I agree with the first part. I may be misunderstanding the bolded part, but isn't it a contradiction? This is where I run into a problem with the spreadsheet comments.
A person assesses data, either acquired by the "eye test", from perusing accessable (published?) data, communicating with others, or a combination of the three. Any manager does the same.
In the case you mention, undoubtedly Baldelli saw that pinch hit data. Yes maybe on a spreadsheet, lol. Yet he went against it. Somehow others see the data themselves. Yes maybe on a spreadsheet, lol. Then use that data to argue that Baldelli is stifled by his dependence on the spreadsheet.
Maybe I just am thick.