After an eventful offseason, actual baseball games are happening on a daily basis again. While there’s nothing like the real thing, at least it’s a sign that we are very close — 26 days, to be precise — to Opening Day.

In the meantime, each team currently has somewhere between 59 (Houston Astros) and 73 (St. Louis Cardinals) players in major league camp. How do I know? Well, I learned this, along with many other interesting tidbits, by using FanGraphs’ newest feature: the Opening Day Roster Tracker. Since it could also be quite useful to you over the next several weeks, let me tell you all about it.

First, here’s a quick primer on who is in major league camp and what happens as rosters are pared down to 26 players.

Who is in major league camp?

The full squad is comprised of each team’s full 40-man roster and a group of non-roster invitees (NRI). A non-roster invitee must be added to the 40-man roster if they break camp with the major league club.

What happens when a player is officially out of the running for an Opening Day roster spot?

If a player on the 40-man roster does not make the team, they are optioned to the minors; non-roster invitees are reassigned. They will continue to prepare for the upcoming season in minor league camp. This does not, however, completely rule them out from making the Opening Day roster. Circumstances can change, usually because of injuries, and a player can be brought back after being sent down. Read the rest of this entry »

Position: Synergy Sports Technology Cape Cod Video Scouts

Location: Cape Cod, Mass.

Description:
Synergy Sports Tech provides premier video and analytics systems for MLB, International, College, and Amateur baseball and is seeking qualified candidates to work as Video Scouts for the 2020 Cape Cod Baseball League season. Video Scouts will track rosters, capture live video footage from every game of the CCBL season, and upload those games using specialized software. The positions run from June 8, 2020 to August 14, 2020 and will include hourly compensation.

Responsibilities:

• Manage video and computer equipment for data capture.
• Serve as Synergy liaison for Cape Cod teams.
• Track and update rosters and player information.
• Verify data accuracy and video quality.
• Provide daily updates to staff and content partners.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and strong interest in baseball.
• Proficiency with computers (Windows, Mac).
• Experience with video equipment including cameras, SD cards, and basic cabling is preferred.
• Strong work ethic, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Must have access to reliable transportation and housing on Cape Cod.

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by Synergy Sports Technology.

Position: Research and Development Associate

Position Overview:
Sports Info Solutions (SIS) is looking for candidates to fill a full-time position in their R&D Department. The R&D Associate will work out of their office near Allentown, PA and will contribute as a member of their R&D team, supporting research for publications and future products.

Responsibilities:

• Perform modeling and research using SIS’s internal baseball and football databases as well as other notable data sets (Statcast, etc).
• Write articles and research pieces to be featured in publications such as The Fielding Bible, The Bill James Handbook, The SIS Football Rookie Handbook, Sharp Football Analysis, and Stat of the Week, among other prominent sports outlets.
• Design and develop dashboards and various analytical tools to directly support front office and field personnel.
• Prepare cutting-edge research for presentation in a professional setting, including sales presentations and conferences.
• Collaborate with colleagues to help illuminate the value of SIS’s analytical products to prospective clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

The position requires a variety of skills including (but not limited to) an analytical mind, computer expertise, writing ability, and a passion for baseball and football. Ideal candidates will possess:

Qualifications:

• Familiarity with contemporary baseball/football/sports analytics, including first-hand research experience.
• Analytical/Mathematical ability.
• Substantive experience with MySQL, SQL Server, or similar databases.
• Familiarity with R, Python, or another scripting language.
• Proficiency working in Microsoft Office programs (or equivalents), especially Excel.
• An ability to write and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences.
• An ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Experience implementing Machine Learning algorithms is a plus.

Sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Sports Info Solutions uses E-Verify and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply:
Click here to apply for the R&D Associate position.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by Sports Info Solutions.

Between 2014 and 2017, Brian Dozier took more major league plate appearances (2,807) than any other player, posting a .348 wOBA and hitting 127 home runs in the process. That performance was good for 18.9 WAR, which was the 11th-best mark posted by any hitter during that period and behind only José Altuve among second basemen. Last fall, he won a championship with the Washington Nationals. This weekend, he reportedly signed a minor league deal with the Padres.

That sequence probably overstates the degree to which Dozier’s stock has fallen. After a catastrophic 2018, his time with the Nationals was a modest success. He brought his offensive performance back to just about league average (99 wRC+), largely on the back of improved selectivity at the plate, and lifted his defense from “atrocious” (in 2018) to “mostly unimpressive” (his career norm). That all added up to 1.7 WAR and a share of a title. In most years, it might also have turned into a major league contract (you predicted a two-year deal worth $18 million). Read the rest of this entry »

Position: Product Manager, Baseball Systems

Reports To: Director of Baseball Analytics

Department: Baseball Operations

Position Summary:
The San Francisco Giants are seeking a Product Manager, Baseball Systems to join the Baseball Operations department. This individual will be part of the Baseball Operations R&D team and interface closely with all members of the Baseball Operations and Software Engineering teams. This position will be responsible for managing the development of internal baseball systems by driving business requirements, managing timelines, and overseeing the delivery of data and applications. The ideal candidate will possess product management experience, understanding of modern UI/UX design principles, a technical background with past software engineering experience, and the ability to communicate effectively with baseball staffers. Read the rest of this entry »

Please note, this posting contains two positions.

