Analytics don't always get a good rap in baseball. Sure, there are numerical benefits: They help managers and scouts track players for deals and manufacture opportunities that would have required more nurturing in the past. But to baseball purists, analytics can seem like nothing more than a hack, destroying the humanity of the game. Numbers and equations go in, and chemistry-less teams come out.

But we'd like for you to put these notions aside for the moment to consider the upside of harnessing analytics to boost your player development and winning percentage.

Read on for some baseball-friendly infographics that shed some serious light on the potential of analytics for your team. 

These infographics from Syracuse University depict a brief history of sabermetrics, how to apply the technology, and a look at the different types of software that are available on the market.

The data below describes the use of sabermetrics in professional baseball, but what if the same principles were applied to strengthen areas of weakness in your players' training? What if you could look at the numbers and instead of writing off players, give them the opportunity to work efficiently to get better -- inevitably making your team better. 

So numbers could potentially provide a more productive and specific practice? Armed with these stats, you might just change your ideology about baseball analytics and the way you spend your time training your team.

Brought to you by MBA@Syracuse: Sabermetrics History

Brought to you by MBA@Syracuse: Sabermetrics

Brought to you by MBA@Syracuse: Tools of Baseball Analytics

We've found a few great innovative uses of today's technology to assist you in communicating and coaching at your best. This is certainly not a cumulative list of all that's out there, but it's a start. And don't worry...we didn't get paid to endorse these companies.

How can Baseball Analytics be applied to Coaching?

• Guide pitchers' in the details
  • Sport Vision: "With the PITCHf/x® system, a coach can better evaluate their players and respond accordingly since they will have real information to back up their raw intuition."

• Better your players' pitch recognition
• deCervo offers your players the chance to improve their pitch and strike recognition

• Help simplify your players' hitting approach 

  • GameChanger is an awesome software that covers statistics, score keeping, and team management, but the thing that most excites us is the insight into the numbers.

  • 3 Stats Every Player and Coach Should Utilize to Improve (source)

    • Make the first pitch count -- First pitch strikes lead to more outs, fewer baserunnings and fewer pitches thrown per inning

    • Hit the ball hard -- And your batting average will take care of itself

    • Win each battle at the plate -- And your team will eventually win the war on the scoreboard 

• Develop your hitters with metrics

  • RightView Pro is an incredible analysis system built specifically for baseball swing analysis. It's designed by coaches and players--for coaches and players.

The number of coaching tools are growing rapidly as our technology does from baserunning, fielding (SportVision FIELDf/x®), and to tools building better team chemistry. The benefits of the information available lie in the utilization of baseball coaches and we're excited to see just how accurate coaches become in the way they break down the game -- in degrees that make the difference between average players and professionals.

It just wouldn't be right to address such topics and neglect one of the pioneering minds of the data-enhanced age of baseball without mentioning Andy Andres. Check him out.

Andy Andres, leader of the MIT Science of Baseball Program talks about the insightful relationship between Baseball and Sabermetrics

As the obviously-appropriate Moneyball film quotes goes, "Adapt or die." Not to be too dramatic, but coaches can no longer afford to ignore the advances in the game when so many players are benefitting from the technology. Coaches now have the opportunity to capitalize on the resources available, with the full knowledge that the numbers don't do the coaching -- the coaches do. 

Sabermetrics, like medicine, have great value, but can not ensure success alone. Just taking medicine isn't enough; exercise and nutrition are also factors in being healthy. Similarly, just having the baseball technology isn't enough; experience and expertise are vital factors to the development of players. Yep, that means you, coach.

Have other great coaching resources that you can't live without? List it below in the comments section. We're all about finding effective tools to better coach and train players to the max of their potential. Feel free to subscribe below to max out your own coaching potential.