Kessler will start this week, the 26th quarterback to start for Cleveland since 1999.Earlier this week, Browns rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman broke his hand in practice and will miss at least one mont

What made Bill James, the father of modern sabermetrics, so effective as a writer? There are plenty of plausible answers, from the revolutionary nature of the way James interpreted statistics in the 1980s to his way with words and biting wit.In the last edition of his Baseball Abstract series, however, James offered a different explanation.The secret of the success of this series, James wrote, was that I was dead in the center of the discussion. I was writing about exactly the same issues that everybody else was talking about, only in a different way.Thats sort of how I feel about ESPNs new analytics vertical. If youre interested in viewing sports a different way, as James put it, this is a new place to find a common style of thinking across different writers and specialties.At the same time, the topics youll find here are the same as on the sport index pages elsewhere on ESPN.com, both because this is a home for articles also published there and because were still trying to answer the same questions as everyone else.Ive written before that what statistical analysts do in sports has as much to do with history as it does with math. When theres a question worth asking (How will the Golden State Warriors perform with Kevin Durant? How will LeBron James age? Were the Philadelphia 76ers wise to tear down their roster?), what were often doing is using statistics to sift through basketball history in the same way we naturally do in an anecdotal way.The rationale is not about the numbers per se so much as the ability to avoid some of the perceptual biases that cause our memory to overstate certain examples while ignoring other potentially relevant ones.Take, for example, projecting the development of players based on similar predecessors. Finding comparisons for young players has been a part of the scouting process as long as its existed. Alas, even for someone aware of the potential for bias, that process can be unduly influenced by irrelevant factors like the players race, the hand he uses, or where he happened to go to college. A statistical comparison tool like my SCHOENE projection system doesnt consider any of those things.Of course, statistics have always played a role in that process.Weve got this buzzword, analytics, says Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens. Maybe we have more access to data than we had in the past, but certain people have been using statistics and what they can get their hands on forever. Its not necessarily a new concept, right?And its not necessarily more complex, either. Oftentimes, what we call advanced statistics are really anything but in the traditional mathematical sense. Metrics like effective field goal percentage and points per possession arent really any more complex than traditional field goal percentage or per-game stats.The advancement lies in the fact that these new statistics better reflect what happens on the court. Basketball knowledge, not math knowledge, is required to understand and develop these measures.And thats why Id appreciate it if everyone stopped saying that statistical analysts are smart. Its well-intentioned, certainly, and often accurate -- depending on your definition of the term. But engagement with statistical analysis doesnt mean youre smart. Likewise, those who ignore statistical analysis are not by definition dumb, and the latter reflects the real problem here.Talking about how smart statistical analysts are gives the appearance of closing off the field to anyone who doesnt self-identify as smart because they didnt do well in school, or worse yet were told they werent smart or good at math. And the same goes for anyone who doesnt place a great cultural value on math ability.Instead, its better to think of statistical analysis the way we think of any other field of knowledge, one that requires and improves with study. That process is surely easier to navigate if you think about the world in mathematical terms or are familiar with the mathematical field of statistics. However, it doesnt require a diploma from an Ivy League school to begin.Consider the case of Houston Rockets analyst Ed Kupfer, who didnt finish high school in his native Canada. Kupfers interest in basketball statistics was an outgrowth of trying to win debates on NBA Usenet discussion forums. That led him to a discussion group about advanced statistics that became the APBRmetrics message board.There, Kupfer learned about the growing field of basketball statistics with the help of forerunners like Dean Oliver, while also teaching himself the formal mathematical principles of statistics and how to use programs like R in addition to Excel to calculate metrics. Those lessons paid off when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey hired Kupfer as an analyst shortly after joining the Rockets in 2006.If analytics are a field to be learned, then hopefully this new home is the first step for some, necessary review for others, and reinforcement for those who already consider themselves experts.Now, if you dont mind, weve got some questions to answer.Custom Nike Texas Rangers Jerseys . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys 2020 . LOUIS -- St. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-washington-nationals-jerseys/ . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Custom Nike Cleveland Indians Jerseys . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments.CLEVELAND -- Add cornerback Joe Haden to the Browns lengthy bumped-and-bruised list.The two-time Pro Bowler has a groin issue and is listed as questionable for Sundays game at Miami. Haden did not take part in the teams walk-through on Friday and coach Hue Jackson said its too early to say if Haden will be able to play against the Dolphins.Well see how bad it is, Jackson said.Haden, who was limited to just five games last season by injuries, had two interceptions in last weeks 25-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Haden played every snap and also returned a punt 13 yards.If Haden cant go, veteran Tramon Williams would likely take his spot opposite Jamar Taylor.Also, kicker Patrick Murray is on the injury report with a knee issue. Jackson said Murray, who missed a 52-yard field goal and had an extra point blocked, was injured during Fridays workout and is also questionable. Murray missed all last season with a torn knee ligament.The injuries to Haden and Murray are the latest for the beaten-up Browns, who have already lost five starters, including two quarterbacks, in the first three weeks.On Friday, the team clarified McCowns injury, saying he broke his left collarbone. Earlier in the week, Jackson was vague about details on McCown, who broke his right collarbone last season and missed the final eight games.The 37-year-old McCown only started last week because the Browns lost Robert Griffin III in the opener with a broken bone in his left shoulder.dddddddddddd Hes going to miss at least seven games, and possibly more if he needs surgery.With McCown and RG3 out, rookie Cody Kessler will start this week, the 26th quarterback to start for Cleveland since 1999.Earlier this week, Browns rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman broke his hand in practice and will miss at least one month. On Sunday, starting center Cam Erving was hospitalized with a bruised lung and rookie defensive lineman Carl Nassib broke his left hand against the Ravens.Despite the rocky start, Jackson is staying upbeat.Im not blinking, he said. Im never going to do that. This football team and this organization depend on me to have a positive outlook about it all, and I do because I have seen this before. When you are changing things and you are trying to come from where weve been, these are the things that you have to go through. That saying, `Without struggle, there would be no progress. We are struggling, but we are going to get some progress here pretty soon. I promise you that.---Online: AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '