FanGraphs After Dark Live Blog - StatCast Debut Edition - 4/21/15

4:19

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Tonight we’ll be starting earlier than usual, as we’re going to live blog the StatCast unveiling broadcast on MLB Network tonight between the Cardinals and Nationals.

Jeff is a bit under the weather, so he may be in and out (or just out), but we’ll also be joined by special guest Sean Dolinar, whose pretty graphs have been populating the site for a little bit now.

See you soon!

5:38	Paul Swydan: Someone asked in the comments if the StatCast edition is available on MLB.TV. My answer is that I don’t think so, because they generally only carry local broadcasts on MLB.TV, but I’m not 100% sure.

6:09

Sean Dolinar: For those wondering, I just got an alert from my MLB At Bat app, and it looks like they will have a live look-in on the first inning of the MLBN game. This looks free to anyone:

http://m.mlb.com/video/topi…

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6:30

Comment From Mike
For those of in the DC area (or STL), do you know if the MLB Network broadcast will be blacked out in favor of the regional networks? That would be very disappointing.


	Sean Dolinar: I think normal blackout policy applies, and you’ll be getting the Cubs-Pirates game on MLBN.

7:02	Paul Swydan: Hey everybody!

7:04	Sean Dolinar: Game time!

7:04	Paul Swydan: Bob Costas and John Smoltz are our broadcast team, with Tom Verducci on the field. I only half listened to pregame, but it seemed like they did a good job of talking up StatCast, which was nice.

7:05	Comment From Guest People in 99% of industries would have gotten fired for doing what Price did to the media, something baseball is entirely dependent on. Right? I mean how is he not suspended by MLB at least?

7:06

Comment From Eric
Do you think MLB will provide some form of raw data or will they take the NHL approach and release the days under s new MLB.com program/their own format


	Sean Dolinar: Each game will be terabytes of raw data, my guess is there will be something like NHL. Not give out too much information, but give out enough to get fans to mlb.com and keep people discussing baseball. Something like average perceived velocity could be really easy to release.

7:07

Paul Swydan: Quick Bryan Price question as the teams take the field.

My answer – Because he has a multimillion dollar contract. So it’s not as easy to just fire someone. I will say that I thought the most concerning part of his rant was the “it’s hard enough to win here” comment, because it alludes to some sort of front office ineptitude or strife.

7:07	Paul Swydan: Yeah, Eric, I don’t think we’ll ever see the faucet turned completely on, because most people won’t have the expertise or even data storage to put their arms around all that data.

7:07	Comment From Pale Hose My softball league starts tonight, and I don’t have MLB Network. No statcast for me 🙁

7:08	Paul Swydan: Don’t worry Pale Hole, I’m sure there will be some sort of cool replay available later.

7:08	Sean Dolinar: So far ESPN has a better pitch tracker on live play than MLBN. I’ve grown to like that a bit.

7:09	Paul Swydan: I love ESPN’s live pitch tracker. Everyone should use it.

7:09	Comment From neil does masterson look like he’srunning on fumes to you? how much longer is he going to be able to hold on as a starter?

7:10	Paul Swydan: He does not look like he’s running on fumes, though I will watch him a little more closely from now on.

7:10

Comment From Stevolatte
SHIFT TRAX


	Sean Dolinar: I think I first saw that graphic in Ken Griffey, Jr. Presents MLB on my SNES.

7:11	Paul Swydan: Haha. That was kinda cool.

7:12

Comment From Eric
So I am working, is it working on MLB.TV or am I going to have to DVR it?


	Sean Dolinar: DVR.

7:12	Comment From filihok Statcast! wooo!

7:12	Comment From Stevolatte Why is Bob Costas on MLB TV?

7:13	Paul Swydan: I get that Costas can be self righteous and smarmy, but he still calls a damn good game. I think people are too hard on him.

7:13	Paul Swydan: But then, I grew up with Bob Costas, and a lot of you probably didn’t, so to you he’s just another old guy.

7:14	Paul Swydan: So, was it just me, or did we not get any StatCast data/graphics in that half inning?

7:14	Comment From filihok That was a bit of a let down

7:14	Comment From Stevolatte I didn’t see any graphics other than Shift Trax

7:14	Paul Swydan: Yeah, eager to see what happens when we come back from commercial.

7:14	Sean Dolinar: We had the positions using live StatCast positioning.

7:15	Comment From Guest People hate on the pitch tracker on ESPN

7:15	Paul Swydan: I feel like I’d let my son watch a lot more MLB Network if they had a lot fewer Viagra commercials.

7:16	Comment From filihok Assume they’ll pump some info to Costas et al during the break so they can prepare what to tell us

7:16

Comment From Matt
ESPN pitch thing is far far better than big Amica pitch zone popping up on 1/4 of the screen every 3 pitches. Plus it makes judging pitches easier. I can see framing at work


	Sean Dolinar: Yeah, it took a minute to get use to because I’m use to not having that, and it looked like I was playing my Xbox.

7:16	Paul Swydan: That’s what I’m thinking.

7:17	Paul Swydan: Agree 100% Matt. But the Amica zone is better than nothing, which is still what some broadcasts have.

7:17	Comment From Vic Romano How long until we get a StatCast on the utter awfulness that is Joe West?

7:17	Paul Swydan: Oh I didn’t check the umps tonight. Is he on this game? I’ll be very interested to see if we get some sort of umpire positioning metric.

7:18	Sean Dolinar: 85% Positioning Efficiency.

