2020 SABR Analytics Conference Schedule
The ninth annual SABR Analytics Conference was held March 13-15, 2020, at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, 100 N. 1st St., Phoenix, AZ 85004. All baseball fans could watch our free YouTube livestream during the conference, so we hope you’ll tune in!
Here is the full schedule for the 2020 SABR Analytics Conference. Click on a link below for more information about each session.
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown
- 8:30-8:50 a.m.: Introduction to Diamond Dollars Case Competition
SABR CEO Scott Bush will introduce the 2020 Diamond Dollars Case Competition in Salon 2 (2nd floor), with presentations to follow. - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
Presentations of the Diamond Dollars Case Competition in Salon 2, 4, 6, and 8 (2nd floor). - 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Registration Open
You can pick up your SABR Analytics Conference registration packet in the Grand Ballroom foyer area on the 3rd floor. - 12:00-12:45 p.m.: Lunch
Analytics Conference registration includes lunch. Due to inclement weather, lunch has been moved inside to Grand Ballroom South on the 3rd floor. - 1:00-1:05 p.m.: Conference Welcome
SABR CEO Scott Bush welcomes attendees in the Grand Ballroom (3rd floor). - 1:05-1:20 p.m.: The State of Analytics: Brian Kenny
MLB Network host Brian Kenny opens the conference with a discussion of today’s most prominent topics and issues. - 1:20-1:35 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition winners
SABR CEO Scott Bush will announce the winning schools from the morning’s Diamond Dollars Case Competition. - 1:45-3:15 p.m.: Research Presentations 1-3
RP1—Alex Caravan, “Swing Adjustments”
RP2—Russell Eassom, “Strength of Players Faced — A WAR Analysis”
RP3—Ken Kauffman, “Beating Boudreau: Measuring Success Against the Shift” - 3:30-4:30 p.m.: MLB Statcast Update
Panelists: Major League Baseball’s Greg Cain, Clay Nunnally, Daren Willman, Jason Bernard. - 4:35-5:35 p.m.: Intangibles: How do Teams Evaluate, Value, and Encourage Team Chemistry?
Panelists: Joan Ryan, Intangibles author; Jonny Gomes, Arizona Diamondbacks; Rickie Weeks Jr., former major-leaguer. Moderator: Brian Kenny.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
- 7:45-8:15 a.m.: Networking Coffee Talk, presented by Rapsodo
Grab a cup of coffee while we discuss career paths and network. Networking coffee talks are for industry executives and students looking to get into the game and will include industry job postings. Located in Grand Ballroom (3rd floor). - 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Registration Open
You can pick up your SABR Analytics Conference registration packet in the Grand Ballroom foyer area on the 3rd floor. - 8:30-9:30 a.m.: The Changing Baseball: What We Know, What We Think We Know, and What It Means
Panelists: Rob Arthur, Baseball Prospectus; Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs; Meredith Wills, SMT. Moderator: Mike Ferrin, Arizona Diamondbacks. - 9:35-11:05 a.m.: Research Presentations 4-6
RP4—Gregory Dvoroscik, Eno Sarris, and Joe Camp, “Using Clustering to Find Pitch Subtypes and Effective Pairings”
RP5—Patrick Brennan, “Measuring the Impact of Pitch Location on a Player’s Performance”
RP6—Colton Cronin, “Scoring Reversals Revisited: The Mutability of MVP Voting”
- 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Technology Panel
Panelists: T.J. Barra, MLB; Scott Coleman, KinaTrax; Seth Daniels, Rapsodo. Moderator: Rob Neyer, SABRcast host. - 12:15-1:00 p.m.: Lunch
Analytics Conference registration includes lunch, served outside in the Skyline Terrace (5th Floor). - 1:15-1:45 p.m.: SABR Analytics Conference award presentation
Sabermetric pioneer Sean Forman will be honored with the 2020 SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners of the 2020 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards will be announced and presented. - 1:45-3:15 p.m.: Research Presentations 7-9
RP7—Mark Simon and Brian Reiff, “The Fielding Bible: Repositioning Defensive Runs Saved”
RP8—Glenn Healey, “Modeling and Projecting Offensive Value Using Combined Hit-Tracking and Speed Measurements”
RP9—Bill Leisenring, Josh Myers, Justin Orenduff, “Using Pitching Mechanics Analytics to Predict Injury and Improve Performance”
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
Encore presentation from the winning team of the Diamond Dollars Case Competition. - 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Networking Reception with Baseball Industry Network
The networking reception is an opportunity for conference attendees to meet some of our panelists, speakers, writers and others working throughout the baseball industry. Light hors d’oeuvres served with a cash bar. Located outside in the Skyline Terrace (5th floor).
SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020
- 7:45-8:15 a.m.: Networking Coffee Talk, presented by Rapsodo
Grab a cup of coffee while we discuss career paths and network. Networking coffee talks are for industry executives and students looking to get into the game and will include industry job postings. Located in Grand Ballroom (3rd floor). - 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Registration Open
You can pick up your SABR Analytics Conference registration packet in the Grand Ballroom foyer area on the 3rd floor. - 8:30-10:00 a.m.: Research Presentations 10-12
RP10—Jason Themanson, “Examining Neural Activity to Pitches and Feedback at the Plate: Psychological and Performance Implications”
RP11—Jeremy Losak, “What’s Hanging? An Empirical Definition And Defining Attributes For The Hanging Pitch”
RP12—Alex Vigderman, “Fundamentals of Projecting Defensive Performance” - 10:05-11:05 a.m.: Automated Strike Zone: Perspectives on the Technology and How it May Affect the Game
Panelists: Ben Jedlovec, MLB; Bobby Evans, former San Francisco Giants GM; Wayne Greiner, Greiner Agencies. Moderator: Rob Neyer, SABR. - 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: Research Presentations 13-15
RP13—Meredith Wills, “The 2019 Baseball, and the Unanticipated Consequences of Change”
RP14—Michael McBride, “Introducing SRC and OSWC: Using Game Theory to Assign Credit for Offensive Outcomes”
RP15—Scott A. Brave, “Can an Across-the-Board Increase in Minor League Pay Reduce PED Use?” - 12:45-1:00 p.m.: Conference Wrap-Up
SABR Chief Executive Officer Scott Bush.
For more information on the 2020 SABR Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics/2020.