In Philadelphia, Matt Breen notes the Phillies' new proprietary information system -- "aptly named PHIL" -- has launched as the team "takes a big step in catching up in the analytics department." New GM Matt Klentak said that he is "currently working with a beta version of the custom-made sabermetrics system." Klentak added that the system "is a place for the team to store and manipulate data, including scouting reports, medical information, basic statistics, and 'refined, nuances statistical information.'" The PHIL acronym "stands for 'Phillies Holistic Information Location.'" The Phillies "had long been slow to embrace analytics" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/6).
WHERE'D EVERYBODY GO? Braves Owner Liberty Media on Thursday in a filing with the SEC said the team's revenue dropped $16M this year through Sept. 30, "primarily due to lower game attendance and decreased concession sales." But in Atlanta, Tim Tucker notes the Braves "were more profitable" despite the revenue drop. Liberty said that the Braves' operating income "actually increased" by $9M compared to the first nine months of '14. The Braves this season "had their lowest attendance" since '90 (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 11/6).
WE FOUND LOVE IN A HOPELESS PLACE: In DC, Jerry Brewer writes newly named Nationals manager Dusty Baker on Thursday walked into the team's "supposed dysfunction," and "all of a sudden, the embarrassing story line of a franchise that lowballed and lost its first choice, Bud Black, yielded to fascination with Baker’s charisma." Baker "is no one’s No. 2 choice, even when he technically is." He is "too dynamic a personality, too likeable a human being, too qualified a professional." Despite a "kooky process, the Nationals hired more than just a manager." Brewer: "They hired a pulse" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/6).
LOYALTY REWARDS: SPORTSNET.ca's Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote hiring a permanent GM "will be among the more important decisions that Mark Shapiro makes" as Blue Jays President & CEO, and it "may also be one of the tougher ones." Shaprio said, "Part of a GM’s job is to not just build a team on the field, but build a team in the office. And that doesn’t mean any one set of attributes as a good leader complements himself or herself with people around them that complement their strengths and their skillsets. That’s why I say it doesn’t have to be one thing." Blue Jays interim GM Tony LaCava, "whether he’s a candidate for the permanent GM job or not," has "made his loyalty" to the team clear. LaCava: "I’m a Blue Jay. I’m on the bus. (Shapiro) could tell me I’ll be cleaning up this (media room) mess after you guys leave and I’d do it" (SPORTSNET.ca, 11/3).
