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FanGraphs Power Rankings: September 16–22

September 23, 2024

The final week of the regular season is upon us and most of the division races are pretty much decided, if not officially wrapped up. Thankfully, the two Wild Card races should provide plenty of drama over the next seven days.

This season, we’ve revamped our power rankings. The old model wasn’t very reactive to the ups and downs of any given team’s performance throughout the season, and by September, it was giving far too much weight to a team’s full body of work without taking into account how the club had changed, improved, or declined since March. That’s why we’ve decided to build our power rankings model using a modified Elo rating system. If you’re familiar with chess rankings or FiveThirtyEight’s defunct sports section, you’ll know that Elo is an elegant solution that measures teams’ relative strength and is very reactive to recent performance.

To avoid overweighting recent results during the season, we weigh each team’s raw Elo rank using our coin flip playoff odds. (Specifically, we regress the playoff odds by 50% and weigh those against the raw Elo ranking, increasing in weight as the season progresses to a maximum of 25%.) As the best and worst teams sort themselves out throughout the season, they’ll filter to the top and bottom of the rankings, while the exercise will remain reactive to hot streaks or cold snaps.

First up are the full rankings, presented in a sortable table. Below that, I’ve grouped the teams into tiers with comments on a handful of clubs. You’ll notice that the official ordinal rankings don’t always match the tiers — I’ve taken some editorial liberties when grouping teams together — but generally, the ordering is consistent. One thing to note: The playoff odds listed in the tables below are our standard Depth Charts odds, not the coin flip odds that are used in the ranking formula.

Complete Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score	Δ
1	Padres	90-66	1587	1499	100.0%	1627	0
2	Dodgers	93-63	1572	1495	100.0%	1615	1
3	Mets	87-69	1587	1501	76.4%	1605	7
4	Astros	85-71	1554	1497	99.8%	1601	1
5	Yankees	92-64	1554	1503	100.0%	1601	2
6	Diamondbacks	87-69	1573	1501	82.7%	1598	-2
7	Phillies	92-64	1549	1495	100.0%	1597	-5
8	Brewers	89-67	1540	1495	100.0%	1591	-2
9	Guardians	90-67	1523	1493	100.0%	1578	-1
10	Tigers	82-74	1558	1494	70.6%	1564	4
11	Orioles	86-70	1481	1498	99.9%	1545	0
12	Royals	82-74	1478	1497	68.2%	1513	-3
13	Braves	85-71	1529	1497	40.9%	1500	-1
14	Twins	81-75	1466	1489	54.1%	1475	-1
15	Rays	78-78	1523	1506	0.6%	1458	5
16	Cubs	80-76	1523	1497	0.0%	1457	-1
17	Cardinals	79-77	1519	1500	0.0%	1455	2
18	Mariners	80-76	1502	1496	6.6%	1450	-2
19	Giants	77-79	1499	1495	0.0%	1439	6
20	Reds	76-81	1499	1499	0.0%	1439	-2
21	Blue Jays	73-83	1481	1511	0.0%	1425	-4
22	Rangers	74-82	1479	1500	0.0%	1424	1
23	Red Sox	78-78	1477	1504	0.2%	1422	-1
24	Pirates	73-83	1468	1503	0.0%	1415	-3
25	Rockies	60-96	1464	1510	0.0%	1412	2
26	Athletics	67-89	1459	1500	0.0%	1408	0
27	Nationals	69-87	1444	1505	0.0%	1397	-3
28	Marlins	57-99	1421	1512	0.0%	1380	0
29	Angels	63-93	1408	1499	0.0%	1370	0
30	White Sox	36-120	1286	1507	0.0%	1277	0

…

Tier 1 – The Best of the Best

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
Padres	90-66	1587	1499	100.0%	1627
Dodgers	93-63	1572	1495	100.0%	1615

The Padres won five games last week to push three games ahead of the Diamondbacks and Mets for the first NL Wild Card spot and just three games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. San Diego and Los Angeles are set to face off three times at Dodger Stadium this week, beginning Tuesday. The Padres are the only second-place team with a greater than 1% chance to win the division. It won’t be easy, because even if the Friars take care of business against the Dodgers, they close out the regular season with a three-game set in Arizona over the weekend.