7:18	Comment From Vic Romano Nah, West is ruining the Cubs/Pirates game…..calling strikes on shoelace-high pitches

7:18	Paul Swydan: Good times.

7:19

Comment From West307
Let’s talk about two fringe mixed league OFs. In the early going, D. Jennings 8:7 BB:K, C. Granderson 12:8 BB:K. Granderson also had a solid spring in terms of plate discipline and he has gotten robbed of several hits by spectacular defensive plays. Who are you most optimistic about between these two? Any other fringe players who have surprised you with early plate discipline gains?

7:20	Paul Swydan: I’ll say I’m most optimistic about Granderson, just because I never have really gotten the hype on Jennings.

7:20	Paul Swydan: At least in terms of fantasy value.

7:20	Paul Swydan: Filthy.

7:21

Comment From Hareeb al-Saq
So is this the right place to call Manfred a grade-A jackwagon for promising all data available to the public and delivering zero data available to the public?


	Sean Dolinar: I’d give it some time, this isn’t the easiest technology to distribute.

7:21	Paul Swydan: And that’s also not entirely true. We’ll have an article up on Thursday at Hardball Times from Dr. Alan Nathan that utilizes StatCast data.

7:22	Paul Swydan: Ha, Molina wasn’t even in the picture.

7:23

Comment From Seth Keichline
I have it on in the background while working. Have they done anything with StatCast yet? I expected to see it every defensive play or something.


	Sean Dolinar: Barely, ESPN has better pitch tracking than MLBN and nothing has been shown with defense or hitting, so it’s been slightly disappointing.

7:24	Paul Swydan: We’ll keep hoping, Seth!

7:24	Comment From Mike Who arrives first, Fransisco Lindor or Blake Swiart? And, who is better in fantasy.

7:24	Paul Swydan: Tough one. Swihart has an opening while Lindor may not, but Lindor has more high level experience. I definitely think Lindor will be the more immediate fantasy contributor.

7:25	Comment From Matt Before you throw MLB under the bus, remember that the NFL can “can’t afford” a camera/laser tracking in the end zone.

7:25	Paul Swydan: Also a good point.

7:25	Sean Dolinar: There we go! Running lead metrics!

7:25	Paul Swydan: How the NFL treats their fans: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

7:26	Comment From Stevolatte Whats your guess as to Addison Russell’s upside this year?

7:27	Paul Swydan: The world, chico, and everything in it.

7:27	Paul Swydan: Also, that running lead metric was sort of cool. Would have been better if we had a baseline, but good start.

7:27	Comment From Bomok A Matt Harvey extension of 10 years and 200M. who hangs up first, Sandy Alderson, or Scott Boras?

7:27	Sean Dolinar: It could have been more consequential than before an inning ending strike out.

7:28	Paul Swydan: True. As for Bomok’s question, I think Alderson probably hangs up first. Not sure you want to sign a guy who just had TJ to a 10-year deal, even if it is for reasonable money.

7:29	Paul Swydan: Not sure you want to sign a pitcher who HASN’T had TJ surgery to a 10-year deal, for that matter.

7:29	Paul Swydan: Gio Gonzalez kind of looks like Hispanic Bill Petti with a beard.

7:30	Comment From Guest I learned I had a terrible fear of falling last week when I sat in the nose bleed seats at a game. Roller coasters and mountain climb are fine, but those sections are slightly slanted in a way that makes me feel unbalanced. Anyone else have this issue?

7:31	Sean Dolinar: Addison Russell is due up third in the T2 in Pittsburgh, coming up next.

7:31

Paul Swydan: I generally have this feeling right when I get to the seats, and sometimes when I’m walking up and down, but once I’m in the seats I’m generally just fine.

Actually, I used to run the upper deck stairs at Coors Field after work sometime. It didn’t really work on my nerves, even though it should have, since I was running, but it did wreck havoc on my knees.

7:32	Paul Swydan: Pulling up MLB.tv. SO. MANY. SCREENS.

7:33	Sean Dolinar: Bryant already had an RBI double today.

7:34	Sean Dolinar: Addison Russell now!

7:34	Paul Swydan: “There goes Jay, but it’s fouled away.”

7:34	Paul Swydan: Maybe they can lay by the bay, they just may.

7:35	Paul Swydan: Well, Russell is fast, at least.

7:35	Sean Dolinar: AR — Chopper up the middle for a ground out 4-3.

7:35	Paul Swydan: Also, he didn’t strike out.

7:36	Paul Swydan: Nice anecdote from Smoltzy there.

7:36	Comment From Experienced Onanist I’d say this debut is like a case of blue balls, but it’s a lot closer to just having your date not show up at all.

7:37	Paul Swydan: It’s looking like something like that.

7:37	Sean Dolinar: It’s like your date showing up and being disinterested in you. At least that’s my take.

7:38

Comment From Guest
At Bat should allow to see pitches in the past, not jsu results.


	Sean Dolinar: I’ve wanted that for a while.

7:38	Paul Swydan: Yeah that’d be great.

7:38	Comment From Gila Monster Hopefully the Jays will kill the Orioles and move Gausman into the rotation.

7:39	Paul Swydan: Well that’s just mean, Gila Monster. Have you no heart?

7:39	Comment From Matt Any chance the Rockies decide that calling up Jon Gray when everyone is healthy would be a good thing?

