SABR Analytics Conference

2019 SABR Analytics Conference Schedule

The eighth annual SABR Analytics Conference, presented by MLB and KinaTrax, was held March 8-10, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Here is the full schedule for the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference. Click on a link below for more highlights, clips, and photos from each session.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019
Hyatt Regency Phoenix

• 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Registration open at Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
• 12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch
  Analytics Conference registration includes lunch in the Atrium (2nd floor.)
• 1:00-1:10 p.m.: Conference Welcome
  SABR Board President Vince Gennaro and SABR CEO Scott Bush will welcome attendees to the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference.
• 1:10-2:00 p.m.: The State of Analytics
  Speakers: John Dewan, Baseball Info Solutions; Eduardo Perez, ESPN; Rob Neyer, author and SABRcast host. Moderator: Vince Gennaro, SABR Board President.
• 2:00-2:30 p.m.: Research Presentation 1
  RP1—Brian Reiff, “The Effectiveness of Strategic Outfield Positioning”
• 2:45-3:45 p.m.: Liquid Analytics
  Speaker: Carlos Peña, MLB Network.
• 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Research Presentations 2-3
  RP2—Rohan Gupta, “Introducing Pitch Score, Pitch Matrices and Rapscore”
  RP3—Andrew Kyne, “Wall Balls: Incorporating the Outfield Wall into Defensive Runs Saved”
• 5:00-5:10 p.m.: Introduction to Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  SABR Board President Vince Gennaro will introduce the 2019 Diamond Dollars Case Competition in the second-floor Phoenix Ballroom, with presentations to follow in the Phoenix, Cassidy, Curtis, and Cowboy Artists ballrooms.
• 5:15-10:00 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  Presentations of the Diamond Dollars Case Competition.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2019

• 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. (Gilbert Room, 1st floor.)
• 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Registration open at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
• 8:30-9:30 a.m.: Keeping Data Flowing
  Speakers: Kyle Boddy, Driveline Baseball; Mike Petriello, Major League Baseball; Joe Rosales, Baseball Info Solutions. Moderator: Mike Ferrin, Arizona Diamondbacks/MLB Network Radio.
• 9:45-10:45 a.m.: Research Presentations 4-5
  RP4—Vince Gennaro, “Pitching: The Power of Pitch Sequencing vs. Stuff”
  RP5—Alan Nathan, “Optimizing the Swing: A Physics-Based Approach”
• 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Training Pitchers
  Speakers: Dr. Steven Cadavid, KinaTrax; Seth Daniels, Rapsodo; former major-league pitcher and coach Scott Radinsky; Eno Sarris, The Athletic. Moderator: Steve Berthiaume, Arizona Diamondbacks.
• 12:00-1:00 p.m.: Statcast Year Five: Where Are We Now?
  Speakers: Greg Cain, Travis Petersen, Cory Schwartz, and Daren Willman of MLB.
• 1:00-1:45 p.m.: Lunch
  Analytics Conference registration includes lunch.
• 2:00-2:30 p.m.: SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation
  Sabermetric pioneer Dick Cramer will be honored with the SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award.
• 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Research Presentations 6-7
  RP6—Jonathan Judge, “A Theory of Expected Performance”
  RP7—Glenn Healey, “Spin Signatures for Pitcher Evaluation and Development”
• 3:45-4:15 p.m.: Lidar and Ground Truth Testing
  Speaker: Clay Nunnally, MLB.
• 4:15-5:15 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  Encore presentation by the winning team at the Diamond Dollars Case Competition.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Networking Reception with Baseball Industry Network, presented by KinaTrax
  The networking reception (Garden Terrace, 3rd floor) is an opportunity for conference attendees to meet some of our panelists, speakers, writers and others working throughout the baseball industry. Cash bar. Click here for more details.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2019

• 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. (Gilbert Room, 1st floor.)
  
• 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Registration open at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
• 8:30-9:30 a.m.: Research Presentations 8-9
  RP8—Ayane Kusafuka, “The Relationship Between Release Parameters and Pitch Location in Baseball Pitching”
  RP9—Rob Mains, “Modern Roster Construction, Payroll Considerations, and the Next Collective Bargaining Agreement”
• 9:30-10:30 a.m.: Game Within a Game
  Speakers: Emilee Fragapane, Los Angeles Dodgers; Dr. Lee Picariello, Mindful Athlete Training; Julian Volyn, TrinityVR. Moderator: Rob Neyer, author and SABRcast host.
• 10:45-11:45 a.m.: Research Presentations 10-11
  RP10—Clinton Hausman, Michael Shames, and Bradley Waddell, “Optimal Fielder Positioning Model”
  RP11—Kevin Antonevich, “Pitch Sequence Optimization in Major League Baseball”
• 11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: SABR Analytics Conference Research Award presentations
  The winners of the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards will be announced and presented.
  
• 12:15-12:45 p.m.: Research Presentation 12
  RP12—Daniel Calzada, “DeepBall: Modeling Expectation and Uncertainty with Recurrent Neural Networks”
• 12:45-1:45 p.m.: Use of Analytics in Broadcast Media
  Speakers: Eduardo Perez, ESPN; Mike Petriello, MLB; Mike Ferrin, Arizona Diamondbacks/MLB Network Radio.
  
• 1:45-2:00 p.m.: Conference wrap-up by SABR Board President Vince Gennaro and SABR CEO Scott Bush.

For more information on the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics/2019.