Shohei Ohtani just completed what could very well be the best week ever produced by a big leaguer; not only did he found the 50/50 club with an epic performance on Thursday, he added two more home runs and four more stolen bases over the weekend to bring his season totals to 53 homers and 55 steals. In total, he collected 16 hits, six home runs, 15 RBI, and seven stolen bases last week. After hosting San Diego for three games with their 11th division title in 12 years on the line, the Dodgers head to Coors Field this weekend for three games against the last-place Rockies.

Tier 2 – On the Cusp of Greatness

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
Mets	87-69	1587	1501	76.4%	1605
Astros	85-71	1554	1497	99.8%	1601
Yankees	92-64	1554	1503	100.0%	1601
Diamondbacks	87-69	1573	1501	82.7%	1598
Phillies	92-64	1549	1495	100.0%	1597
Brewers	89-67	1540	1495	100.0%	1591

The Diamondbacks blew an 8-0 lead on Sunday afternoon to lose to the Brewers, denying them a chance to mop the four-game series in Milwaukee. That loss meant they ended the week tied with the Mets in the Wild Card standings, which ratchets up the stakes for this final week of the season. Eugenio Suárez continues to rake and Ketel Marte launched home runs in three consecutive games over the weekend, but the Snakes will need all hands on deck to maintain their playoff position.

While it wasn’t the smoothest ascent to the top of the AL West, all the Astros need to do to clinch the division is win one of their three home games against the Mariners this week. Fortunately, Houston may have “dodged a bullet” after Yordan Alvarez injured his knee on Sunday, though his status is unclear as of this writing.

The Yankees survived their six-week slump this summer and now need to win just one of their final six games to clinch the AL East. After a bit of a slowdown earlier this month, the bats of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto woke up a bit last week. This team will go as deep in October as those two will carry it.

After sweeping the Nationals and winning three of four from the Phillies, the Mets are completely in control of their playoff destiny. They travel to Atlanta this week looking to completely bury the Braves in the standings and secure their surprise spot in the postseason.

It doesn’t bode well that the Phillies faced two playoff teams last week — the Brewers and Mets — and came away with just two wins in seven games. With the division all but locked up, perhaps they were just taking it easy before the postseason begins. After their hot start to the season, their up-and-down second half hasn’t bred a ton of confidence in their ability to cruise through the early rounds. Still, Philadelphia is filled with veterans who have engineered deep playoff runs two years in a row; the Phillies should be fine.

The Brewers became the first team in the majors to clinch their division last week, so I suppose you could excuse the series loss to the Diamondbacks over the weekend. The dramatic come-from-behind victory on Sunday was a nice way to show that they still have a lot of fire within them. They’ll need it as they seek their first postseason series victory since 2018.

Tier 3 – The Guardians

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
Guardians	90-67	1523	1493	100.0%	1578

The Guardians are in a weird spot: They’re not consistently good enough to fit in the second tier but they’re clearly above the fray of teams in the Wild Card race. Still, after their disappointing season last year with largely the same cast, they clinched the AL Central on Saturday, their fifth title in the last nine seasons.

Tier 4 – The Melee

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
Tigers	82-74	1558	1494	70.6%	1564
Orioles	86-70	1481	1498	99.9%	1545
Royals	82-74	1478	1497	68.2%	1513
Braves	85-71	1529	1497	40.9%	1500
Twins	81-75	1466	1489	54.1%	1475
Mariners	80-76	1502	1496	6.6%	1450

If the AL Wild Card race hadn’t been so dramatic over the past few weeks, we’d probably be paying more attention to the Orioles’ fall down the standings. As recently as September 10, they were just a half game back in the AL East; now, they are one loss or one Yankees win away from having to settle for a Wild Card berth. Baltimore’s pitching staff has had plenty of issues during the second half of the season — things got so bad in the bullpen, they opted to release Craig Kimbrel instead of hoping to fix him before the playoffs. In more positive news, the O’s just activated Jordan Westburg off the IL on Sunday, they’ll hope he can provide a spark as they crawl their way into the playoffs.

If you’re looking for drama this final week of the season, look no further than the AL Wild Card race. Against all odds, the Tigers have surged into a playoff berth and are currently tied in the standings with the Royals and a game ahead of the Twins. They did it by sweeping the Royals last week and then taking two of three from the Orioles in Baltimore. That’s a pretty stiff challenge and shows just how good Detroit has been during this late-season hot streak. With three-game series at home against the Rays and White Sox, the Tigers have the weakest schedule of the four teams fighting over the last two Wild Card spots.