7:40	Paul Swydan: I think it’s unlikely, but let’s see how Kyle Kendrick continues to do. They’re certainly not married to him, Opening Day start or not.

7:40	Comment From Guest MLB hyped it too. It is like being told your blind date is a supermodel,really into you, calls the you confirming your date, and then doesn’t show up.

7:40	Paul Swydan: It’s like George Costanza being told the secret location to that club for super models only for it to really be a meat packing plant.

7:41	Paul Swydan: I mean, we gotta get a route efficiency on that double, right?

7:41	Sean Dolinar: So I take it we all have a lot of bad date stories here?

7:42	Paul Swydan: And now Smoltz is preaching from the Good Book of Small Ball.

7:42	Paul Swydan: “He could have got a hit there…….” He didn’t have a reason for why Escobar shouldn’t have tried to get a hit.

7:42	Sean Dolinar: My guess is that it takes significant time to build the graphic overlays using the StatCast data.

7:43	Paul Swydan: That’s pretty cool, the infield in graphic.

7:43	Comment From Experienced Onanist Ok getting nothing from that play confirms it. Date showed up, snuck out the door, and left you with the whole tab. And spat in your food when you weren’t looking.

7:44	Paul Swydan: See, Sean, the thing that gives me pause on the graphics is that the two they have shown have been interactive live graphics.

7:44	Sean Dolinar: Though it seems like those x,y positioning are easy to do live. We saw that with defensive alignment and the baserunner lead distance.

7:44	Comment From Guest We are in a online chat about baseball software. We haven’t had enough dates to have one that bad.

7:44	Paul Swydan: Yeah, but her and a friend of mine….hoooooooo whee!

7:44	Paul Swydan: (That’s a Billy Madison reference)

7:45	Comment From Schide What is this “date” thing you people keep talking about?

7:46	Comment From Experienced Onanist I’m only watching this crap BECAUSE I got stood up for a date. Hence, the name.

7:46	Paul Swydan: Pretty “rising” fastball from Lynn there.

7:46	Comment From Gila Monster I am selfish and don’t enjoy seeing Bud Norris. So root for a Goins grand slam

7:46	Paul Swydan: I would only root for that because I’ve always wanted to witness the eighth wonder of the world.

7:47	Comment From Billy Goat Rodon is starting for the White Sox on ____?

7:47	Paul Swydan: Someone on the site made the point recently that Sale was kept in relief for over a year. So the answer might be 2016.

7:48	Paul Swydan: Meanwhile, Lance Lynn is dicking around with Gio. Not a good look.

7:48	Comment From Los Traded Bryant and Lynn for Sale. Already have Nolan at 3b. Did I do ok or will I regret this?

7:49	Paul Swydan: I think that is pretty good. You consolidated and moved up a class, and I say that as a huge Lance Lynn fan.

7:50

Sean Dolinar: I can understand if this was suppose to be another MLBN game, to focus on a normal broadcast. But RSNs are broadcasting for both markets. The only reason to watch a MLBN produced broadcast is to see StatCast. They should be blasting everything measurement they can even if it’s awkward or meaningless.

7:51	Paul Swydan: I guess the thing that is confounding to me is that they talked up StatCast pretty much the whole hour before the game.

7:51	Comment From Captain Cave Man ROS… Semien or Russell?

7:51	Paul Swydan: Russell, just on the upside.

7:52	Comment From Robert Whoever doesn’t like Bud Norris is getting his wish.

7:52	Sean Dolinar: I’d love to see that on a SC replay, too.

7:52	Paul Swydan: Oh, here we go, interview with a EVP from BAM.

7:52	Sean Dolinar: No, don’t show me inside the booth!

7:52	Sean Dolinar: There are no stats in the booth.

7:53	Paul Swydan: Joseph Inzerillo, EVP and CTO at MLBAM to be precise.

7:53	Comment From Guest They literally have an ad at the bottom of Ay Bat calling it “Historic”. There was more Statcast in the playoffs

7:53	Paul Swydan: So far, ya.

7:54	Comment From Experienced Onanist according to statcast there’s one very bald HoFer in the booth

7:55	Paul Swydan: Hmmm, I’ll have to check on that.

7:55	Sean Dolinar: Why is the CTO talking ‘will’, future tense. I thought it was now.

7:56	Comment From Under 4 is FAST When a player’s speed to 1B is clocked, when exactly does the clock start, the moment the ball is hit, or the moment they take their first step? Also, are these times available via StatCast for tonight’s game?

7:56	Paul Swydan: I believe it’s when the ball is hit, but I’m actually not sure. And I’m definitely not sure about if those times will be available, but judging from what we’ve seen so far, probably not.

7:56	Comment From Jays Closer Disaster Who leads the Blue Jays in saves at the All-Star Break? A matter of time before Osuna gets a chance?

7:57	Paul Swydan: I think if Castro loses the gig that Cecil will get another shot. I’ll say Castro will lead them though.

7:59	Paul Swydan: OK, here comes some StatCasst.

7:59	Sean Dolinar: Ugh…they put their graphic too low for the crawl!

8:00	Paul Swydan: I feel like Heyward could have caught that.

8:00	Comment From kevinthecomic ok, show us heyward’s route to the ball!!

8:01	Paul Swydan: Also, is the MLB guy now just part of the booth? Usually when there’s a guest, they’ll mention how long he’s sticking around for….

8:01	Comment From Experienced Onanist I’m curious how hard that ball was hit.. guess I’ll just open a tab and look at gameday (104).

