This Week in SABR: February 22, 2019

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Welcome to “This Week in SABR!” Click here to view this week’s newsletter on the web. Here’s what we’ve been up to as of February 22, 2019:

Check out the full schedule for the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference

Join us for the eighth annual SABR Analytics Conference, presented by MLB and KinaTrax, on Friday, March 8 to Sunday, March 10, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, where we’ll bring 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.

All baseball fans are welcome to attend. Register today to join us!

Click here to view the full Analytics Conference schedule, which consists of a combination of Guest Speakers, Panels, and Research Presentations — plus the unique Diamond Dollars Case Competition, in which undergraduate, graduate and law school students from across the country analyze and present a real baseball operations decision.

Here is some more information about our featured panels:

  • The State of Analytics, with ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez, Baseball Info Solutions founder John Dewan, author and SABRcast host Rob Neyer, and SABR President Vince Gennaro (1:10 p.m., Friday, March 8)
  • Liquid Analytics, with MLB Network analyst and former All-Star first baseman Carlos Peña (2:45 p.m., Friday, March 8)
  • Keeping Data Flowing, with Kyle Boddy of Driveline Baseball, Ben Jedlovec of Major League Baseball, Joe Rosales of Baseball Info Solutions, and broadcaster Mike Ferrin (8:30 a.m., Saturday, March 9)
  • Training Pitchers, with Dr. Steven Cadavid of KinaTrax, Seth Daniels of Rapsodo, former major-league pitcher and coach Scott Radinsky, Eno Sarris of The Athletic, moderated by Arizona Diamondbacks broadcaster Steve Berthiaume (11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 9)
  • Statcast Year Five: Where Are We Now?, with MLB Advanced Media’s Greg Cain, Travis Petersen, Cory Schwartz, and Daren Willman, moderated by MLB’s Ben Jedlovec (12:00 p.m., Saturday, March 9)
  • Lidar and Ground Truth Testing, with MLB Baseball Scientist Clay Nunnally (3:45 p.m., Saturday, March 9)
  • Game Within a Game, with Emilee Fragapane of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dr. Lee Picariello of Mindful Athlete Training, Julian Volyn of TrinityVR, moderated by Rob Neyer (9:30 a.m., Sunday, March 10)
  • Use of Analytics in Broadcast Media, with Jason Benetti of the Chicago White Sox and ESPN, Eduardo Perez of ESPN, Mike Petriello of MLB.com, moderated by Mike Ferrin (12:45 p.m., Sunday, March 10)

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

Dick Cramer to be honored with 2019 SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award

Sabermetric pioneer Dick Cramer will be honored with the SABR Analytics Conference Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, March 9 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cramer has been a driving force in the statistical community for just about as long as anyone alive. He started analyzing baseball statistics in the mid-1960s, not long after graduating from Harvard, and by 1969 he had discovered (or re-invented) a worthy metric now known as OPS.

In the 1970s, Cramer — along with Bill James and Pete Palmer, the first two recipients of this award — co-founded SABR’s Statistical Analysis Committee and published a great deal of research, including work on clutch hitting that remains a touchstone more than four decades later. Cramer also co-founded STATS Inc. and in the past two decades has made many valuable contributions to Retrosheet. Cramer, a past recipient of SABR’s Henry Chadwick Award, is the author of the upcoming book, When Big Data Was Small: My Life in Baseball Analytics and Drug Design, to be published by University of Nebraska Press in the spring of 2019.

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

Related links:

2019 SABR Analytics Conference: Networking Reception

SABR is once again teaming up with the Baseball Industry Network for the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference Networking Reception, presented by KinaTrax, which will feature food, drinks and great opportunities to network with baseball professionals and other attendees from the conference.

The reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 N. 2nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004.

Admission to the welcome reception is included with your 2019 SABR Analytics Conference registration.

Members of the Baseball Industry Network can attend the reception separately for $32. To sign up for the Networking Reception at EventBrite, click here.