The Royals have now had two separate seven-game losing streaks over the past month. Sure, there was a 7-2 stretch sandwiched between those skids, but Kansas City is on the verge of tripping right as it reaches the finish line. The Royals have three games against the Nationals in Washington, followed by three weekend games in Atlanta that should be crucial for both teams. Buckle up.

After losing both games of their Sunday doubleheader against the Red Sox, the Twins are out of a playoff position for the first time since April. They’re barely hanging on, and their only saving grace has been the simultaneous collapse of the Royals. Luckily for Minnesota, it holds the tiebreaker over Kansas City, Detroit, and Seattle; this could definitely come into play in such a tight Wild Card race. The Twins host the Marlins and Orioles this week.

Don’t count out the Mariners just yet either, though some agonizing mistakes last week really hindered any progress they could have made in the standings. Sunday’s loss was perhaps the most glaring; leading the Rangers 5-0 after 5 1/2 innings, Seattle gave up four runs in the sixth and another in the seventh before ultimately losing on Marcus Semien’s walk-off single in the ninth. It was just the fifth time all season that the Mariners lost a game in which they scored five or more runs. For as bad as things have been since mid-July, when they squandered a 10-game divisional lead in record time, the Mariners enter this week just two games out of the final Wild Card berth and five games back in the AL West standings. Seattle faces long odds to reach the playoffs, let alone to retake the division, but it’s not impossible. The Mariners head to Houston for three games against the Astros before ending the season at home against the A’s.

Over in the National League, the banged-up Braves are still alive in the Wild Card race. They are two games out of the final spot with six to play, including three at home against the Mets, one of the two teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. Atlanta needs to take two of three from New York to hold the season-series advantage that would settle a potential tie, and it already holds the tiebreaker over Arizona. Things aren’t great for the Braves, but if they start winning again this week, they should find their way in.

Tier 5 – Spoiler Alert

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
Rays	78-78	1523	1506	0.6%	1458
Cubs	80-76	1523	1497	0.0%	1457
Cardinals	79-77	1519	1500	0.0%	1455
Giants	77-79	1499	1495	0.0%	1439
Reds	76-81	1499	1499	0.0%	1439

The Reds surprisingly fired manager David Bell on Sunday night, less than a year after signing him to a contract extension that runs through 2026. They “felt a change was needed to move the Major League team forward,” said GM Nick Krall. “We have not achieved the success we expected.” Maybe a new voice in the clubhouse is needed, but the reality is that injuries and Noelvi Marte’s suspension played major parts in the team’s underperformance. Even so, things aren’t too bleak in Cincinnati, where Elly De La Cruz has continued his ascent and should receive down ballot MVP votes this season. Of course, the real sticking point is the amount of investment the Reds will receive to improve the rest of their roster. That’s not something a new manager will be able to solve.

The Giants succeeded in playing spoilers last week, winning two of three against the Orioles and then sweeping the Royals over the weekend. San Francisco has one last shot to reprise its role this week with a three-game series in Arizona, beginning Monday night.

Tier 6 – Hope Deferred

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
Blue Jays	73-83	1481	1511	0.0%	1425
Rangers	74-82	1479	1500	0.0%	1424
Red Sox	78-78	1477	1504	0.2%	1422
Pirates	73-83	1468	1503	0.0%	1415
Rockies	60-96	1464	1510	0.0%	1412
Athletics	67-89	1459	1500	0.0%	1408
Nationals	69-87	1444	1505	0.0%	1397
Marlins	57-99	1421	1512	0.0%	1380
Angels	63-93	1408	1499	0.0%	1370

Of all the teams in this huge tier, Toronto seems like the club that’s most likely to bounce back with a good season next year. The Blue Jays opted to hang onto all of their big stars at the deadline, and they did manage to play a little better during the second half of the season. Still, the roster isn’t without holes, and they’ll need a healthy season from Bo Bichette to reach their full potential.

The Rockies were so close to winning a pair of series against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers last week. Back-to-back home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts secured the walk-off victory on Sunday and forced Colorado to settle for a single win in that weekend series. The Rockies have another crack at Los Angeles next weekend.