8:01	Comment From Experienced Onanist I’m curious how hard that ball was hit.. guess I’ll just open a tab and look at gameday (104).

8:02	Paul Swydan: Whoa, freaky, double publish.

8:02	Sean Dolinar: Jinx, you owe me a Coke.

8:02	Comment From Bob ROS: RA Dickey or Sabathia?

8:02	Paul Swydan: Sabathia.

8:03	Comment From Seth Keichline Weaver’s lack of spin rate on his FB should be fun to see.

8:03	Paul Swydan: Ha.

8:03	Comment From richard 15 team redraft league. 2 utility positions. i rolled with byrd and morse. granderson is on WW. would you dump byrd and pick up Grandy? or is it to early to make such a move considering byrd did well the last 2 years?

8:04	Paul Swydan: Not too early. Go get Granderson.

8:04	Comment From kevinthecomic Costas: extremely interesting. Translation: I have no idea what you are talking about.

8:05	Sean Dolinar: Only Bob Costas mentions poetry and baseball in the broadcast booth.

8:05	Paul Swydan: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

8:05	Paul Swydan: Leaderboard of projected home run leaders. That’s nice.

8:05	Paul Swydan: And then Holliday botches a ball and allows a run to come home.

8:06	Paul Swydan: Really nice piece of hitting from Harper.

8:06	Comment From Bill Deedler Is Josh Hamilton fantasy relevant this year?

8:06	Paul Swydan: I can’t imagine how he could be.

8:06	Comment From Jake are you perplexed by jesse hahn? added two mph on fast ball but is not striking anyone out

8:07	Paul Swydan: He is 2-3 starts into his transition from NL to AL, so not perplexed yet.

8:07	Sean Dolinar: I need StatCast on that catch.

8:07	Paul Swydan: Wow, great catch from Jon Jay, and horrible job of tagging up from Jayson Werth.

8:08	Sean Dolinar: Traditional replay. ISO angles.

8:08	Comment From Tough Critic Yeah, that was top notch range right there

8:08	Sean Dolinar: Ok plenty of time for StatCast right now!

8:09	Paul Swydan: Oh ya, Harper is out.

8:09	Paul Swydan: It’s ticky tack. But credit to the Cardinals for appealing it.

8:09	Comment From Hareeb al-Saq Don’t really tag there with 1 out unless it’s a clear catch, getting to 3rd with 2 outs isn’t a giant deal

8:10	Paul Swydan: I think when it gets that deep you need to tag, because it’s so deep that if he doesn’t catch it, Werth is scoring easy anyway, but I’ll give you that traditionally you wouldn’t tag there.

8:10	Comment From Jake is a 3.2 era with a 8k/9 ros crazy for hahn

8:10	Paul Swydan: Probably.

8:10	Sean Dolinar: Addison Russell on deck! Alert!

8:12	Comment From Matt Grandyman is the perfect buy low. SSS, buy career high BB%,career low K%, supported by some plate discipline numbers that show a better approach so far. Nice LD%….the .180 BABIP and o% HR/FB are more likely to regress

8:12	Paul Swydan: Agree.

8:12	Comment From Tough Critic If you are going to show the RPM, also show it against the league average for a fastball, otherwise the number is meaningless.

8:12	Paul Swydan: I think that is the general critique of all of this data. Whether it’s to the league average or replacement level or something, we need a baseline.

8:13	Sean Dolinar: AR strikeout.

8:14	Paul Swydan: That’s a cool replay of Jay’s catch, but it looked like they inserted a Draft Kings ad. Did they, or was that up in real time? If they’re wasting time adding in ads to these StatCast replays…….

8:14	Comment From Plopper How long to wait on Phil Hughes before dropping in 10 team leagues? Seems pretty ordinary.

8:15	Paul Swydan: I’m giving it at least one more start, but I’m awfully tempted.

8:15	Comment From Seth Keichline Sooo….they ARE going to StatCast the Presidents race, RIGHT?!?!?!

8:15	Paul Swydan: Life for Twins pitchers is going to be a lot harder if the Royals really have figured out how to hit.

8:15	Comment From Jake As an astros Is it too early to start panicking about Evan Gattis

8:16	Paul Swydan: It’s never too early, but I’d hold out faith for a little while longer.

8:16	Paul Swydan: Starting to work in some more StatCast data on replay. Got Yadier’s double there.

8:16	Sean Dolinar: I think they have to set position of any graphics in some regard before replaying it. There also might be a render or processing time.

8:16	Comment From kevinthecomic i remember seeing the outfielders route compared to the optimal route, and then grading the outfielder’s route to that — so, they would show like 94% efficiency of actual vs. optimal — was hoping they were gonna show that for the JJ catch

8:17	Paul Swydan: Yes, that was my favorite part of the data last year.

8:17	Comment From Sean Shouldn’t they have had to appeal to first base as that was the base that Harper was obliged to return to?

8:18	Paul Swydan: No, it’s the base he was supposed to have touched. It’s just usually when they do those appeals, it’s that the runner left the base early, so it’s the original base that the appeal goes to.

8:18	Comment From guest Why the disparity between Patrick Corbin’s RoS projections and his updated projections? Both Steamer projections are for a 3.43/3.54 FIP in 62 innings, but the RoS line is worth .9 WAR and the updated line is worth -0.1

8:18	Paul Swydan: Not sure, but I posted it here so we can flag it later.

