2024 SABR Analytics Conference highlights
The 13th annual SABR Analytics Conference was held from March 8-10, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing together the top minds in the baseball analytics community to discuss, debate, and share insightful ways to analyze and examine the great game of baseball.
Click on a link below to watch a video replay of each session.
Featured Panels
Brian Kenny: Analytics Now
Brian Kenny of MLB Network delivered the opening remarks on Friday, March 8, 2024.
State of Baseball Biomechanics Industry
Panelists: Arnel Aguinaldo, Point Loma Nazarene University; James Buffi, Reboot Motion; Adam Nebel, Auburn University; Michael Sonne, Chicago Cubs. Moderator: Ethan Stewart, Oakland Athletics.
Rule Changes: Pitching and Baserunning
Panelists: Vince Gennaro, SABR; Javy Guerra, former major-league pitcher; Eno Sarris, The Athletic. Moderator: Rob Mains, Baseball Prospectus.
Rule Changes: Hitting and Defense
Panelists: Meg Rowley, FanGraphs; Bobby Scales, Sports Info Solutions; Mark Simon, Sports Info Solutions. Moderator: Brian Kenny, MLB Network.
Baseball’s Current and Future Application of AI
Panelists: Christopher Bitetto, MLB; Joe Rosales, Sports Info Solutions; Amod Sahasrabudhe, Gemini Sports Analytics. Moderator: Brian Hall, AlphaPlay.
Baseball Prospectus Founders Panel
Panelists: Clay Davenport, Gary Huckabay, Rany Jazayerli, Christina Kahrl, Joe Sheehan. Moderator: Will Carroll.
MLB Statcast Updates: Weather and Bat Tracking
Panelists: David Adler, Jason Bernard, Graham Goldbeck, Clay Nunnally, and Mike Petriello from Major League Baseball.
Diamond Dollars Case Competition
Encore presentation by Syracuse University: Danny Baris, Caitlin Kohlmeier, Alex Oppel, Aaron Rofe, and Jonah Soos. Learn more at sabr.org/analytics/case.
SABR Analytics Conference Award Presentations
Gary Huckabay was honored as the recipient of the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award. Click here to learn more.
In addition, Robert Orr, Ginny Searle, Patrick Dubuque, and Rob Mains were recognized as winners of the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards. Click here to learn more.
SABR Analytics Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary Huckabay
Gary Huckabay was honored as the recipient of the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award. Click here to learn more.
(Link: YouTube)
Research Presentations
RP1: Scott Brave and Levi Bognar, "The Carrot and the Stick: Cleaning Up PED Use in Minor League Baseball"
RP2: Tim Niiler, "Regression Based Approach for Predicting Ground Reaction Forces in Pitching"
RP3: James Wright, "Is Less More? A Validation in Baseball Pitching Comparing a 4 vs 8 Camera Setup"
RP4: Takafumi Hayashi, Takaaki Nara, and Takehiko Sano, "Refining Baseball Pitching Accuracy: Assessing the Impact of Immediate Feedback on Pitching Precision"
RP5: Rob Mains, "Do Pitchers Learn How to Avoid the Third-Time-Through-the-Order Penalty?"
RP6: Emily-Anne Patt and James Stockton, "Noisier Judgments: In-Game Applications of Probability Surface-Based Analysis of Umpiring Variability"
RP7: Jeremy Losak, Jason Maddox, and Jonah Soos, "Changes in Minor League Umpire Tendencies With The Challenge and Automatic Ball-Strikes Systems"
RP8: Connor Turner, "Predicting Pitch Sequences Using Conditional At-Bat Modeling and Neural Networks"
RP9: Sean Sullivan, "Weighted Bullpen Management Score Plus: Quantifying MLB Pitching Change Decision Making"
RP10: Ryan Brill and Abraham Wyner, "Introducing Grid WAR: Rethinking WAR for Starting Pitchers"
Student RP1: Henry Gliedman and Benjamin Reinhard, "Bringing Pitching+ to DIII Baseball: The Art of W.A.R. Model"
Student RP2: Thomas Stanton, "How Did the Pitch Clock Affect Pitcher Performance?"
Student RP3: Adam Nebel, "Influence of Leverage Index on Pitching Biomechanics"
Student RP4: Reece Calvin, "Optimizing Lineup Simulators with Ball Tracking Data"
Student RP5: Nogales High School, "Kenny Lofton Portfolio for Induction Into the National Baseball Hall of Fame"
The Nogales (Arizona) High School Sports Analytics Club presentation was given by Erick Figueroa, John Nunez, Renee Brown, and Pamela Carbajal.
Student Sessions
Sean Lahman: Introduction to Baseball Databases
Introduction to Baseball Databases
Sean Lahman, SABR
Jonah Gardner and Zoe Surma: Working With Baseball-Reference Data
Working With Baseball-Reference Data
Jonah Gardner and Zoe Surma, Sports Reference
Nick Riccardi: Presenting Baseball Data in Tableau
Presenting Baseball Data in Tableau
Nick Riccardi, Syracuse University
Shanna Shi: Working with Baseball Savant and R
Working with Baseball Savant and R
Shanna Shi, Major League Baseball
David Hyland: Forecasting: Using Historical Data with Regression Models to Predict Performance
Forecasting: Using Historical Data with Regression Models to Predict Performance
David Hyland, Xavier University
Nick Wan: SLICED with SABR
SLICED with SABR
Nick Wan, Cincinnati Reds