While James Wood has adapted to major league pitching pretty quickly, Dylan Crews has taken a little longer to make the adjustment to the big leagues. The Nationals aren’t on the verge of breaking out of their rebuilding cycle just yet, which means Crews has some time to acclimate. Unfortunately, All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, the other young member of their core, was optioned to the minors over the weekend reportedly after breaking curfew for an all-nighter at a casino before a day game in Chicago. Not a great look for someone who is supposed to be leading the team into its next contention window.

Tier 7 – The Worst of the Worst

Team	Record	Elo	Opponent Elo	Playoff Odds	Power Score
White Sox	36-120	1286	1507	0.0%	1277

With their 120th loss of the year on Sunday, the White Sox tied the 1962 Mets for the most losses in a season since the founding of the American League in 1901. Barring a miraculous turn of events, they will go down as the worst team in modern MLB history. But hey, look on the bright side: Even if they lose their final six games, they still won’t lose as many games as the 1899 Cleveland Spiders!

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat – 9/23/24

by Ben Clemens

September 23, 2024

Read the rest of this entry »

Orion Kerkering Isn’t What You Expect

by Ben Clemens

September 23, 2024

I’d like to think that I’ve become a more “enlightened” baseball watcher over my years as a writer. I’d like to think that I understand the game’s nuances and know how to look for what really matters instead of getting distracted by the superficial, and that I know how to focus on the big picture rather than getting swamped by small-sample noise. But for all that fancy schmancy talk, one thing gets my blood boiling as much as it used to: uncompetitive pitches in hitters’ counts.

I’m pretty sure you can picture it. There’s a runner on first in a close game, and a 2-0 count with a slugger at the plate. Your team’s high-octane reliever peers in for the sign – a fastball. He takes one or two deep breaths, maybe flutters his glove a few times to calm the nerves, then winds and delivers. A foot outside, ball three. Even Javy Báez wouldn’t swing at that thing. Ugh, this inning is already spiraling away.

There might not be a more maddening experience in all of baseball. Come on! Buddy! Just throw a strike! How hard can it be? You know the hitter isn’t going to swing if you can’t at least get the ball near the plate. A lot of the time, baseball is a game of inches, with fine margins separating success from failure, but not when a pitcher misses by a ton in a count where they should have been trying to throw a strike.
Read the rest of this entry »

Setting Up a Wild (Card) Final Week

by Jay Jaffe

September 23, 2024

Brett Davis and Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

As we head into the final week of the regular season, 15 teams still show signs of life when it comes to claiming a playoff berth. On the one hand, that sounds impressive — half the majors still contending — and it’s on par with last year and better than 2022. Nonetheless, it still boils down to just three teams falling by the wayside, and just one of the six division leads having a greater than 1% chance of changing hands. As noted previously, since the adoption of the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement and its four-round playoff system, the options for scheduling chaos have been replaced by the excitement of math. On-field tiebreakers are a thing of the past, with head-to-head records usually all that are required to sort things out.

On Friday I checked in on the race to secure first-round byes, which go to the teams with the top two records in each league, so today I’ll shift focus to what’s left of the Wild Card races. Thankfully, there’s still enough at stake for both leagues to offering some amount of intrigue. Read the rest of this entry »

Giving Floro His Flowers

by Leo Morgenstern

September 23, 2024

Last week, a veteran right-hander was designated for assignment. Not long ago, this pitcher was one of the best relievers in baseball. In fact, through the first half of the 2024 season, he maintained an ERA and FIP under 3.00. Yet, over the past couple of months, he has produced some of the ugliest numbers of any reliever in the sport. Following what was arguably the single worst appearance of his career, his team – the eighth he’s been a part of in his big league career – decided enough was enough. His club added him with the intention that he would play a key role in the postseason, but he quickly fell so far down the bullpen depth chart that he dropped off the roster entirely.

Oh, and no, it’s not the guy you’re thinking of. I’m talking about Dylan Floro. Less than two months after scooping him up at the trade deadline, the Diamondbacks DFA’d Floro on Sunday. They released him two days later. His 2024 season almost certainly has come to an early close.