8:19	Comment From Matt I haven’t looked, but the stats say the Padres have the best defense…. This is why you need you Statcast. Even sample size can’t make that understandable

8:20	Paul Swydan: Keep in mind that our defensive stats run on a bit of a delay, they’re not as up to date as the rest of our stats.

8:20	Comment From Tough Critic Kevin Plawecki, 1st big league hit, line drive single to left, just past a diving Simmons!

8:22

Paul Swydan: I have to say that while it’s nice that MLBAM has this EVP in the booth for an extended interview, it’s not going to help the branding of these stats that they need a specialist to explain it to people. This stuff is pretty conversational – Costas and Smoltz should be able to speak to it.

8:24	Comment From Hareeb al-Saq first step 1.9s is completely impossible, a blind comatose grandma can react faster than that

8:26	Paul Swydan: Costas finally talking about comparing to league average. In the fifth inning.

8:28	Paul Swydan: And now we’re getting a definition of first step (defense) on screen, which was great. I wish we had a replay of tonight’s game. That we didn’t isn’t helping the notion that they need lots of time to create these graphics.

8:28	Comment From Big John Most disappointing Mariners SP so far… Walker, Paxton or Iwakuma? Or all of the above?

8:28	Paul Swydan: Definitely Walker.

8:28	Comment From Mookie The Wookie 5×5 OBP league, keep 6 for ever. I have Rizzo, Solar, Bryant and Russell all very cheap. Do I have a good problem or just a problem? Would you worry about having 4 of your 6 keepers on the same team? If so who would you move?

8:29	Paul Swydan: I’d call it a good problem. Don’t force a solution.

8:30	Comment From Tough Critic Does a play like that hurt Desmond’s range?

8:31	Paul Swydan: I mean, he had to dive for it, and it looked like it bounced over his glove on the dive. I wouldn’t ding him for it. Seemed more like a bad hop than anything else.

8:31	Paul Swydan: Now an on field definition of Vector.

8:32	Paul Swydan: On camera definition, sorry

8:32	Paul Swydan: On screen! Sorry!

8:32	Paul Swydan: No low strike call there for Gio.

8:35	Paul Swydan: That was weird on the leading away graphic. Peralta was not a straight line away from the bag, but they showed it still as a function of a straight lead from the bag.

8:35	Sean Dolinar: In my ‘expert’ opinion…MLBN can only do live distances from that super-high home camera.

8:35	Paul Swydan: And it sounds like the MLBAM EVP/CTO is done for the night.

8:36	Paul Swydan: I believe there was the one instance Sean where they showed Span leading away from the bag and it wasn’t from the high camera. But most of them have been from the high side.

8:38	Sean Dolinar: I really need to be able to rewind these. Too much happening at once.

8:38	Paul Swydan: I think that has definitely been an issue. Every time they dig on StatCast stuff something happens in the game and diverts attention away.

8:39	Comment From Frothing Nerd Do you know if we’re going to get any actual data tonight or just lame graphics and the Fox NHL pucktracker updated to 2015 to draw yellow lines behind baseballs?

8:39	Paul Swydan: This comment was left at 5:41 pm. Seems mostly like he was right, so far at least.

8:39	Comment From Mr. Obvious That 19 runners for STL and 0 runs

8:40	Paul Swydan: Yup! At least they’re close to getting Gio out of the game?

8:40	Comment From Matt The Red Sox have scored 71 runs….I wonder how many are unearned at this point….

8:40	Paul Swydan: I believe I read 20.

8:40	Comment From Hareeb al-Saq This is like trying to watch porn while it buffers endlessly. You know something is supposed to be there that you want to see, but it never does make it to the screen.

8:40	Paul Swydan: Yaaaaa, something like that.

8:41	Paul Swydan: Not sure about that claim from Costa that Roark would be the #3 on most staffs.

8:41	Paul Swydan: One thing to pay attention to — a lot of the StatCast stuff came when the MLBAM guy was in the booth. Now that he’s gone, will the StatCast stuff cease as well?

8:41	Comment From Mr. Obvious They should want Gio to stay in – sooner or later someone crosses the plate

8:42	Paul Swydan: Hah.

8:42	Sean Dolinar: Was it still an overhead angle or low? Regarding Span lead.

8:42	Paul Swydan: It was like the third base camera, focused on first. Pretty low, IIRC.

8:43	Paul Swydan: Lynn definitely has settled in.

8:44	Comment From Steven F. AL only owner desperate for pitching… With Rodon gone, any other top prospects getting the call pre-All Star Break?

8:45	Paul Swydan: Appel…well prob not before the break.

8:46	Sean Dolinar: All the replays using StatCast tracking graphics have been on the high angles.

8:46	Paul Swydan: Andrew Heaney, or possibly Owens/Rodriguez on the Sox.

8:47	Paul Swydan: All the replays. Cool, thanks Sean.

8:47	Paul Swydan: Hell of a bunt there from Wong.

8:47	Sean Dolinar: Yes! StatCast on the Wong bunt!

8:48	Paul Swydan: There’s a StatCast replay. Didn’t really have time to digest.

8:48	Paul Swydan: Wow, possibly the best kind of bunt and worst kind of bunt in back-to-back at-batrs.

8:48	Comment From NatsFan Why didn’t he go to 2nd? No chance at first on the wong bunt

8:48	Paul Swydan: Fair point.

8:49	Comment From NatsFan BUFFALO

8:49	Sean Dolinar: My conjecture on the limited camera angles with StatCast, there are only so many cameras that are calibrated with the data much like the early days of the NFL yellow line.

