Nothing goes better with Phillies baseball than a Tastykake, however…

We watch Phillies baseball on television, listen to games on the radio. We can recite the Jingle,

Nothing goes better with Phillies baseball than a Tastykake.

Yet, we go to Citizen’s ballpark and a Tastykake cannot be found. So, recently during a ballgame, I expressed this sentiment on twitter. I received a response from The Tasty Baking Co with a note saying, “@SteveLevine1: Here is why: Inquirer: Can’t Get Tastykake at Citizen’s Park about 19 hours ago via Seesmic twhirl in reply to SteveLevine1″

Weather is being blamed as the culprit. In a statement, the company (Tasty Baking Co) said,

Until we can absolutely ensure that the product will remain fresh and delicious in the heat, we won’t offer a subpar product to Tastykake or Phillies fans.

Is there something rotten in Philadelphia? What do you think? Philly Phanatic, please help us.

Misleading statistics – a lesson from Phillies baseball

As a marketing research professional, all too often I see people trust data as gospel based on it’s face value. This is dangerous. Yet, conventional wisdom would suggest that a statistic is a statistic. Let’s examine.

In baseball, one measurement used for gauging a hitter’s performance is batting average. In today’s game, a batting average of .300 or higher is considered among the elite. Baseball aficionados are thinking, “What about homeruns, RBI’s, and on base percentage?” All important stats in understanding a player’s contribution. That being said, we will drill down on another stat combined with batting average.  It will become apparent that stats taken at face value can be highly misleading.

At this point in time, during the 2010 season, Philadelphia Phillies Jayson Werth is hitting .300. However, with runners in scoring position (RISP), Werth is hitting a feeble .157 (17-for-108). (Thank you Todd Zolecki of MLB.com for that statistic.) Werth ranks 228th out of 228 players in the Majors in hitting with RISP. In other words, Werth is dead last when it comes to clutch hitting. On the surface, Werth’s .300 average looks good but upon examination it is an unproductive .300 average.

Since Jayson Werth is a free agent at the end of the season, it will be interesting to see whether he receives offers reflecting the performance of a “typical” .300 hitter or something different.

The bottom line is look beyond the data because it will tell a more accurate and holistic story.

Tale of a Tiger – once a 1984 movie, now a social media hit on a small screen near you

Prior to Thanksgiving of 2009, Tale of a Tiger had an uplifting meaning. It was the story of a young boy fascinated by flight having the desire to take a dilapidated plane and rehabilitating it so it could fly again. A young boy’s courage to take to the skies is a heart warming image.

Fast forward to November 27, 2009.  Social media is buzzing that the world’s most famous sports figure, Tiger Woods, was in a car accident. The twitter verse becomes consumed with discussing his health and ability to play competitive golf. Although the chatter continues to increase, the content still reflects the good old days.  The tale of this Tiger revolves around a gifted golfer who has represented corporate America to the tune of establishing a $1 billion brand name.

Suddenly, though, Tale of a Tiger has transformed into a different, less comforting brand. Image and trust of the brand were changing quickly. The prodigy golfer with a pristine adult image had suddenly become controversial talk of social media websites (i.e. Twitter). The newsworthy and pop culture events of the day began to take a backseat to the new version of Tale of a Tiger. The once embraced brand continued to trend as a discussion topic with many questioning whether their previous perception had in fact been a tale.

Unlike the 1984 film version of Tale of a Tiger, the digital social media version has been sparking controversy.  To this point, the tale has an unknown ending. Among the questions to be answered are:

• Will this Tiger fly again?

• Will the image of Tiger be that of a tragic sports figure with flaws or a brand damaged beyond repair?

• Will the once trusted brand regain public trust?

Someday there will be outcomes and the story will be told. Is there any chance that the Australians, who own the title Tale of a Tiger, will consider selling the rights despite the differences in the story line? 

 

Philadelphia Eagles…What Fans Need To Focus On

Whether one lives in Philadelphia or, for that matter anywhere else in the US, the story of the moment is Michael Vick becoming a Philadelphia Eagle. We all agree that what Michael Vick did is inexcusable and unthinkable especially to those of us who love our pets. So, why did the Eagles want to take on all this baggage?

Anyone who lives in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and has followed the Eagles over the past decade understand some things of the recent history of the franchise.  Despite the team’s success of frequently making the playoffs, they have yet to win a Super bowl. On local radio sports talk, fans often express that they would trade the regular season and playoff success for one Super bowl win. So why sign Michael Vick? The mindset of the Philadelphia Eagles organization is as follows:

• The window of opportunity for the Philadelphia Eagles to win a Super bowl is small and closing fast

• If they win the Super bowl, this PR nightmare will go away and they will be embraced (fans have short memories)

• The Phillies are the toast of the town and the Eagles could be all that with a Super bowl win
  

Do actions justify the means? Not at all. Basically, the Eagle organization and Michael Vick now must go overboard in protecting the right of animals. Will this happen? I admit I am skeptical but I will be watching.

Does simply winning a Super bowl make the negative image go away? Not at all. It still goes back to being an advocate against animal cruelty.

As far as the Phillies being the toast of the town, well it is deserved and goes well beyond winning a world series. In the area of advocacy for animals, Chase and Jennifer Utley have been proponents of animal rights for many years.  I can still remember at the Philadelphia Phillies parade the ballplayers celebrating along with their pets. They walk the walk (along side their pets!)

So, where does this leave us? Simply, we should be watching not if the Eagles are a better football team but if they do right by being advocates for pets. The clock has begun to tick. As vigilant fans of the game, I appeal to all of my fellow fans…watch closely not just the results on the football field but whether or not off the field humanistic actions are occurring.

My message to Michael Vick and Philadelphia Eagle organization…we will be watching and it goes well beyond wins and losses.