SABR Virtual Analytics Conference Schedule

The SABR Virtual Analytics Conference, presented by Major League Baseball and Rawlings, will be held March 17-20, 2022. All baseball fans are welcome to attend.

Here is the full schedule for the 2022 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.

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Thursday, March 17
(6:30-9:00 p.m. EDT)
Presented by Baseball-Reference.com

• 6:30-7:00 p.m.: Welcome + The Year in Analytics
  Brian Kenny, MLB Network, and Sarah Langs, MLB.com, will give a talk on recent trends in baseball analytics. Introduction by SABR CEO Scott Bush.
• 7:00-7:30 p.m.: RP1—Alan Nathan, “How Do Drag and Spin Affect the Flight of a Baseball?”
• 7:30-8:00 p.m.: RP2—Hillary Plummer, “Hip Abductor Strength Asymmetry: Relationship to Upper Extremity Injury in Professional Baseball Players”
• 8:00-9:00 p.m.: Current Baseball Technology and Future Trends
  Panelists: Seth Daniels, Rapsodo; Jacob Howenstein, BlastMotion; Keenan Long, LongBall Labs; moderator: Eno Sarris, The Athletic.

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Friday, March 18
(6:30-9:00 p.m. EDT)
Presented by Rapsodo

• 6:30-7:00 p.m.: RP3—Rob Mains, “The Third-Time-Through-The-Order Penalty Is Worse Than You Thought”
• 7:00-8:00 p.m.: The Technical Side of Being an Analyst
  Panelists: Karim Kassam, Zelus Analytics; Maggie O’Hara, Detroit Tigers; Nick Wan, Cincinnati Reds; moderator: Dan Aucoin, Driveline Baseball
• 8:00-8:30 p.m.: RP4—Sarah Thompson, “Stops and Sends: 3B Coach Data and Analytics”
• 8:30-9:00 p.m.: RP5—Ryan L. Crotin, Jonathan Swolik, Gene Brewer, and Glenn Fleisig, “Biomechanical Predictors of Pitch Efficiency in Professional and Collegiate Pitchers”

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Saturday, March 19
(12:00-7:00 p.m. EDT)
Presented by University of the Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business

• 12:00-1:00 p.m.: What is Biomechanics and How is it Used in Baseball?
  Panelists: Georgia Giblin, Detroit Tigers; Bryson Nakamura, Stanford University; Ethan Stewart, Cincinnati Reds; moderator: Megan Stewart, Milwaukee Brewers
• 1:00-1:30 p.m.: RP6—Glenn Fleisig, “Emerging Technologies in Biomechanics are Changing Baseball”
• 1:30-2:00 p.m.: RP7—Kristen Nicholson, “Machine Learning and Statistical Prediction of Fastball Velocity with Biomechanical Predictors”
• 2:00-2:30 p.m.: RP8—Jason Themanson, “Neuroscience at the Plate: Neural Activity during Computerized Task is Related with In-Game Hitting Performance”
• 2:30-2:45 p.m.: SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards presentation
  SABR CEO Scott Bush will recognize the winners of the 2022 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards.
• 2:45-3:30 p.m.: Break

Presented by SMT

• 3:30-4:00 p.m.: RP9—David Hyland, “Rounding Second – A Probabilistic Investigation of the MLB Modified Extra innings Rule”
• 4:00-5:00 p.m.: MLB FieldVision Demo and Deep Dive
  Panelists: Joel Feinberg, Clay Nunnally, Sid Sethupathi, moderator: Ben Jedlovec, Major League Baseball
• 5:00-5:30 p.m.: RP10—Jeremy Losak, Andrew Weinbach, and Rodney Paul, “Behavioral Biases in Daily Fantasy Baseball: The Case of the Hot Hand”
• 5:30-6:00 p.m.: RP11—Julia Wapner, David Dalpiaz, and Daniel Eck, “SEAM Methodology for Context-Rich Player Matchup Evaluations in Baseball”
• 6:00-6:30 p.m.: RP12—Xander Schwartz, “Improving Batter-Pitcher At-Bat Modeling Using K-Means Clustering and Mixture Models”
• 6:30-7:00 p.m.: Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  Encore presentation from the winning team of the Diamond Dollars Case Competition.

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Sunday, March 20
(1:00-4:45 p.m. EDT)
Presented by BlastMotion

• 1:00-1:30 p.m.: RP13—David Schmerfeld, “Measuring the 6%: Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models to Compare DRS, UZR, FRAA, and Statcast Team Season”
• 1:30-2:00 p.m.: RP14—Scott A. Brave, Andrew Butters, and Kevin Roberts, “Rebuilding Competitive Balance in MLB: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective”
• 2:00-3:00 p.m.: Sport Science and Player Health
  Panelists: Ryan L. Crotin, ArmCare.com; Kristen Nicholson, Wake Forest University; Jason Themanson, Illinois Wesleyan University; moderator: Will Carroll, Under the Knife
• 3:00-3:30 p.m.: Break
• 3:30-4:00 p.m.: RP15—Joshua Mould and David Anderson, “Quantifying Hitter Plate Discipline in Major League Baseball”
• 4:00-4:30 p.m.: RP16—Sean Sullivan, “Exit Velocity Over Expected: An Evaluation of MLB Batted Ball Data”
• 4:30-4:45 p.m.: Conference Wrap-Up
  SABR CEO Scott Bush will deliver closing remarks.

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Student Sessions at the 2022 SABR Virtual Analytics Conference
Presented by Sports Info Solutions

In addition to the complete general session program, the following sessions are available to anyone who registers as a student for the 2022 SABR Virtual Analytics Conference. A special Zoom link, separate from the general sessions, will be sent to all students.

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.

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