8:50	Paul Swydan: Maybe, and the overhead angles would be the best if you had limited options.

8:50	Comment From NatsFan 4-6-3!!

8:50	Sean Dolinar: Almost like coaches cameras.

8:50	Paul Swydan: Cardinals situational hitting borderline pathetic tonight.

8:50

Comment From Hareeb al-Saq
Top speed down the line, no time down the line


	Sean Dolinar: yeah, this is going to be an issue once we get all this data — what best tells the story of the game or situation.

8:51	Paul Swydan: 12 baserunners in 5 innings and no runs.

8:51	Comment From Phil Kurimski T/F: Worst team in baseball is Brewers?

8:51	Paul Swydan: false

8:52

Comment From Tough Critic
Masahiro Tanaka said through an interpreter that the dirt around home plate in Japan is much softer and puts less strain on the body as opposed to the dirt here which is much harder. Have you heard of this before, and if it’s true, wouldn’t it make sense to use the same dirt they use in Japan?

8:53	Paul Swydan: I have not, and I guess I’m not really sure. It’s just one man’s opinion, you’d need to hear from a few other people on it.

8:54

Comment From Guest
Better chance of making playoffs: Mets or Cubs?


	Sean Dolinar: Cubs. By my willpower alone if nothing else.

8:55	Paul Swydan: Mets, because of the Marlins and Phillies and Braves.

8:55	Comment From Chip Hale I am so confused. Who should I start regularly in my OF? Tomas is getting splinters sitting on the pine.

8:55	Paul Swydan: Started him at third base tonight, didn’t you?

8:56	Comment From Mike Yelich Moss and Wood for K. Seager and Arrieta in a 6×6 10 team league. Who gets the better end of the deal?

8:56	Paul Swydan: the yelich side

8:57	Comment From Bob ROS: Eaton worth rostering in 12 team mixed?

8:57	Paul Swydan: I’m nearing my breaking point.

8:57	Paul Swydan: Hey I think I saw Jeff log in. Hi Jeff!

8:58	Sean Dolinar: There’s another high angle, but zoomed in shot on the Harper lead.

8:58	Paul Swydan: Yeah that was the one I saw before on Span.

8:59	Sean Dolinar: Cool, I think it’s one of the few cameras they have…zooming in would be just a 3d transformation on the graphic overlay.

9:00

Comment From Guest
Gerrit Cole pinch hit and I am confused.


	Sean Dolinar: I wish that game wasn’t one at the same time as the StatCast game. I’ll have to look into this.

9:01	Comment From Tough Critic I hate when guys don’t bust it down the first base line on double plays!!!!!

9:01	Paul Swydan: Something tells me Yunel Escobar won’t end up being your favorite player.

9:02	Comment From Birdie Will Alex Guerrero earn an everyday starting job by May/June?

9:02	Paul Swydan: I don’t think so. But stranger things have happened. Plus Uribe might get hurt, who knows?

9:03	Jeff Zimmerman: Well, hi everyone. I will imagine how great stat cast is and try to answer some questions

9:03

Comment From Bob
It would be cool if FG had one central place to look up where everything stabilized. Just a quick page to check and see like, “Oh, his K% is 25% but he needs roughly another 50 at bats before it’s probably for real.” I know you guys give us this stuff constantly but it’s usually somewhat scattershot

9:04	Paul Swydan: Tweet that at Neil Weinberg, he runs the FG Library/Glossary. Great idea.

9:04	Jeff Zimmerman: and the stabilization point everyone mentions is only 50% stable and may not be for real.

9:05	Paul Swydan: Right, there are a lot of caveats that apply to those. Dave mentioned some in his piece last Monday.

9:05	Comment From Guest I’m pretty sure that already exists somewhere.

9:05	Paul Swydan: Hmmmm….help us out, Guest.

9:06	Comment From Guest http://www.fangraphs.com/li…

9:06

Sean Dolinar: RE: Stabilization…I was actually doing some work on that the other day. I think the biggest problem is the ambiguity of what stabilization means. There are a lot of things going on, sequencing/randomness noise…this you can simulate with a binomial distribution. But you also have differences in skills, opponents, injuries, luck, and other variables.

9:06	Paul Swydan: Boom. I knew we had that page! Haha.

9:07	Paul Swydan: 13 baserunners, 0 runs.

9:07	Comment From Tough Critic Would it be wise to sell high on Joc Pederson? The odds of him hitting above .250 are slim, no?

9:07	Jeff Zimmerman: Sounds like a Royals game

9:07	Paul Swydan: Probably not the worst idea, but he should still be valuable even with the low BA.

9:08	Comment From Bob Thanks guys. Agreed re: everything with sample size, and so on, but still useful for fantasy purposes.

9:08	Paul Swydan: For sure.

9:08	Jeff Zimmerman: .474 BABIP for Joc can’t keep going

9:09	Jeff Zimmerman: He may be the 3 true outcome leader so far this year. Let me check

9:10	Comment From Miller Time Time to put Aramis out to pasture. He looks awful.

9:10	Paul Swydan: To be fair, the whole team looks awful right now.

9:11	Jeff Zimmerman: Yep, leader with 60%, Harper is 2nd at 59% and LaRoche is 58%

9:12	Paul Swydan: Oh definitely wouldnt have guessed Harper.

9:12	Comment From Joe Nathan is old Soria remain as closer when Nathan returns?

