MESA, Ariz. — Analytics have changed how the baseball industry views many areas of the game, from production to lineup construction to defense.
While some analytics have helped the game, others sometimes have made it more difficult for players to use their natural instincts.
Striking a balance between what is too much and what is just enough is a constant battle teams and players have to deal with. Defensive positioning in the outfield is one such area where that balance comes into play.
New Cubs left fielder Joc Pederson has been known more for his bat than for his glove during his seven-year big-league career, but he thinks he has a chance to show more defensively this season without some of the limitations of analytics.