Position: Software Engineer

Location: Detroit, MI

Job Summary:
The Detroit Tigers are currently seeking a Software Engineer. This role will be responsible for development and maintenance of software projects within Baseball Operations. This position will report to the Sr. Software Engineer, Baseball Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform general development and maintenance tasks for the upkeep of internally developed software products.
• Use modern software techniques and best practices in all parts of the software life cycle.
• Support the integration of baseball analysis into the Tigers’ proprietary tools and applications.
• Assist with the design and development of new software products.
• Other projects as directed by the Baseball Operations leadership team.

Read the rest of this entry »

Position: Data Analyst

Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Description:
Trackman Baseball is seeking an experienced and proficient Data Analyst with an interest in monitoring, analyzing, presenting, and communicating system performance of TrackMan’s stadium tracking systems. The Data Analyst will be part of TrackMan’s Data Quality and Support team based in Scottsdale, AZ and work collaboratively with the global organization to ensure Trackman’s global network of hundreds of stadium systems are operating within specification and exceeding Trackman customers’ expectations.

The Data Quality team and Data Analyst are responsible for the process, methods, tools, and activities related to analyzing and assessing the data quality of TrackMan’s baseball stadium tracking systems. The Data Analyst will support efforts in specifying requirements and managing the tools used to proactively monitor and assess system performance, and work closely with engineering in building and supporting such tools. The Data Analyst will both regularly leverage automated tools and conduct a more detailed and thorough analysis of system performance and lead internal efforts to resolve any system performance issues. As a key member of the Data Quality and Support team, the Data Analyst will take ownership of any issues, drive resolution, and communicate situation and resolution to both internal stakeholders and baseball customers.

The Data Analyst will be knowledgeable of Trackman customers’ use of TrackMan baseball data and drive continuous improvement to the process and tools used in supporting the business. In addition to oversight of daily monitoring and quality checks, the Data Analyst will leverage leading data and statistical analysis methods to quickly conduct ad hoc and specialized analysis on both customer and internal driven questions and issues, and demonstrate sound analysis and strong presentation of findings. Read the rest of this entry »

The ZiPS projections for the 2020 season are now live for your perusal and condemnation. The 2021 and 2022 projections are also up, or at least imminent by the time you read this.

The same caveats from the team projections apply. There is a lot more detail at this link which will hopefully address many of your questions on why the projections exist and what they attempt to do.

ZiPS is not a playing time projector, by design. While the ZiPS projections are rejiggered in many contexts to conform with the depth chart playing time, the computer itself doesn’t have any insight into specific roster decisions as that’s not something computer projections have much to offer there. On a generalized level, ZiPS can — and does — know that older players get injured and that play below a specific threshold will typically result in lost playing time, but there are a lot of things it doesn’t know and can’t know. How will the Cincinnati Reds shuffle their outfield? How much rope does Jurickson Profar have if he again has a shockingly low BABIP in a year the Padres hope to become contenders? How threatening is Wilmer Flores to Mauricio Dubón’s playing time? Read the rest of this entry »

Position: Analyst, Research & Development

The Lotte Giants, a Busan, South Korea-based member of the KBO League since its inaugural season in 1982, are searching for an Analyst in their Research & Development Department.

Job Description:

The R&D Analyst will report to the Director of Research & Development. The role will involve data collection, organization, and distribution across all levels of baseball within the organization. The R&D Analyst will interface daily with people across many departments, including Baseball Operations, Scouting, Player Development, and Major League Operations.

This position is not available as a remote position. The candidate must be able to relocate to Busan, South Korea.

Requirements:

• Experience with baseball-specific technologies. Examples of such technologies include, but are not limited to: Trackman, Rapsodo, high-speed cameras, and Blast Motion.
• Expertise in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong understanding of practical application of data in baseball.
• Experience with modern database technologies and SQL.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with R
• Experience with Python, especially with machine learning frameworks.

Pluses:

• Educational background in math, computer science, economics, statistics or related quantitative field.

To Apply:
If interested in this position, please email your resume and any pertinent work samples to lottegiantsjob@gmail.com.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Lotte Giants.

Baseball Operations Video Editor

Position Overview:
The New York Yankees Organization is accepting applications for a Baseball Operations Video Editor. The Video Editor will be responsible for the day to day creating, editing and delivering of high quality video to the greater Baseball Operations department within the organization. The Video Editor will use computer editing software programs, video switching devices, digital video effects programs and other tools to piece together video components.

Roles/Responsibilities:

• Operate computer editing systems and equipment used for video media and effects for the creation of Baseball Operations videos
• Establish a clear understanding of the storyline and purpose of the video’s creation
• Improve video and sound quality of files/clips using various video software
• Edit videos for Baseball Operations to include preselected music, interviews, sound clips and other important aspects of the project
• Discover and implement new editing technologies and industry’s best practices to maximize efficiency
• Collaborate on video projects with various members of different departments (Major League Coaching Staff, Player Development, Pro Scouting, etc.) within the organization
• Organize workload, manage priorities, meet deadlines and work well within a fast paced, multi-tasking environment, especially within the baseball season
• Quality check videos and deliverables to ensure all assets meet standards, appropriate specs and are ready for upload and archive
• Troubleshoot and identify technical issues as they arise
• Maintain, archive, and expand digital library of video clips for future use

Read the rest of this entry »