In April, I discussed two then-pending cases before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging Major League Baseball’s long-standing exemption from antitrust law. Since that time, the Court had had the two appeals scheduled for consideration on three occasions, only to reschedule its deliberation each time. Although it wasn’t immediately clear why the Court was repeatedly postponing its consideration of the two appeals, this rather unusual delay raised the possibility that several of the justices were potentially interested in reconsidering baseball’s controversial antitrust exemption.

Despite any possible behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the delay ultimately proved to be for naught, as the Court announced on Monday that it was declining to hear either appeal, effectively ending the two cases. This means that MLB will continue to operate largely outside the scope of federal antitrust law for the foreseeable future.

As is normally the case, the Court did not explain on Monday why it was denying the two appeals. The Court did reveal one piece of potentially relevant information this morning, however, noting that Chief Justice Roberts recused himself from any consideration of the appeal in the Wyckoff v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball case. It’s not at all clear why Chief Justice Roberts opted not to participate in the Court’s deliberation of the case.

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Like half my social-media feed, I woke up to the awful news of the suicide of Anthony Bourdain, whose work I have loved going all the way back to the 1999 New Yorker piece that became Kitchen Confidential, his first book. The chef-turned-writer-turned-television-journalist had a remarkable gift for illuminating any corner of the world he wandered via A Cook’s Tour, No Reservations, The Layover, and Parts Unknown, bringing a rare and genuine empathy, compassion and gusto along with him. His career-changing discovery of his writing voice was among the many that inspired me as I embarked upon my own change from graphic design to writing about baseball.

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Just a few quick notes on the prospects Kansas City received from Arizona today, in exchange for CF Jon Jay. Those minor leaguers are RHP Elvis Luciano and LHP Gabe Speier.

Luciano is a live-armed 18-year-old Dominican righty who spent most of 2017 in the DSL, then came to the U.S. in August for a month of Rookie-level ball, then instructional league. I saw him during instructs when he was 90-94 with an average curveball, below-average changeup, and below command, especially later in his outing as he tired. He was an honorable-mention prospect on the D-backs list.

His velocity has mostly remained in that range this spring, topping out at 96. Luciano’s delivery has been changed to alter his glove’s location as he lifts his leg, probably to help him clear his front side a little better. He’s still had strike-throwing issues and might be a reliever, but he has a live arm and can spin a breaking ball. Though 18, Luciano’s frame doesn’t have much projection, so while he might grow into some velocity as he matures, it probably won’t be a lot. He’s an interesting, long-term flier who reasonably projects as a back-end starter.

As for Speier, he’s repeating Double-A. He’s a sinker/slider guy, up to 95 with an average slide piece. He projects as a bullpen’s second lefty and should be viable in that type of role soon.

If you read FanGraphs regularly, you’re probably already familiar with Saberseminar, the annual weekend event that puts you up close with some of baseball’s top coaches, statisticians, scouts, doctors, and scientists. You can view last year’s speakers here. It’s always an incredible lineup.

This year’s seminar will take place August 4 and 5 in Boston, MA. And while the exact agenda is still being finalized – baseball folks are so busy! – the organizers have shared a few highlights, which include:

• A panel with many of the authors of the recent report commissioned by Major League Baseball to explore changes to the baseball and MLB’s increased home run rate
• Ex-major league player Fernando Perez
• Top talent evaluators from the Red Sox front office
• Over 15 research presentations, including several from Japanese baseball
• The presentation of Saberseminar’s first-ever scholarship awards to women and minority students aspiring to front office roles

Early ticket pricing ends today, May 31st, with regular ticket sales starting June 1. Tickets, including discounted student tickets, can be purchased here.

And as if a weekend of nerdy baseball fun isn’t exciting enough, you’ll also be supporting a wonderful cause, as proceeds from the event will be donated to the Angioma Alliance.

We’ll keep you posted as the agenda is finalized and we confirm which FanGraphs writers will be in attendance.

In the meantime, take advantage of the early ticket pricing, and start looking forward to a great event!

Whatever else you might say about Jerry Dipoto, he’s demonstrated an indomitable desire to engage in trades. Big trades, little trades, all sorts of trades. And with injuries and Robinson Canó’s suspension forcing Dee Gordon to move back to the infield (before going on the disabled list himself), and with an extra $11 million of loose change suddenly freed up by Canó’s absence, it seemed likely that Dipoto would ride again, provided he could find a willing partner.

This afternoon, Dipoto found his man, or men rather. Per Marc Topkin.