Floro isn’t Craig Kimbrel. He’s never been the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, nor the DHL Delivery Man of the Year, nor the GameStop Late-Game Stopper of the Year, though admittedly, I made the last one up. Floro has been cut from his team’s 40-man roster more times (six) than Kimbrel has been left off the All-Star roster (five). You can tell as much from the headshots on their player pages. Floro looks utterly forlorn, resigned to play another meaningless season of Major League Baseball. Kimbrel is smiling like he thinks he’s pulling off that haircut. That’s the kind of confidence that only comes with nine All-Star appearances: Read the rest of this entry »

Job Posting: Texas Rangers – Player Development, Data Apprentice

by David Appelman

September 23, 2024

Player Development, Data Apprentice

The Texas Rangers are seeking multiple apprentices in Player Development. Each Apprentice will work with one of the Rangers’ minor league affiliates and report to the Minor League Video Coordinator. Apprentices will operate as an extension of the coaching staff and be a resource for both players and coaches. They are expected to manage the collection and application of data and technology at their respective affiliate and will gain experience across multiple areas of Baseball Operations.

Job Responsibilities:

Operate all technology for practice and games
Capture game video and manage upload process
Manage data and collection process and assist with interpretation to coaches and players
Collaborate with coaching staff and player development staff to monitor player goals and player progress
Conduct research and analysis, both at the request of staff and independently
Communicate research in a simple and concise manner to Minor League coaches, players, and Player Development staff
Organize and distribute advance scouting materials to staff
Support field staff and players with coach education and various administration tasks
Support field staff by throwing batting practice, hitting fungoes, and aiding with other on-field tasks.
Troubleshoot video/technology related issues at your affiliate

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Demonstrated passion and understanding for biomechanics, pitching or hitting analysis or sports science.
Ability to work seamlessly in teams
Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics and publicly available research
Willingness to learn

To Apply:
Send an email with your interest to texasrangersda@gmail.com

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Texas Rangers.

Job Posting: Seattle Mariners – Baseball Operations and Minor League Development Internships

by David Appelman

September 23, 2024

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Intern, Baseball Operations
Intern, Minor League Development

Intern, Baseball Operations

Reports To: Vice President, Baseball Administration

Status: Nonexempt

Timeline: PPreference will be given to candidates who can start by March 1, 2025, and work through mid-October 2025.

Primary Objective: Responsible for coordination, support, and assistance to the Baseball Operations department in research, administration, and day-to-day scouting operation tasks.

Essential Functions:

Support all areas of the Pro and Amateur Scouting departments, including player evaluation, research, video clipping, and preparation for the Amateur Draft meetings.
Provide support in Advance Scouting, including preparation of the Major League Advance Scouting report.
Provide additional statistical analysis, economic, and financial research as assigned.
Will perform other duties as assigned

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree preferred. Equivalent relevant work or playing experience may be considered in lieu of formal education if approved by management.
Basic Spanish proficiency is preferred.
Background in player evaluation is preferred.
Background in video preparation is preferred.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):

Working knowledge of statistical baseball data and its application as it pertains to scouting information, baseball strategy, and current in-game management trends.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Authentic and Aware: Exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, demonstrating a dedication to doing the right thing and treating everyone with respect. Is self-aware and open to feedback, ability to speak the truth with a positive intent, foster a culture of honesty and builds trust with the team. Commitment to the organization’s mission is evident in both words and actions, aligned to actively contribute to the fulfillment of organizational goals.
Communicate and Collaborate: Values others and their views, actively engaging and partnering with team members. Seeks clarity and shares information transparently, fostering a collaborative environment while influencing others and aligning support. Excels in seeking out and leveraging the right resources, engaging in teamwork with a positive and productive approach. Whether verbally or in writing, communicates in a clear and constructive manner, contributing to an engaged and efficient workplace.
Execute with Purpose: Takes action and demonstrates accountability, leading with a sense of urgency and dedication to achieving results. Sets and meets challenging expectations for themselves and others, making timely, data-driven decisions and taking ownership of outcomes. Approachable, engaged, and committed; sets a positive tone and cares deeply about the organization. Manages time, priorities, and resources effectively, aiming for and achieving excellence.
Adapt and Innovate: Acts boldly, fosters innovation, and supports transformational change. Leveraging analysis and insights, develops new directions and solutions, identifying opportunities for improvement and displaying a commitment to fixing them. With an ongoing commitment to learning and self-development, overcomes challenges constructively and adjusts effectively to shifting priorities and rapid change. This approach contributes to a dynamic work environment focused on progress and continuous improvement.
Competent in required job skills and knowledge. Completes work assignments thoroughly and completely in an accurate and prompt manner. Identifies and corrects errors. Is careful, alert, and accurate, paying attention to details of the job.

