball. So, up and down, in the game of baseball, just throwing harder, you got a lot more opportunities.
“So, now, when people are saying, ‘Well, you don’t need to throw hard to get outs’ — it’s like (that logic) is from 30 years ago.’”
Pitchers are going to continue to try and throw harder. All incentives point that way. As Charlie Munger once said: “Show me the incentive, and I’ll show you the outcome.”
What that means is we need a lot more data regarding workload and usage from the youth level, as I’ve explored with Deven Morgan, to the professional game.
And that’s where our PULSE technology comes in, workload tracking technology that monitors stress and fatigue.