Baseball Genius?

I just finished watching a 60 Minute's piece on baseball "geek," Bill James. James was hired by the Boston Red Sox in 2002 and is credited by many for helping the Sox break the curse and win 2 championships in 2004 and 2007 (he received 2 rings). He was a night watchman at a factory and was embraced in baseball because of his different outlook on the game.

Bill James studied statistics to come to the realization that many of baseball's aspects make no sense at all. The closer, for instance, is used the wrong way. In James' eye, he should be brought in the game at the most crucial point, even if that is in the 6th inning with men on base and the best hitter at the plate. Why must he be saved for the 9th inning?

James revealed that a players' best years are within the ages of 25-29. This is what prompted the Sox decision not to resign the aging Johnny Damon or Pedro Martinez. A good decision considering Damon's numbers have decreased and Pedro has been plagued with injury. James even came up with a way to relate a player's minor league statistics to his possible production in the majors.

His different outlook on the game brought him to the realization of the most important stats. Many believe the most important hitting statistic is the batting average. James, however, stresses that walks are extremely important and they don't get averaged into that stat, therefore, on-base percentage is the best way to judge a hitter. When analyzing a pitcher many look at his win-loss record, while James focuses on his strikeout to walk ratio. When it comes to Fenway Park and the Green Monster in left field, it was for a long time thought to be a right-handed hitters ballpark. James turned that theory around, and the RedSox line-up has been full of lefty hitters ever since.

P.S. - It was Bill James who pushed the idea of signing lefty slugger David Ortiz.