#Rays have traded Span and Colome to #Mariners

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 25, 2018

#Rays get back Andrew Moore and Tommy Romero from #Mariners

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 25, 2018

The Mariners will also receive $4.75 million in cash considerations, so not all the Canó money is spent. The deal makes all the sense in the world for the Mariners. Denard Span and his heretofore 114 wRC+ will provide additional depth in a suddenly thin outfield, with Dipoto indicating that the initial plan is for Span to spend his time in left field, while Guillermo Heredia and Mitch Haniger roam center and right, respectively. Ben Gamel will remain in the mix for the left-field spot. Span also gives the team additional options in center should Heredia falter against right-handed pitching.

Alex Colomé, meanwhile, reinforces a bullpen that, outside of closer Edwin Diaz, has been shaky at times. James Pazos and Nick Vincent have pitched their way to a respectable FIPs, but offseason signing Juan Nicasio’s velocity has declined slightly, as has his effectiveness. According to Pitch Info, his average fastball has climbed back closer to 95 mph rather than the 91 mph Mariners fans were seeing in spring, but he’s still lost a tick, which may help to explain the increase in his home-run rate. Colomé’s season got off to its own rough start, marred by inexact command that lead to an 11.7% walk rate, but May has gone considerably better, with his FIP dropping to 1.35. He represents an additional option in late innings and beyond making the ball more likely to get to Diaz, should also allow the Mariners to rest Diaz a bit more.

Tampa’s side is bit stranger. For a team with the Rays’ pitching strategy, it seems odd to trade a good closer, an oddity that isn’t lessened by the acquisition of Wilmer Font. The Rays do get Andrew Moore and prospect Tommy Romero, which isn’t nothing. As with any set of young arms, there’s always the risk that they’ll bloom into something Seattle regrets giving up. Moore pitched big-league innings with middling results last year, and started the season in Double-A, but he’s still thought to have back of the rotation potential. That isn’t useless, but it also isn’t likely to help the Mariners win right now. And as Jerry and this trade show, winning right now is what Seattle is interested in.

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Introduction
The Society for American Baseball Research was founded in Cooperstown, NY in 1971 and has grown to more than 6,000 members around the world. SABR members organize themselves in local chapters, research committees, and virtual communities of interest. A 501(c)3 charitable corporation, SABR’s annual budget approaches $1 million with revenues coming from events, dues, licensing, and donations. SABR’s office is located in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in downtown Phoenix. The website, SABR.org, is a central organizing tool and repository for the collective work of Society members. SABR’s Analytics Conference in early March and Annual Convention in the summer are flagship events for the baseball community.

Role Summary
As Chief Executive Officer of SABR, you’ll be a leader on many different fronts, ensuring no two days will be the same. As a natural innovator, you’ll drive growth initiatives and navigate the continuously evolving dynamics of the baseball industry. Your people skills will empower you to effectively interface with the Board of Directors, guide your staff, and interact with the membership at large. Your strong analytical and problem-solving skills will keep operations running smoothly and facilitate the implementation of new initiatives. As a confident communicator, you’ll shine as the face of SABR at events large and small.

Duties

• Lead a high-profile organization, both internally and externally, by serving its members, leading its staff, and representing its interests in public and private dealings within the baseball industry.
• Ensure daily operations adhere to established organization bylaws, policies, and legal guidelines. Develop and manage an annual budget and regularly communicate financial and operational status to the Board of Directors.
• Continuously enhance the Annual Convention, Analytics Conference, and other events that are critical to SABR’s prestige and revenue.
• Cultivate a strong charitable giving program.
• Interact regularly with membership, particularly with committee chairs and chapter leadership, and promote best practices within those segments of the Society. Develop programs to encourage membership and deepen the connection among members.
• Promote an inclusive environment that is welcoming to members and stakeholders of all backgrounds.
• Develop collaborative external relationships and partnerships that enhance the organization and its ability to deliver experiences and opportunities for its membership.
• Sustain, encourage, and expand SABR’s technology-based outreach on the web and in social media.
• Recruit, hire, and supervise staff as well as motivate and promote the development of the staff, committee members, and volunteers.
• Sustain a strong publications program with a focus on both contribution and consumption by members.
• Lead the development of SABR’s strategic vision.
• Travel frequently to advance the above objectives.

Requirements

• Be a professional, capable, energetic, and positive leader. Have a reputation for high professional and ethical standards, be enthusiastic about working with a diverse staff, and be collaborative with a strong Board of Directors.
• Have experience with event planning.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to address large audiences.
• Have relevant experience and education, and a strong interest in baseball.
• Demonstrate a mastery of one or more social media tools and ability to leverage other internet-based technologies.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Have an established network within the baseball community.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit with a proven track record of developing and cultivating industry partnerships.
• Have knowledge of nonprofit management along with familiarity of employment and intellectual property law.
• Have experience in strategic planning, board and community relations, personnel supervision, and financial management.
• Have experience managing or implementing information technology enhancements, projects or systems.
• Have experience in public speaking, public relations, and with commercial media, especially television.
• Hold an advanced degree in a related field plus many years of relevant experience.

