The article discusses how analytics can potentially mitigate long player slumps in baseball, emphasizing the sport's characteristic of player failure. It highlights the case of Josh Bell, noting his significant slump with the Nationals, and how his lack of performance has impacted the team's record. Manager Dave Martinez expresses optimism about Bell's potential, despite his current poor performance. The notion that older players often face age-related decline is also touched on, reinforcing the importance of consistent performance in the game.
If you fail 6.9-of-10 times in a long career as a hitter, they induct you into the Hall of Fame. That would make you a .310 hitter like Derek Jeter.
Those who bet on the stats on the back of the baseball card is why older free agents fail so much. Age regression is real.
As of today, Bell has the worst WAR in the entire National League at -0.8. The Washington Nationals are 14-18 in their 2025 record.
Josh Bell is 'working with Darnell.' Should that give us confidence? Martinez says, 'He's very streaky. When he gets going, he's going to carry us for a while.'
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