Renew your membership by February 28 to receive the SABR Baseball Research Journal

For those of you whose memberships expired recently, there’s still a little time left to renew and be a part of the SABR community again in 2019. If you’ve already renewed, we thank you for your support and look forward to another exciting year ahead.

Renew now to receive the Spring 2019 edition of the Baseball Research Journal, plus discounts on registration to the 2019 SABR Analytics Conference and SABR 49 in San Diego, and a lot more! Please note: We MUST receive your dues by February 28, 2019, in order for you to receive the upcoming BRJ.

  • Here’s how to renew: You can renew your membership for 1 year or 3 years online at the SABR Store; by phone at (602) 496-1463; or by mailing this downloadable PDF form and your payment to the SABR office at Cronkite School at ASU, 555 N. Central Ave. #416, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

Dues are the same as they have been in recent years: $65 for an annual membership or $45 for anyone under 30 or over 65. Click here for a full list of SABR membership benefits.

Ben Rose joins SABR as Director of Development

SABR is pleased to welcome Ben Rose as its new Director of Development. In this role, which begins on March 1 and is based at the SABR office in Phoenix, Arizona, he will spearhead fundraising activities as our 501(c)3 nonprofit organization continues to grow.

Rose spent the past 10 years with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a nonprofit focused on utilizing youth sports to teach life lessons. At PCA, he first served as Executive Director of the Houston chapter before transitioning to Director of Field Operations helping to lead PCA’s national efforts. He has also worked with the the Houston Astros, MLB Advanced Media, the Arizona Fall League, and the NFL’s Houston Texans. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from Rice University.

To contact Ben Rose, send an e-mail to brose@sabr.org.

SABR Digital Library: The Team that Couldn’t Hit: The 1972 Texas Rangers

Add a brand-new baseball book from the SABR Digital Library to your collection this season:

The Team that Couldn’t Hit: The 1972 Texas Rangers
Edited by Steve West and Bill Nowlin
Associate editors: Len Levin and Carl Riechers
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-9438-1693-4, $29.95
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-9438-1692-7, $9.99
414 pages, 8.5″ x 11″

Click here to read the full description of this book at SABR.org.

SABR members, get this e-book for FREE!

Having trouble downloading our e-books? To view PDF files on your computer, click here to download the free Adobe Reader software. Having trouble downloading e-books to your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader or iPad? Click here for additional help.

Vote now in 2019 Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend primary election

2019 is here and it’s time to start the ball rolling as we choose our Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend of the year.

Last year, Dummy Hoy (pictured at right) joined previous winners Pete Browning (2009), Hall of Famer Deacon White (2010), Harry Stovey (2011), Bill Dahlen (2012), Ross Barnes (2013), Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams (2014), Tony Mullane (2015), Jack Glasscock (2016), and Bob Caruthers (2017) as SABR’s Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legends.

The preliminary voting process, which we call the Overlooked Primary Election, will consist of each voter selecting 10 names from the list of 25 candidates. The top 10 will be presented to the SABR membership later this spring, when all members will be able to vote in the final election. The winner will be announced at the SABR 49 convention this summer in San Diego.

Click here to download a PDF file with the 25 candidates for 2019 and a brief explanation of their baseball accomplishments and/or contributions to our national pastime.

The voting in the Overlooked Primary Election will end at 11:59 p.m. MST on Monday, March 4, 2019.

To vote in the Primary Election, you must be a member of the Nineteenth Century Committee. Click here to join the group and then you can request a copy of the ballot from Adam Darowski.

Early registration is now open for SABR 49 in San Diego

We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a spectacular SABR 49 convention this summer in San Diego. Conference and hotel registration is now available at SABR.org/convention.

Click here for more information on the SABR 49 All-Inclusive Package, Early-Bird Registration, and optional sessions. Click here to register for SABR 49.