The Mariners are committed to providing a competitive total rewards package for our valued Team Members.

The anticipated compensation for this role is $20.00 per hour. We also provide complimentary parking and paid public transportation.

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents which may be modified or amended from time to time.

This information is being provided in accordance with the Washington State Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Intern, Minor League Development

Reports To: Major League Assistant Video Coordinator and Major League Video Coordinator

Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Timeline: The Seattle Mariners are seeking Minor League Development Interns for all Mariners Minor League Affiliates. Must be available to start by March 3rd, 2025. The expected end date is determined by the conclusion of the 2025 Minor League season. Positions will be based at Mariners Affiliates; AAA Tacoma, AA Arkansas, A+ Everett, A- Modesto, and Rookie level Peoria.

Primary Objective: Responsible for coordinating day-to-day video and technology operations associated with assigned Minor League team. This includes, but is not limited to capturing, editing, and distributing video for Minor League Coaching Staff and players, in addition to providing Advance Scouting reports prior to each home/road contest, and operating all relevant baseball technologies throughout the course of the season both at home and traveling with the club on the road.

Essential Functions:

Capture, tag and upload video for assigned Minor League Affiliate using BATS and other related software for all home and road contests during regular season/post-season play.
Collect video and data from bullpens, batting practice and defensive work.
Coordinate use of performance science equipment (Portable and Stadium Trackman, Hawk-Eye, Edgertronic, Blast, etc.) and provide results to coaches and staff.
Assist in preparing and distributing Advance Scouting reports and tools prior to each series.
Support affiliate Trackman intern and coordinate data collection and quality control processes.
Assist coaching staff with miscellaneous video and data-related projects.
Serve as team point-of-contact for technological troubleshooting.
Will perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

High school diploma required.
College coursework preferred.
Prior experience with BATS video charting software, TruMedia, PitchBase, Portable Trackman, Edgertronic cameras, etc. strongly preferred.
Previous experience with an MLB or NCAA Baseball organization strongly preferred.
Experience with video editing software such as Movavi, Adobe Premiere Pro, etc strongly preferred.
Must be able to correctly identify pitch types.
Must be willing to relocate to assigned affiliate for all home and road games.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):

Possesses working knowledge of modern baseball analytics, strategy, and trends.
Authentic and Aware: Exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, demonstrating a dedication to doing the right thing and treating everyone with respect. Is self-aware and open to feedback, ability to speak the truth with a positive intent, foster a culture of honesty and builds trust with the team. Commitment to the organization’s mission is evident in both words and actions, aligned to actively contribute to the fulfillment of organizational goals.
Communicate and Collaborate: Values others and their views, actively engaging and partnering with team members. Seeks clarity and shares information transparently, fostering a collaborative environment while influencing others and aligning support. Excels in seeking out and leveraging the right resources, engaging in teamwork with a positive and productive approach. Whether verbally or in writing, communicates in a clear and constructive manner, contributing to an engaged and efficient workplace.
Execute with Purpose: Takes action and demonstrates accountability, leading with a sense of urgency and dedication to achieving results. Sets and meets challenging expectations for themselves and others, making timely, data-driven decisions and taking ownership of outcomes. Approachable, engaged, and committed; sets a positive tone and cares deeply about the organization. Manages time, priorities, and resources effectively, aiming for and achieving excellence.
Adapt and Innovate: Acts boldly, fosters innovation, and supports transformational change. Leveraging analysis and insights, develops new directions and solutions, identifying opportunities for improvement and displaying a commitment to fixing them. With an ongoing commitment to learning and self-development, overcomes challenges constructively and adjusts effectively to shifting priorities and rapid change. This approach contributes to a dynamic work environment focused on progress and continuous improvement.

The Mariners are committed to providing a competitive total rewards package for our valued Team Members.

The anticipated range of base compensation for this role is $11.00 – $19.97 per hour based on the state minimum wage of the affiliate location.

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents which may be modified or amended from time to time. Paid public transportation is provided in Washington State.

This information is being provided in accordance with the Washington State Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Seattle Mariners.

