They analyze data on their own team and the opposing players, and provide various advice to managers, coaches, and players based on the results. Although scorers and analysts are called different things, what they actually do is the same.

I think that there are three important things: "excellent analytical ability," "communication ability," and "the ability to convey difficult things simply." Of course, analytical ability to interpret data is important, but to make use of the results of your analysis, you need to communicate them to others. If you were to prioritize the three abilities, communication ability would be at the top; being able to talk well with others is an important element for a scorer.

If a player asks you during a game, "Which ball should I hit?", even if you answer with a lot of information that you have analyzed, it will not be of much use to the player. In such cases, it is important to answer in one word. Of course, it is necessary to collect and analyze data in advance, but when communicating with people, it is important to keep it simple. "Pack a lot of ingredients, filter them, and squeeze out one very strong drop." That's the image I have. Inputting the analyzed numbers into your head is actually not that difficult, but how to deliver that last drop to the other person is the most difficult part of this job.

I try to keep in mind the importance of distance. When communicating with people, if you are too close, the other person will become distant, and if you are too far away, you won't be able to convey what you want to say. Some people want to hear the details of the analysis, while others don't. When communicating, I pay attention to many things, such as distance, the other person's way of thinking, the situation they are in, and timing.

That's right. Since scorers don't play, it's basically a job where you work "for others." Since I was a child, my parents taught me to "become a person who can serve others," and that is also the spirit that Aoyama values as its school motto, "Salt of the earth, light of the world." I think that mindset is alive in my current job.

I've been in this job for 12 years, and I'd say that the use of data in baseball has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. With the introduction of measuring equipment such as Trackman and Hawkeye* at stadiums, a wide variety of data has been made visible all at once. In particular, I think the visualization of data on balls thrown by pitchers is a major change. What was previously expressed with words like "sharp" or "flexible" can now be expressed numerically, such as the amount of spin and axis of rotation. As a result, there are now players like Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish who can look at their own pitching data, match the data with their senses, and throw the ball exactly how they want. I think this is a dramatic advancement.
By the way, can I ask you a question? What do you think "baseball data" is?

*A system that measures and analyzes various data such as the trajectory and rotation speed of batted balls and pitches.

I see, thank you. Today, there are a few things I really wanted to tell you, Ushida-kun, and one of them is that you should not use data as an excuse for failure. For example, if there is data that shows that A has a 70% probability of occurring and B has a 30% probability of occurring, everyone will want to choose A. However, as you analyze baseball, you should understand that in the world of sports, B often occurs, right? I think that if you predict A will occur and then use the numbers as an excuse, saying "Because A was 70%," after B has occurred, you are not qualified to be an analyst.

That's right. When you hear "a batting average of 30%" in baseball, it sounds like a fairly high probability, right? I always think that it's precisely the smaller probabilities that we need to study from the perspective that "there must be something hidden there."
Another thing I wanted to tell Ushida today is that although analysts and data workers are generally seen as smart, they are not actually jobs that are often rewarding. Looking back over the 12 years since I started this job, I have had more failures and struggles than successes. However, I have been able to turn those failures into energy and come this far.

To be more specific, in the 2017 WBC semi-finals, where I participated as a scorer for Samurai Japan, I made the biggest mistake of my life. Japan lost that game to the United States, but I was unable to give the batter the right words even though it was a great opportunity to turn the game around. I assumed that "because he's a left-handed batter, the other team will use a left-handed pitcher," and I prioritized the option with the highest probability based on the data. I still feel guilty about that loss.

What I regret most is that even though I always told myself "Don't be trapped by stereotypes" when I was working, I couldn't do that at the most crucial moment. And, as I mentioned earlier, I couldn't "pay attention to the low probability." I regret that more than the result of losing. In this job, the times when I lose because of my own mistakes are more painful to remember than the times when I win, and there's no doubt that this is what helps me grow. Rather than giving vague advice out of fear of failure, I stick to what I've done and clearly communicate it without fear of failure. I think that leads to growth.

There are two words that I hold dear in this line of work. The first is "useless use." I wonder if you know it, Ushida-kun.

This phrase is written in the classic book "Zhuangzi," which is said to have been written in the middle of the Warring States period in China, and it says that things that seem meaningless at first glance actually play an important role, and I think this way of thinking is a very important element for analysts. Another phrase I hold dear is "the knowledge of ignorance." It's similar to "the use of uselessness," but I'm sure you've heard this one before.

The wisdom of ignorance is a phrase used by the ancient Greek Socrates. He is saying that those who know that they have not yet studied enough and that they are ignorant are more wise than those who do not. The reason why I value these two words is because if you do not realize that there are many things you do not know, have a broad perspective, become interested in various things, and absorb knowledge, you will not be able to squeeze out "a word that will convey to the players". It is a big mistake to think that anything other than baseball does not concern you just because you are a baseball analyst, and it is also a big mistake to think that you know everything. Ushida-kun is studying statistics and physics with the aim of becoming an analyst, but in addition to that, for example, Japanese classes will help you develop the ability to read intentions from texts, so it may be necessary to cultivate the ability to communicate with the players. In order to build a foundation as an analyst, I hope you will value what you learn in various classes at school.

I've been playing baseball since I was little, but I didn't want people to think, "He's only good at baseball, he's no good at studying." After school, I want to practice baseball as hard as I can, but I also want to get good grades on tests. I thought about what I could do to achieve that, and decided to concentrate with all my might and listen to the teacher during class. There is always a theme in class, so I attended class every day with the determination to make sure I understood it from the teacher's talk and remember all the important points during class.

When I was in high school, I researched various universities and found that Aoyama Gakuin University 's baseball team valued independence and had a strong track record, including winning the Toho University League. The baseball team at Aogaku still has very little practice time as a whole, and practice is left to the individual. It may seem like a free and easy place to play, but behind that freedom lies the strictness of having to discipline yourself and improve your level. I chose Aogaku because I wanted to play baseball in that kind of environment.

"Freedom" is often mentioned as the school spirit of Aoyama. Freedom does not mean living as you please, but behind freedom comes responsibility. I want you to remember that freedom and autonomy are accompanied by strictness that cannot be achieved if you cannot discipline yourself. I also want to convey to everyone at Aoyama the importance of working towards something with all your heart. I want you to discipline yourself in your current environment, develop conviction and resolve in your heart, believe in yourself, look at yourself, and walk your own path.