Kagan: Physics in the Atlantic League, or not
From SABR member David Kagan at The Hardball Times on December 3, 2019:
We were on Amtrak from New York to Boston. I was heading to the renowned analytics conference SaberSeminar. My wife, who is no less passionate about baseball than I, is less analytically inclined. So her goal for the weekend was to spend the maximum amount of time in the venerable Fenway Park.
When our train-bound conversation turned to baseball, the experiments in the Atlantic League came up. As a scientist, I hoped someday to see the system that got the Trackman radar information processed and sent to the home plate umpire in time to call the pitches – the first steps toward the Robo-ump. It would make a nice physics-oriented THT article. My spouse was more interested in some of the other experiments like extra fouls on bunts and stealing of first base.
I suspect it was her idea, but I’m going to take credit for it because she doesn’t read most of my articles. I proposed that we check to see if an Atlantic League game would fit into our already tight travel schedule. We had train tickets south to Washington, D.C., right after Boston. After two days in D.C. we needed to head toward Atlanta and be there in two days. It was essential to get to SunTrust Park so we could once again boast that we have seen a game in every major league ballpark.
Read the full article here: https://tht.fangraphs.com/physics-in-the-atlantic-league-or-not/
Originally published: December 5, 2019. Last Updated: December 5, 2019.