2021 SABR Virtual Analytics Conference Schedule
The SABR Virtual Analytics Conference, presented by Major League Baseball, Rawlings, and Sports Info Solutions, was held March 11-14, 2021.
Here is the full schedule for the 2021 SABR Virtual Analytics Conference. Click on a link below to watch highlights from each session. Click here to find details on all Student Programming at the bottom of this page.
Note: All times listed are in the Eastern time zone.
Thursday, March 11
(6:30-9:00 p.m. EST)
Presented by Baseball-Reference.com
- 6:30-7:00 p.m.: Introduction + The Year in Analytics
SABR CEO Scott Bush will welcome attendees and MLB Network host Brian Kenny will give a talk on recent trends in baseball analytics. - 7:00-7:30 p.m.: RP1—Rob Mains, “Lessons Learned from the National League’s DH Experiment”
- 7:30-8:00 p.m.: RP2—Matt Manocherian and John Shirley, “Modeling Injury Risk Using In-Depth Injury Data””
- 8:00-9:00 p.m.: The Use of Analytics in Contract Negotiations
Panelists: Lonnie Murray, Sports Management Partners; Burton Rocks, C.L. Rocks Corporation; Jay Sartori, Detroit Tigers. Moderator: Brian Kenny, MLB Network.
Friday, March 12
(6:30-9:00 p.m. EST)
Presented by KinaTrax
- 6:30-7:00 p.m.: RP3—David Gerth, “Using Kelly Criterion to Build MLB Draft Rankings”
- 7:00-8:00 p.m.: Biomechanics in MLB: The Next Competitive Edge in Analytics
Panelists: Dr. John De Witt, Chicago Cubs; Dr. Ben Hansen, Chicago White Sox; Dr. Mike McNally, Tampa Bay Rays. Moderator: Dr. Glenn Fleisig, American Sports Medicine Institute. - 8:00-8:30 p.m.: RP4—Nate Rowan, “The Whiff Effect: Are Pitchers More Likely to Repeat the Previous Pitch After A Swing-And-Miss?”
- 8:30-9:00 p.m.: RP5—Ben Howell, “Modeling Plate Discipline from the KBO to MLB”
Saturday, March 13
(12:00-7:00 p.m. EST)
Presented by SMT
- 12:00-1:00 p.m.: Analyze This: The Varying Roles and Skillsets of Baseball Analysts
Panelists: Ehsan Bokhari, Houston Astros; Maggie O’Hara, Detroit Tigers; Josh Ruffin, Minnesota Twins. Moderator: Eduardo Perez, ESPN. - 1:00-1:30 p.m.: RP6—Meredith Wills, “The 2020 Major League Baseball: And Now, For Something Completely Different”
- 1:30-2:00 p.m.: RP7—Connor Turner, “The Pinch-Hitter Problem: Using Markov Chains to Analyze Outcomes in Pitcher-Batter Matchups”
- 2:00-2:30 p.m.: RP8—Jason Themanson, “Contextual Influences On Neural Activity to Pitches and Feedback: Psychology and Performance at the Plate”
- 2:30-2:45 p.m.: SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards presentation
SABR CEO Scott Bush will announce the winners of the 2021 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards. - 2:45-3:30 p.m.: Break
Presented by Rapsodo
- 3:30-4:00 p.m.: RP9—Barton Smith, “Seam Shifted Wake in MLB Pitches”
- 4:00-4:30 p.m.: RP10—Glenn Healey and Lequan Wang, “Analyzing the Elements of Pitch Movement Using Hawk-Eye Data”
- 4:30-5:00 p.m.: Statcast Pitch Tracking Methods
MLB Baseball Scientist Clay Nunnally and Dr. Paul Hawkins of Hawk-Eye Innovations will give a talk on pitch tracking methods in the Statcast system. - 5:00-5:30 p.m.: RP11—Alan Nathan, “What Is Hawk-Eye Teaching Us About Baseball Pitches?”
- 5:30-6:00 p.m.: RP12—Hillary Plummer, “Association Between Hip Rotational Range of Motion and Pitching Mechanics in High School Baseball Pitchers”
- 6:00-6:30 p.m.: RP13—Jeremy Losak, “MLB Home Field Advantage Without Fans”
- 6:30-7:00 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
Encore presentation from the winning team of the Diamond Dollars Case Competition.
Sunday, March 14
(1:00-4:45 p.m. EDT)
Presented by Hawk-Eye Innovations
- 1:00-1:30 p.m.: RP14—Rylan Edwards and Joe Rosales, “What’s He Throw? Identifying and Analyzing Pitch Sub-Types”
- 1:30-2:00 p.m.: RP15—Glenn Fleisig, Alek Diffendaffer, Jonathan Slowik, “Key Factors in Pitching Biomechanics for Fastball Consistency”
- 2:00-2:30 p.m.: MLB Statcast Player Pose Tracking and Visualization
Panelists: Graham Goldbeck, Marc Squire, Sid Sethupathi - 2:30-3:00 p.m.: Break
- 3:00-3:30 p.m.: RP16—Joshua Silver and Tate Huffman, “Explainable AI for Baseball Predictions and Strategies”
- 3:30-4:00 p.m.: RP17—Adi Wyner, “Is the 3rd Time Through the Order Effect Real? Correcting for Lineup Order and Pitcher Quality Selection Bias”
- 4:00-4:30 p.m.: RP18—Kristen Faith Nicholson, “Predicting Pitching Arm Stress With Machine Learning Models”
- 4:30-4:45 p.m.: Conference Wrap-Up
SABR CEO Scott Bush will deliver closing remarks.
Student Sessions at the 2021 SABR Virtual Analytics Conference
In addition to the complete general session program, the following sessions are available to anyone who registers as a student for the 2021 SABR Virtual Analytics Conference. A special Zoom link, separate from the general sessions, will be sent to all students.
Student Programming
- How to register: Currently enrolled high school or college students are eligible to attend for a special $50 registration fee. Student registration includes a one-year SABR membership ($25 value) and a complimentary Rapsodo certification course ($395 value). Students should email Scott Carter with a photo of their student ID to receive the discounted registration link. Access to Rapsodo online certification course will be delivered after conclusion of the conference.
All times listed are in the Eastern time zone.
Thursday, March 11
- 1:00-2:00 p.m.: Introduction to Baseball Databases
Sean Lahman, SABR - 2:15-3:15 p.m.: Working with Baseball-Reference Data
Jonah Gardner and Katie Sharp, Sports Reference - 3:30-4:00 p.m.: Working with Baseball Savant and R
Josh Keen, Baseball Operations Analyst, Major League Baseball
Friday, March 12
- 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
Introduction by former SABR Board President Vince Gennaro. (Note: The Diamond Dollars Case Competition session will only be open to participants.)
Saturday, March 13
- 10:00-11:00 a.m.: Job Opportunity Networking Session
Hear from John Edman, Minnesota Twins; Paul Bien, San Francisco Giants; Rob Neyer, West Coast League; Rob Dougherty and Matt Manocherian, Sports Info Solutions; George Baines and Dan Cash, Hawk-Eye Innovations; and others throughout the baseball industry.
Sunday, March 14
- 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Student Networking Breakout Room
After spending four days learning how to use different tools and listening to leaders in the baseball analytics world, we want to invite you to an informal breakout session with your peers. This is a great way to build connections for your network and recap the event with other attendees.
For more information on the SABR Virtual Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics.