This Week in SABR: February 28, 2014

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Welcome to “This Week in SABR!” Here’s what we’ve been up to as of February 28, 2014:

2014 SABR Analytics Conference: Research presentations

SABR and Sportvision are pleased to continue their collaboration to integrate the PITCHf/x Summit into the 2014 SABR Analytics Conference, scheduled for March 13-15 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Integrating these two popular gatherings of influential baseball analysts and thought leaders has further enhanced this event as the premier baseball analytics conference. Sportvision will manage a series of presentations specifically related to f/x data much like the PITCHf/x Summit. The presentations will be integrated with other SABR Analytics talks throughout the course of the event.

Here is the schedule of research presentations for the 2014 SABR Analytics Conference:

Thursday, March 13

  • RP1—Vince Gennaro, “An In Depth Study of Team Chemistry: A Progress Report,” 3:15-4:00 p.m.
  • RP2—TBA. 

Friday, March 14

  • RP3—Graham Goldbeck, “An Introduction to In-Game Biomechanics Data,” 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Sportvision PITCHf/x Summit presentation
  • RP4—Kevin Tenenbaum and Dave Allen, “Scouting Bayes: A Bayesian Forecast with Scouting Priors,” 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
  • RP5—Ben Jedlovec, “The Anatomy of a Stolen Base,” 3:00-3:45 p.m.
  • RP6—Jeff Zimmerman, “Using PITCHf/x Data to Help Determine Pitcher Injury Risk,” 3:00-3:45 p.m. Sportvision PITCHf/x Summit presentation

Saturday, March 15

  • RP7—Bill Petti, “Quantifying and Understanding the Consistency of Pitchers,” 11:00-11:45 a.m.
  • RP8—Lewie Pollis, “If You Build It: Rethinking the Market for Front Office Personnel,” 11:00-11:45 a.m.

The full SABR Analytics Conference schedule can be found here. For registration information, visit SABR.org/analytics.

2014 SABR Analytics: Diamond Dollars Case Competition

The Diamond Dollars Case Competition is back at the SABR Analytics Conference, March 13-15, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The popular Case Competition provides student teams from undergraduate and graduate and professional programs from around the country to compete against each other to solve a case that encompasses the real-world decisions facing a baseball front office.

The case will be authored and led by SABR President Vince Gennaro, a consultant to MLB teams, someone who’s been in the front office helping teams analyze key baseball operations decisions. Vince is the author of Diamond Dollars: The Economics of Winning in Baseball and a regular contributor to MLB Network’s “Clubhouse Confidential,” the first show of its kind focused on baseball analytics.

The participating schools in the 2014 Diamond Dollars Case Competition are:

  • Graduate and Professional School Division: University of Alabama-Manderson School of Business, Carnegie Mellon-Tepper School of Business, University of Chicago-Booth, Duke University-Fuqua School of Business, Pepperdine University-School of Law and Graziadio School of Business, University of San Francisco-School of Management, Santa Clara University-Leavey School of Business, and Tulane University Law School 
  • Undergraduate Division 1: Cornell University, NYU-SCPS Tisch Center, Ohio University, Rutgers University, St. John Fisher College, Tufts University Team 1
  • Undergraduate Division 2: Elon University, Loras College, Macalester College, Rice University, Tufts University Team 2, VCU-Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

For more information and to view the full presentation schedule, visit SABR.org/analytics/case.

Grantland’s Kirk Goldsberry to speak at SABR Analytics Conference

Kirk Goldsberry, a staff writer at Grantland.com, has been added to the featured panel Which Numbers Athletes Love, Which Numbers Athletes Hate at the 2014 SABR Analytics Conference. This panel is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13.

Goldsberry is a visiting scholar at the Harvard Center for Geographic Analysis and an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at Michigan State University. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

He will join ESPN’s Aaron Boone, Manny Acta, Eduardo Perez and moderator John Walsh on the panel.

For more information, visit SABR.org/analytics.

Watch the live webcast of SABR’s Next Frontier of Baseball Analytics Panel tomorrow

The Next Frontier of Baseball Analytics, presented by SABR, will be the 2014 baseball analytics panel at the eighth annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.

Tickets to the conference are sold out, but you can watch the live webcast online. Click here for details on ordering the live webcast to view all recorded panels at Sloan.

The panel will take place at 9 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 1 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit sloansportsconference.com.

“With our experience in bringing together the top minds of the baseball analytics community, we’re excited to be presenting The Next Frontier of Baseball Analytics at the MIT Sloan Conference this year,” SABR Executive Director Marc Appleman said. “It’s a great opportunity for baseball fans to experience a taste of the insightful panel discussions that we present every year at the SABR Analytics Conference.”

The 2014 SABR Analytics Conference will take place March 13-15 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. Find a complete schedule and registration information at SABR.org/analytics.

Here are the scheduled speakers for The Next Frontier of Baseball Analytics, presented by SABR, on March 1: Vince Gennaro, President, SABR; Brian Kenny, Host, MLB Network; Jeff Luhnow, General Manager, Houston Astros; Rob Neyer, Senior Baseball Editor, FoxSports.com; Nate Silver, Founder, FiveThirtyEight; and Bill Squadron, Head of Bloomberg Sports.

For more information on the Next Frontier of Baseball Analytics panel, click here.

To learn more about the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, visit sloansportsconference.com.

Get the Spring 2014 Baseball Research Journal delivered straight to your inbox

Once again, SABR is offering its members the opportunity to opt out of receiving the printed version of the Spring 2014 Baseball Research Journal. We’ll deliver the e-book version of the BRJ in the format of your choice (EPUB, MOBI/Kindle or PDF) straight to your inbox around Opening Day 2014. Click here to learn more about receiving the e-book edition of the BRJ.

Opt out of receiving the printed edition by February 28, 2014, in order to get early access to all the great content in the BRJ in e-book format and online at SABR.org.

  • To opt out of receiving the printed version of the Baseball Research Journal: Click here to edit your membership profile. Scroll to the bottom and select “Receive publications electronically.” Then save your changes.

Please note: If you do nothing, you will continue to receive two print editions of the Baseball Research Journal every year by mail.

If you’ve never read a Baseball Research Journal in e-book form, click here to try it out with the Fall 2013 edition. The Baseball Research Journal, and all SABR e-books, are available in EPUB, MOBI/Kindle or PDF formats.

SABR 44: Last call to submit research presentation abstracts

You still have a few days left to submit your research presentation abstracts for SABR 44 in Houston. The final deadline is 12 a.m. PST on SUNDAY, MARCH 2.

In addition, we are issuing a Call for Reviewers. These volunteers will read and evaluate approximately 10 de-identified abstracts during March. Members who submit abstracts may also act as reviewers (you won’t review your own submissions). To volunteer as a reviewer, send a note to either of the email addresses below.

SABR invites all members to present their research findings to their colleagues attending SABR 44, the 2014 annual convention in Houston, Texas. Oral presentations are expected to last 20 minutes, followed by a five minute question-and-answer period. Posters will be presented, with the author on-hand to discuss the work, during a poster session of 90 or so minutes, and will probably remain on display throughout the convention.

For more details on submission criteria and guidelines, click here.

Submit abstracts to sabr2014-presentations@comcast.net, the research presentations address for SABR 44. You may also use the alternate address sabr44-presentations@comcast.net.

Questions regarding the submission, review, and evaluation procedures should also be sent to the sabr2014-presentations@comcast.net address.

SABR 44 will be held at the Royal Sonesta in Houston, Texas, from July 30-August 3, 2014.

  • SABR 44 registration to begin next week: Stay tuned for “This Week in SABR” next Friday, as information on how to register for SABR 44 and book your hotel room in Houston will be announced. Complete information for SABR 44 can be found at SABR.org/convention.

Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference accepting submissions for 2014 Art Contest

The fifth annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference Art Contest is now accepting applications in three categories: professional, amateur and youth. Art from the winners and runners-up will be on display in a special area at the Malloy Conference, scheduled for August 14-16, 2014, in Detroit, Michigan.

The winning entry in the professional and amateur categories will receive a $300 prize and a certificate. The winning entry in the youth category will receive $150 and a certificate.

To download a PDF application for the 2014 Art Contest, click here

  • Where to send: Lheaphy@kent.edu
  • Cost: $30 for up to 3 JPG entries; $10 for youth. Make your check out to “SABR.”
  • Deadline for submissions: May 26, 2014

Entries should show clear relation to the Negro Leagues. Detailed criteria and submission requirements can be found in the PDF application above.

For more information on the Youth Art Contest, click here.

For more information, click here or contact Leslie Heaphy or Larry Lester.

Philadelphia Negro Leaguer Bill Francis to have grave marker installed

SABR member Ryan Whirty reports in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week that the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project, led by SABR member Jeremy Krock, will honor former Negro Leaguer Bill Francis with a new grave marker in Chicago:

Philadelphia is, remarkably, a baseball city known for its third basemen. Four of the hot corner players in the Hall of Fame were inducted as members of Quaker City teams, earning renown not only for themselves but also for the city they represented.

But instead of a spot in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown, one Philadelphia-born third sacker — one much respected by both his contemporaries and historians — has been long forgotten. His place in the history of America’s pastime has for decades been an unmarked grave hundreds of miles from his hometown.

But, that, at least, will soon change, when William Henry “Bill” Francis, who is anonymously buried in Chicago’s Lincoln Cemetery, becomes the latest beneficiary of the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project, which places stones at the final resting places of the league’s players. Such a development perhaps takes on extra significance now, during Black History Month.

NLBGMP president Jeremy Krock said Lincoln Cemetery is a place where numerous other Negro League figures rest. Krock said Francis deserves recognition as one of the best, if overlooked, segregation-period hardballers.

“It takes some research for one to recognize that Billy Francis was one of the premier Negro Leagues players in the early 1900’s, playing on some of the finest deadball-era teams,” Krock said.

Read the full article here: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/Philly_Negro_League_star_Bill_Francis_to_have_grave_marked_.html

SABR members, get 20% discount on all MLB.TV Premium Monthly subscriptions in 2014

SABR members, you have the opportunity to take advantage of a special offer from MLB Advanced Media for the 2014 season:

The link above allows you access to purchase a 2014 MLB.TV monthly subscription at a special price for SABR members only.

This 20% discount is valid for each month of the 2014 season. Please note: This subscription DOES NOT automatically renew each month.

If you already have an MLB.com account, please sign in on the next page. If you do not, you will create a new MLB.com account as you purchase.

Watch every 2014 Regular Season out-of-market game LIVE or on-demand in HD Quality. Choose home or away broadcasts. MLB.TV is on your favorite devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation and more. Watch up to four games at once with Mosaic. DVR functionality lets you pause or rewind live games. PLUS, watch select 2014 Spring Training games LIVE online.

For any questions about your subscription, please contact MLB.TV Customer Service.

5 new biographies published by the SABR BioProject

Five new biographies were posted as part of the SABR Baseball Biography Project, which brings us to a total of 2,677 published biographies. Here are the new bios:

All new biographies can be found here: http://sabr.org/bioproj/recent

You can find the SABR BioProject at SABR.org/BioProject.

Bios on more than just ballplayers: The ambitious goal of the SABR Baseball Biography Project is to publish a full-life biography of every major league player in history. But SABR members write about a lot more than just ballplayers. In addition, we have pages for Ballparks, Broadcasters, Executives, Games, Managers, Scouts, Spouses, Umpires and a lot more on the BioProject website. You can browse all of these categories at http://sabr.org/bioproj/browse. So if you’ve ever thought, “Hey, that person (or ballpark) should get the full BioProject treatment” — write the story and we’ll publish it!

Get involved! If you’d like to help contribute to the SABR BioProject, visit our BioProject Resources page or read the FAQs section to get started. We’re also looking to expand the BioProject to include all “encyclopedic” articles on baseball-related subjects from past SABR publications or committee newsletters. If you come across an article you think should be included in the SABR “baseball repository” at the BioProject, send a copy or link to markarmour04@gmail.com or jpomrenke@sabr.org.

Last call: Nominations for 2014 SABR Board of Directors election

The SABR Nominating Committee seeks nominations for candidates for the Spring 2014 elections. All candidates for the Board of Directors must have been members of the Society for at least the preceding four years to be eligible for election. Deadline for nominations is today, February 28, 2014. Nominees must prepare a Candidate Statement Form following guidelines that will be available from any Nominating Committee member.

The Candidate Statement Form must be received by the Nominating Committee chair no later than March 15, 2014.

The offices to be filled:

  • Vice-President (2-year term; currently Bill Nowlin)
  • Treasurer (3-year term; currently F.X. Flinn)
  • Director (3-year term; currently Emily Hawks)

The Nominating Committee also seeks your input. Members are asked to submit office-specific questions for each of the offices open in this election. We also seek input on general questions for every nominee. Candidates will answer selected questions on the Candidate Statement Form. Regional Chapter leaders and Research Committee Chairs are especially encouraged to pass on this request to their respective members to better address member needs.

Self-nominations are welcome. If you would like to nominate yourself or another candidate or suggest a question for the candidates, contact a member of the Nominating Committee: chair R.J. Lesch (rjlofiowa@gmail.com), Rick Schabowski (rickiu76@aol.com), or Barry Deutsch (barryid@pobox.com).

Call for SABR award nominations

  • Ron Gabriel Award, due 3/1/2014: The Ron Gabriel Award honors the author(s) of the best research, published or unpublished, on the subject of the Brooklyn Dodgers completed during the preceding calendar year. Nominations should be sent to a member of the nominating candidate no later than March 1, 2014: Paul Hirsch (chair), Craig Murden, or Gary Sarnoff.

Special offer for SABR members from Baseball America

We’re glad to pass along this special offer for SABR members from our friends at Baseball America:

The Baseball America Prospect Handbook is the definitive source on prospects. Order it directly from Baseball America and you will also get an exclusive supplement with 30 more scouting reports — one for every team — absolutely FREE!

Click here to order or call (800) 845-2726, Mon-Fri from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.

ICYMI: Highlights from last week’s This Week in SABR

We’ve heard your feedback: Some of you have said you look forward to “This Week in SABR” every Friday, but sometimes there are just too many compelling articles and announcements to read every week. We’re not complaining — hey, keep up the great work! — but we know the feeling. So in an effort to make the length of this newsletter more manageable to read, we’ll summarize some of the repeating/recurring announcements in a special “In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)” section of “This Week in SABR”.

Here are some major headlines from recent weeks that we don’t want you to miss:

All previous editions of This Week in SABR can be found here: http://sabr.org/content/this-week-in-sabr-archives.

Welcome, new members!

We’d like to welcome all of our new SABR members who have joined this week. You can find all Members-Only resources at members.sabr.org and the New Member Handbook can be downloaded here.

Please give these new members a warm welcome and help them make the most of their membership by giving them the opportunity to get involved in their local chapter or a research committee.

Name Hometown     Name Hometown
Bob Andrews Channelview, TX     Greg Layton Overland Park, KS
Mark Bricker Cincinnati, OH     Richard Lipinski White Haven, PA
Warren Campbell Toronto, ON     Scott Matteson Shawnee, KS
Ralph Carhart Staten Island, NY     Gary Miesle Toledo, OH
Sean Carroll West Pittston, PA     Jody Porter Marion, KY
Jordan Collier Houston, TX     William Rath Hazlet, NJ
Larry Dumas Burleson, TX     Martin Rioux Boucherville, QC
Joseph Durso Las Vegas, NV     Amy Roberts Decatur, GA
James Finn Garner Chicago, IL     Jim Romig Easton, PA
Mike Haslee Milwaukee, WI     Mike Stephens Colorado Springs, CO
David Hoffman Cleveland, OH     Richard Tepedino Hillsborough, NJ
Michael Horn Highland Lakes, NJ     Jonathan Thomas Port Orange, FL
Katelyn Johnson Sacramento, CA     Sean Tuber Granada Hills, CA
Steven Landfried Edgerton, WI     Erik Watkins Grimes, IA
Paul Langendorfer Aurora, CO     Gene Winters Independence, MO

 

Research Committee news

Here are the new SABR research committee newsletters published this week:

Find all SABR research committee newsletters at SABR.org/research.

Regional Chapter news

Here are the new chapter meeting recaps published this week:

Visit SABR.org/chapters for more information on SABR regional chapters.

SABR Events Calendar

Here is a list of upcoming SABR events:

All SABR meetings and events are open to the public. Feel free to bring a baseball-loving friend … and make many new ones! Check out the SABR Events Calendar at SABR.org/events.

Around the Web

Here are some recent articles published by and about SABR members:

Read these articles and more at SABR.org/latest.

This Week in SABR is compiled by Jacob Pomrenke, and sent out to all SABR members on Fridays. All previous editions of This Week in SABR can be found here: http://sabr.org/content/this-week-in-sabr-archives. If you would like us to include an upcoming event, article or any other information in “This Week in SABR”, e-mail jpomrenke@sabr.org.

Find exclusive Members’ Only resources and information here: http://members.sabr.org

Did you know you can renew your membership at any time? 1- and 3-year SABR memberships are available by clicking “Renew” at http://members.sabr.org. Please also consider a donation to SABR to support baseball research at SABR.org/donate.

Are you following us on Twitter or Facebook? Get SABR updates every day at @SABR or by searching “SABR” on Facebook.

Replying to this e-mail goes to an undeliverable address. If you would like to contact the SABR office, please visit: http://sabr.org/about/contact-sabr


Originally published: February 28, 2014. Last Updated: April 3, 2020.

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