  • Registration: Click here for complete information on the SABR 49 All-Inclusive Package, Early-Bird Registration, and optional sessions. Or click here to register for SABR 49! We’re again offering a special All-Inclusive Package for the annual SABR convention. For the $369 all-inclusive rate, SABR members can get:
    — Full registration to SABR 49 in San Diego (early-bird: $289; regular rate: $319)
    — 1 ticket in the Upper Infield Reserved (1B) section to the Padres vs. Cardinals game on Friday, June 28 at Petco Park ($24 value)
    — 1 ticket to the Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 28 ($70 value)
    — 1 exclusive SABR 49 convention logo lapel pin
    — 2 complimentary Continental breakfasts on Thursday and Friday mornings*
    *The Continental breakfast benefit is only available when you register for the All-Inclusive Package.
    Non-members can pay $399 for the All-Inclusive Package; the deadline to register is Monday, May 6, 2019.
  • Hotel: The special SABR group rate at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego of $224/night (single rate) or $254/night (double rate) is only available to registered convention attendees. After you register for the SABR 49 convention, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with details on how to book your hotel room at the SABR group rate. If you do not receive your confirmation email after registering, please contact Deb Jayne at djayne@sabr.org. There are a limited number of rooms in our group block, so be sure to register for SABR 49 early!
  • Awards Luncheon: SABR will host a special Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 28 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The Awards Luncheon, which includes a meal, will feature the announcement of SABR’s annual awards — including the Bob Davids Award, our highest honor. One ticket to the Awards Luncheon is included in the all-inclusive package or guest tickets are available for $70 when you register for SABR 49.
  • Research presentations: SABR invites all members to present their research findings to their colleagues attending SABR 49. The deadline to submit your abstract is Sunday, February 24, 2019. Click here for complete details and application form.
  • Yoseloff Scholarship: Students, click here to learn more about a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend SABR 49 in San Diego. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 29, 2019.

Visit SABR.org/convention to learn more or to register for the SABR 49 convention.

SABR 49: Last chance to submit your presentation abstract for San Diego

SABR invites all members to present their research findings to their colleagues attending SABR 49, the 2019 annual convention in San Diego.

Through on-site judging, the most highly-regarded presentations will receive the Doug Pappas Award for best oral presentation and the SABR Convention Poster Presentation Award for best poster presentation.

The submission deadline for SABR 49 abstracts is midnight PST on Sunday, February 24, 2019.

Click here for complete details and submission criteria.

Students, apply now for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend SABR 49 in San Diego

With generous funding from The Anthony A. Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to four scholarships to high school or college students to attend SABR 49 on June 26-30, 2019, in San Diego. This scholarship will pay for registration, transportation and lodging (double occupancy) up to a total value of $1,250.

The objective of this scholarship fund is to encourage high school and college-level student engagement with baseball research and to engender an active interest in baseball and SABR.

All applications must be postmarked or e-mailed to Jeff Schatzki at jschatzki@sabr.org no later than Friday, March 29, 2019.

Click here for complete details and submission criteria.

Last call for nominations: 2019 SABR Board of Directors election

The SABR Nominating Committee seeks nominations for candidates for the 2019 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 February 28, 2019. 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.

The offices to be filled:

  • President (2-year term; currently Vince Gennaro)
  • Director (3-year term; currently Chris Dial)
  • Director (3-year term; currently Bill Nowlin)

Self-nominations are welcome. If you would like to nominate yourself or another candidate or suggest a question for the candidates, contact Nominating Committee chair Neal Traven at beisbol@alumni.pitt.edu.

Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.

SABR to launch new baseball podcast in 2019: SABRcast with Rob Neyer

Baseball fans, tune in this season to SABRcast with Rob Neyer, a new weekly podcast hosted by award-winning author and longtime SABR member Rob Neyer.

SABRcast, which will launch around Opening Day in the spring of 2019, will feature insights and analysis of what’s happening in modern baseball on and off the field, plus compelling interviews with figures from around the game — and music from The Baseball Project.

Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.

1 new SABR biography published

One new biography was posted this week as part of the SABR Baseball Biography Project, which brings us to a total of 4,827 published biographies. Here is the new bio published this week:

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

Read all stories from the Pittsburgh Pirates greatest games book at the SABR Games Project

In Moments of Joy and Heartbreak: 66 Significant Episodes in the History of the Pittsburgh Pirates, published by SABR in 2018 and edited by Jorge Iber and Bill Nowlin, we explored some of the most memorable games in Bucs history, from no-hitters to World Series-winning homers to the last tripleheader ever played in major-league baseball. Famous Pirates like Honus Wagner and Roberto Clemente — and infamous ones like Dock Ellis — make their appearances on the field, as well as recent stars like Andrew McCutchen.

All of the stories from Moments of Joy and Heartbreak can now be found online at the SABR Games Project.

To download your free e-book copy or order the paperback edition with a 50% discount, click here.

Listen to a new episode of Behind the Numbers: Baseball SABR Style on SiriusXM

Behind the Numbers: Baseball SABR Style on SiriusXM, a radio show hosted by SABR President Vince Gennaro, is back for the Hot Stove League offseason at a new time, 4:00-5:00 p.m. ET on Sundays, on MLB Network Radio.

This week’s guests are SABR members Eno Sarris of The Athletic and Jonathan Judge of Baseball Prospectus.

You can also listen to archives of recent episodes on-demand on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App. Click here to learn more. Behind the Numbers: Baseball SABR Style on SiriusXM focuses on examining and interpreting the statistical analysis that plays a critical role in baseball today. It airs weekly throughout the year on MLB Network Radio, available to subscribers nationwide on XM channel 89, Sirius channel 209, and on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App.

Register for the 2019 Southern Association Conference in Birmingham

SABR’s Rickwood Field Chapter announces the 16th annual Southern Association Conference, which will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Southern Association and the history of baseball in the South, the conference will take place from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at historic Rickwood Field, located at 1137 2nd Avenue West, Birmingham, AL 35204.

The cost is $35 per person, and a snack breakfast and full lunch is included. Contact Clarence Watkins with questions or if you are interested in giving a presentation.

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: https://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 Membership 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.

You can find contact information for any SABR member in the online membership directory (SABR.org/directory).

Name Hometown     Name Hometown
Tad Bergstresser Poway, CA     Mike Merwine Allentown, PA
Wayne Bradshaw Monteagle, TN     David Mikkelson Tacoma, WA
John Carvalho Auburn, AL     Bruce Nemenoff Scottsdale, AZ
Steve Charendoff Jenkintown, PA     AJ Oberlender Miami, FL
Ray Cotrufo New Haven, CT     Nick Pacchioli Raleigh, NC
Järg Eitner Bonn, DEU     John Perlman Alexandria, VA
Rob Gantzer Bay Village, OH     Thomas Rams Lafayette Hill, PA
Sid Hoos Roseville, CA     Toby Saloga Beaverton, OR
Pat Hutchinson York, PA     Ryuta Sometaya Washington, DC
Joseph Hylton Philadelphia, PA     Preston Tarkington Searcy, AR
Kristi Keller Ellicott City, MD     Shane Whitmell Mermaid Waters, AUS

 

Research Committee news

Here are the new research committee updates this week:

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

Regional Chapter news

Here are the new regional chapter updates this week:

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

SABR Events Calendar

Here is a list of upcoming events on the SABR calendar:

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. 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.

Have trouble reading this e-mail? Click here to view this week’s newsletter on the web.

Are you receiving our e-mails? “This Week in SABR” goes out by e-mail to all members on Friday afternoons. If they’re not showing up, try adding “sabr.notes@sabr.org” to your contact list to ensure they show up in your inbox (and not the spam folder.)

 

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Originally published: February 22, 2019. Last Updated: April 3, 2020.

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