9:12	Paul Swydan: No, I fully expect Nathan to get his job back.

9:13	Paul Swydan: Lance Lynn does not look pleased to be removed from the game for Clint Robinson.

9:13	Paul Swydan: Can’t say that I blame him.

9:13	Comment From Joe Nathan is old Tigers fan will cry in agony if this happens…

9:14	Paul Swydan: Yes, but Brad Ausmus’ managerial incompetence benefits the greater good.

9:14	Comment From Conor Kind of light on SP and was offered Chris Sale for Anthony Rendon. What ya think Paul?

9:15	Paul Swydan: If it’s a redraft league, it’s a no brainer. If it’s dynasty…….I still might do it, especially given your lack of pitching.

9:15	Jeff Zimmerman: I may consider it. Alway do what is best for your team and depends on Rendon’s replacement

9:16	Paul Swydan: See, now on that replay, they showed Espinosa’s stats. But I would have liked to have seen Wong and Reynolds as well.

9:17	Paul Swydan: Matheny takes out his starter AND loses the platoon advantage. He’s never going to figure it out, I don’t think. Good thing he’s so handsome.

9:17	Sean Dolinar: Data overload?

9:17	Sean Dolinar: I like the suggestion to do the total time instead of speed. Speed might be easier to digest though.

9:17	Paul Swydan: It might have been data overload, but perhaps if you had time, you could have shown the replay a couple of different times, focusing on a different player each time.

9:18	Jeff Zimmerman: So are they timing player from contact to 1B or is it the stupid acceleration value.

9:18	Paul Swydan: I think the bottom line with these replays is that there isn’t enough time to digest them, and that we need to see some of these stats in real time if we’re going to quickly develop a familiarity with them.

9:19	Paul Swydan: I’m not sure, Jeff.

9:19	Comment From Tough Critic StatCast should show how much MPH Espinosa gained by losing the moustache

9:19	Paul Swydan: Oh indeed.

9:19	Comment From Hareeb al-Saq they aren’t displaying a time, just max speed. People can digest speed, I mean 40 times saturate everything

9:19	Comment From Texas Pete Haven’t had time to look back through answers so far…just checking…would you throw Walker out there tonight vs. the Stros?

9:20	Paul Swydan: As in start him in fantasy? I don’t think we got that question earlier, but I probably wouldn’t have, no.

9:20	Jeff Zimmerman: but the max speed is useless if it takes a player all the way to 1B to get there.

9:20	Comment From Hareeb al-Saq But righties are batting .200 against Siegrist this year

9:20	Paul Swydan: Yaaaa…..

9:20	Paul Swydan: Lance Lynn had the same ERA and WHIP tonight – 1.42.

9:22	Jeff Zimmerman: And now you know and knowing is half the battle

9:22	Paul Swydan: https://www.youtube.com/wat…

9:23	Sean Dolinar: It seems like StatCast is more like showing off a new toy or even software…you show off something flashy, but not necessarily useful.

9:23	Comment From Skoal bandit Ugh…I benched Revere tonight for Russell. lol. Revere gets two ribbys and a steal. I hate having bench players on Offense.

9:23	Paul Swydan: This has been me with Adam Eaton all year. He never hits when I start him.

9:24	Jeff Zimmerman: What is this hitting thing you speak of? One league I am first in pitching on a 20% staff and last in hitting.

9:26	Comment From Matt Don’t worry Skoal. I swapped Encarnacion for Votto at the last second because Fiers was more homer prone….I lost some money on that

9:26

Comment From Dung Beetle
I don’t know what you guys are complaining about, I’m LOVING this statcast debut.


	Sean Dolinar: It’s more complaining about the hype. Some data is better than no data.

9:27	Paul Swydan: Yeah, I’m not mad about it. They’ve done a good job of integrating it when they can, and they’re not demeaning it, which is more than you could hope for from many broadcasters.

9:28	Paul Swydan: We just want more, DB. WE WANT MORE!!!

9:29	Sean Dolinar: Desmond…damn.

9:29	Comment From Guest The Reds have all of the Grand Slams

9:29	Comment From Euclid Today, there was a trade in my league of Rizzo for Sal Perez… Do I need to find a new league?

9:29	Paul Swydan: Maybe.

9:30	Jeff Zimmerman: No …. maybe. If it bothers you than probably, but bad trades are a part of baseball.

9:30	Comment From Dung Beetle Even if they can’t talk about everything, just have the basic stuff (ball data, time to first, fielder distance, etc) show up in some pretty graphic on gameday or something, it shouldn’t be that hard to present it

9:31	Paul Swydan: Agreed.

9:31	Jeff Zimmerman: Agree 100%.

9:31	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts I vote the White Sox for most boring announcers. Minutes of silence, then HE GONE followed by more silence

9:31	Paul Swydan: They’re up there.

9:32	Jeff Zimmerman: Silence is fine, better than listening to some other groups fill the void.

9:32	Comment From Ves Time to drop Fiers?

9:32	Paul Swydan: Probably, accompanied by some tears.

9:34	Comment From Robert The Blue Jays are now up to 37 runs of support in Buehrle’s three starts this season.

9:35	Paul Swydan: Decent.

9:35	Paul Swydan: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Matt Adams.

9:35	Jeff Zimmerman: Maybe sit him, a lot of undoing is from batted balls., but that was my worry with him when I look at him in Quick Looks

9:35	Comment From Tough Critic Doink! use two hands!!!!!

