ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/03/an-mlb-team-spent-at-least-500000-for-a-supercomputer/ One MLB team has invested in a Cray supercomputer according to Pete Ungaro, the company’s chief executive officer. * * * * * * The team obtained one both because the machine has the capacity to analyse enormous quantities of data and because of the short time in which it can process them. A $500k Cray supercomputer? To analyze baseball stats to make in-game decisions? I got no problem with computer-aided in-game decision making, but a Cray? Really? Are they gonna be playing in an alternate universe where things happen orders of magnitude faster than on earth? Is Buddy Nix moonlighting for some MLB team? Edited March 20, 2014 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDBUFFCUSEFAN Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Teams pay 14 million for one season of average pitching, this 500k looks like a wise investment compared to a lot of player salaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Teams pay 14 million for one season of average pitching, this 500k looks like a wise investment compared to a lot of player salaries. Maybe the umps should get one, too, so they can more quickly determine when the count reaches 3 strikes or 4 balls. There's something to be said for getting the right tool for the job. Edited March 20, 2014 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDBUFFCUSEFAN Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Maybe the umps should get one, too, so they can more quickly determine when the count reaches 3 strikes or 4 balls. There's something to be said for getting the right tool for the job. Why would they need a supercomputer to count to 3 or 4? I mean the umps can be pretty bad but I am pretty sure they can handle this task. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) That's the point - - a Cray seems like serious overkill for both jobs. It's like somebody put Buddy Nix in charge of the analytics department. Edited March 20, 2014 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDBUFFCUSEFAN Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 That's the point - - a Cray seems like serious overkill for both jobs. Why wouldn't a company with the operating budget of a baseball team not explore every possible edge? 500k is a drop in the bucket for these organizations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) http://www.thegoodphight.com/2014/3/17/5509330/phillies-possibly-acquire-supercomputer-to-become-awesome Ruben: Yeah, hey, guy. Need one of these. **Taps computer with World Series ring** Computer salesman: A, uh... computer? Ruben: **snorts condescendingly** Yeah. Computer salesman: Well do you have any idea what sort of model you're interested in? Or do you want to tell me what sort of usage you're trying to get out of your-- Ruben: **makes 'speed it up' gesture while looking out window** Computer salesman: I'm sorry? Ruben: Look, why don't you give me the one with the biggest engine and then you can cuddle back up inside one of these things and nurse on some wires sticking out of the mother board or whatever. I don't think the Bill will shop for their analytics dept. hardware that way, 'cause Buddy Nix isn't in charge of it.. Edited March 20, 2014 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDBUFFCUSEFAN Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 http://www.thegoodph...-become-awesome I am going to guess you have never run multi variable regressions before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 Maybe I'm underestimating the speed required to get answers that can be used to make in-game decisions, but I don't think we're talking about the level of complexity required to forecast the weather, model nuclear explosions, or model molecular dynamics: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/122159-what-can-you-do-with-a-supercomputer/2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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