Application Materials

• Resume.
• 3-5 references.
• Cover letter or statement describing your vision for the Society.

Compensation and Benefits

• Cash compensation is a mix of base salary and annual incentive pay.
• Eligible for standard SABR employee benefits.

To Apply
All materials should be emailed to careers@sabr.org. Applications will begin being read on June 11, 2018. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The FanGraphs Auction Calculator now calculates in-season values and values off Rest of Season projections.

Some Notes:

• Rest of Season auction value calculations are available for Steamer, Depth Charts, ZiPS, and THE BAT projection systems.
• Dollar values for Rest of Season projections are pro-rated for how many days are remaining in the season.
• In-season auction value calculations are pro-rated for the number of days into the season.
• Positional eligibility for in-season calculations is determined via positions played in 2018. Please adjust your position qualifications accordingly.

Position: Data Engineer

Description:

The Rockies are looking for a Data Engineer to join their Research and Development team. The successful candidate will be responsible for expanding and optimizing their data warehouse and data pipeline architecture, with a focus on collecting, cleaning, transforming, managing and validating data using distributed computing and storage systems. The goal of the Data Engineer is to democratize data, support data initiatives, ensure consistent data delivery and empower Rockies personnel to derive powerful and actionable insights.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Create, maintain and optimize data ETL/ELT pipelines
• Documentation of data/pipelines
• Ensure the ingestion of data and errors are handled without interruption
• Process and securely store extremely sensitive data for callback and future use
• Prepare distributed, disjoint, multi-formatted data sets for data scientists
• Research and investigate new and interesting datasets to include in our data warehouse
• Perform quantitative research related to baseball strategy and player evaluation
• Collaborate with coaches, scouts and baseball operations to suggest process improvements

Requirements:

Education and Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering
  • Candidates still in school (junior or senior level) with extensive work towards such degree will be considered
• SQL knowledge and experience working with a variety of relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server
• Experience with a variety of structured, semi-structured and un-structured data formats including delimited files, XML, JSON and natural language text
• Ability to effectively use multiple programming languages including one of the major data science languages of Python, R or Scala
• Experience or working knowledge of “Big Data” tools such as Hadoop, Hive, Spark or Presto is a plus
• Experience with AWS Cloud services such as EC2, RDS, and S3 is a plus
• Experience with data workflow tools such as Luigi, or Airflow is a plus
• Knowledge and understanding of baseball and baseball statistics

Functional Skills

• Ability to work evenings and weekends required
• Passion for the intersection of baseball and data
• Passion for quality data
• Strong organizational skills and ability to self-start
• Strong intellectual curiosity
• Desire to learn and contribute
• Ability to work in a collaborative and open team environment
• Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationship with members of the Front Office

To Apply:
Qualified candidates should send their letter of interest and resume to BaseballJobs@rockies.com no later than June 3, 2018.

Much like the update last month, nothing in how we calculate our playoff odds has changed, but we’ve added a new feature to the page. We are now reporting the distribution of wins from the Monte Carlo simulation.

Specifically:

• The 25th percentile;
• The 75th percentile; and
• A histogram of projected wins.*

*The average is already reported as expected wins.

You can find this if you select the new display option in the dropdown of the same name.

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Position: Analyst, Player Development

Location: Chicago, IL

Description:
The Chicago Cubs are seeking an analyst to join the Research and Development group in Baseball Operations. This role will focus on the management and analysis of data gathered on players in the Chicago Cubs minor league system and will work closely with the both the Player Development and R&D departments. Succesful candidates will bring a background in analytics, a strong interest in evidence-based coaching and development, and the communication skills to work effectively with player development personnel to apply analytics and improve the effective understanding of data to optimize prospect performance and progression.

Responsibilities:

• Research, develop and test methods and models for the purpose of player assessment and developmentIdentify technologies, analyze data and translate into tangible coaching and skill development objectives.
• Effectively present analyses through the use of written reports and data visualization methods to disseminate insights to members of baseball operations and player development personnel.
• Handle analysis requests from and conduct studies to support player development personnel, coaches, and players.
• Conduct in-depth evaluations of Cubs prospects.
• As needed, travel to minor league affiliates to support player development initiatives.
• Identify, diagnose and resolve data quality issues.
• Examine and implement sports science technologies that may offer innovative data solutions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an quantitative field such as statistics, engineering, applied math, physics, quantitative social sciences, computer science, operations research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with SQL
• Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics
• Experience with programming languages (e.g., C, Python or R)
• Experience or strong interest in using baseball data to support coaching or skill development

The Chicago Cubs are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply:
Please visit this site to apply.