9:36	Paul Swydan: That was Canseco-esque.

9:36	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts Rodon: used when ahead, behind, or for holds?

9:37	Jeff Zimmerman: I really don’t know, but could see all three.

9:37	Comment From Guest Speaking of Rodon: Rodon Alert! Warming in the pen

9:37	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts TURN ON THE RODON BAT SIGNAL HE IS WARMING UP

9:38	Paul Swydan: I wouldn’t regularly use him for holds. I’d break him in low leverage situations. But for the real answer, again, you may want to go back to Chris Sale’s debut. In 2011, Sale had the 3rd highest leverage in the White Sox bullpen, though he was neck and neck with Matt Thornton.

9:39	Comment From Totally Not A Phillies Fan Do you think House is droppable in a 12 team league? He really seems to be struggling.

9:39	Paul Swydan: It’s 7 innings. Carlos Carrasco looked really bad after 7 innings last year too.

9:40	Jeff Zimmerman: In 12 team, yes. He was borderline 12 -teamer to start the season.

9:41	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts Who was starting 4 and 5 for the sox when Sale was in the pen?

9:41	Paul Swydan: Rotation was pretty thick that year. http://www.fangraphs.com/le…

9:41	Comment From Guest Rodon vs. Moss is going to be a slaughter

9:41	Comment From Phillies113 Rodon’s comin’ in.

9:41	Comment From Euclid More concerned with Gomez or Lucroy injury?

9:41	Paul Swydan: Jeff?

9:42	Jeff Zimmerman: Lucroy by a ways. Gomez is supposed to be back in the 15 days. Lucroy could be a couple of months

9:44	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts Rodon missed 4 straight fastballs, 2 at 96 and 2 at 97

9:44	Comment From Euclid I was just thinking hamstrings lingering throughout the year

9:45	Comment From Matt The Brewers pitching staff isn’t good and junk heavy too. Losing a top framer could hurt a lot too

9:45	Comment From Tough Critic There should be no commercial break during pitching changes. They have been throwing a ton of pitches in the pen, throw just a couple on the real mound and GO!!!

9:45	Paul Swydan: Fair point.

9:48	Comment From NatsFan You say that a lot Paul

9:48	Paul Swydan: Well, you all are quite fair and balanced. Not a lot of #hottakez floating around in here.

9:48	Comment From joe torre Could Arod have used PEDs while suspended to come back strong?

9:49	Paul Swydan: I believe he was tested while suspended, but I’m not 100% sure.

9:49	Paul Swydan: That pitch is right at the knees in the side replay. Not sure what Zimmerman is bitching about.

9:49	Jeff Zimmerman: Sorry for leaving you alone with Paul, my son’s t-Ball coach called with practive times

9:50	Comment From Matt Speaking of thst, does framing help certain pitcher more than others? Do we know what pitchers would benefit the most ? A guy with bad command or a guy that can paint for called strikes?

9:50	Paul Swydan: I don’t believe I’ve read anything about this. But then I haven’t followed the framing stuff very attentively because it’s not that interesting to me.

9:51	Paul Swydan: That aspect of it does interest me quite a bit though.

9:51	Comment From Lindor Truffles Man… Addison Russell had got a big gob of dip in his mouth. When will kids learn?

9:51	Paul Swydan: Maybe it’s his initiation test?

9:51	Jeff Zimmerman: I think it helps the painters. I have one issue with the framing issue. I have talked to several umps on it and they say they hate catchers who stand up and move around. Almost automatic called balls

9:52	Comment From Robert Wouldn’t soft-tossing control artists get the most help from framing, since they would theoretically be the easiest to frame, as opposed to a pitcher who misses his spot by a foot every time?

9:52	Jeff Zimmerman: I think hitting your spots is key.

9:52	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts As an umpire (and I am one) you know whose framing and whose not, and besides youre watching it come in, not where it ends up

9:53	Paul Swydan: Cool, thanks!

9:53	Comment From GrowSomeCano Will most statcast data be available to the public? Will this be a 2nd renaissance for sabermetrics people?

9:53	Paul Swydan: We still don’t know, but we think SOME of it will be available.

9:53	Sean Dolinar: It should help pitchers who don’t miss bats a lot more than that the really good pitchers that can make you whiff. But that’s my more obvious take.

9:54	Jeff Zimmerman: Some of the Statcast will be available, but it needs to be useable as I mentioned earlier.

9:54	Sean Dolinar: My guess it will be aggregated into to more marketable data: pitcher extension, perceived velocity, average route efficiency, etc..

9:56	Comment From Guest Brewers fans are having a rough week.

9:56	Jeff Zimmerman: Huge understatement

9:56	Comment From NatsFan Every week is rough when you’re a Phillies fan

9:57	Comment From NatsFan Could be a Phillies fan

9:57	Paul Swydan: Bob Costas just said “all NFL qualified relievers”

9:57	Comment From Guest While I was rooting for the Marlins, their situation fell apart quickly on the pitching side, but at least the Mets are winning. They could be too of the more likable teams in baseball. Could could anyone hate either team?

9:57	Paul Swydan: The Mets’ owners make them exceedingly hateable, and that’s not going to change any time soon.

9:58	Comment From Temple Granderson Billy Hamilton has 4 ABs and it’s the 5th inning.

9:59	Comment From Tough Critic If I know how many MPH Billy Hamilton runs on average for example, the MPH of others on the bases would mean a lot more.