Job Posting: Seattle Mariners – Baseball Analytics and Projects Internships

by David Appelman

September 23, 2024

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Intern, Baseball Projects
Intern, Analytics

Intern, Baseball Projects

Reports To: Assistant Director, Baseball Projects

Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Timeline: Preference will be given to candidates who can start by March 1, 2025, and work through mid-October 2025. Flexible timeline for candidates enrolled in college.

Primary Objective: Responsible for contributing to technical projects at the intersection of baseball analytics and broader baseball operations, with an emphasis on creating innovative tools & streamlining communications.

Essential Functions:

Develop reports, software, and educational materials to facilitate evidence-based decision-making throughout broader baseball operations.
Provide quantitative support to player plan, high performance, advance scouting, and other player improvement processes.
Contribute to amateur & professional player acquisition decisions in both formal & informal contexts.
Fulfill ad hoc requests from coaches, scouts, and other staff about internal metrics & processes.
Will perform other duties as assigned by Assistant Director, Baseball Projects.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree preferred. Equivalent, relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education requirements if approved by management.
Proficiency handling large datasets in R, SQL, Python, and/or comparable languages is required.
Shiny application or other web development experience is preferred.
Experience building predictive models is a plus, but not required.
Ability to communicate in Spanish is a plus, but not required.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):

Strong problem-solving abilities with attention to detail in a fast-paced working environment.
Knowledge of baseball rules and passion for baseball innovation.
Authentic and Aware: Exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, demonstrating a dedication to doing the right thing and treating everyone with respect. Is self-aware and open to feedback, ability to speak the truth with a positive intent, foster a culture of honesty and builds trust with the team. Commitment to the organization’s mission is evident in both words and actions, aligned to actively contribute to the fulfillment of organizational goals.
Communicate and Collaborate: Values others and their views, actively engaging and partnering with team members. Seeks clarity and shares information transparently, fostering a collaborative environment while influencing others and aligning support. Excels in seeking out and leveraging the right resources, engaging in teamwork with a positive and productive approach. Whether verbally or in writing, communicates in a clear and constructive manner, contributing to an engaged and efficient workplace.
Execute with Purpose: Takes action and demonstrates accountability, leading with a sense of urgency and dedication to achieving results. Sets and meets challenging expectations for themselves and others, making timely, data-driven decisions and taking ownership of outcomes. Approachable, engaged, and committed; sets a positive tone and cares deeply about the organization. Manages time, priorities, and resources effectively, aiming for and achieving excellence.
Adapt and Innovate: Acts boldly, fosters innovation, and supports transformational change. Leveraging analysis and insights, develops new directions and solutions, identifying opportunities for improvement and displaying a commitment to fixing them. With an ongoing commitment to learning and self-development, overcomes challenges constructively and adjusts effectively to shifting priorities and rapid change. This approach contributes to a dynamic work environment focused on progress and continuous improvement.

The Mariners are committed to providing a competitive total rewards package for our valued Team Members.

The anticipated compensation for this role is $20.00 per hour. We also provide complimentary parking and paid public transportation.

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents which may be modified or amended from time to time.

This information is being provided in accordance with the Washington State Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Intern, Analytics

Reports To: Manager, Baseball Analytics

Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Timeline: Preference will be given to candidates who can start by March 1, 2025 or sooner, and work through mid-October 2025.

Primary Objective: Responsible for supporting all areas of baseball operations through baseball-related data science, including statistical modeling, research, visualizations, and other projects.

Essential Functions:

Statistical modeling and analysis of a variety of data sources including Trackman, Hawkeye, and proprietary data sets.
Ad hoc queries and quantitative research.
Will perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree preferred. Education and experience may be considered in lieu of education requirements if approved by management.
A strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and/or engineering required.
Proficiency in programming with either R or Python required.
Proficiency with SQL preferred.
Track record of original baseball research preferred.
Experience building and interpreting predictive models preferred.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):

Strong technical skills in predictive modeling, data analysis, and research.
Authentic and Aware: Exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, demonstrating a dedication to doing the right thing and treating everyone with respect. Is self-aware and open to feedback, ability to speak the truth with a positive intent, foster a culture of honesty and builds trust with the team. Commitment to the organization’s mission is evident in both words and actions, aligned to actively contribute to the fulfillment of organizational goals.
Communicate and Collaborate: Values others and their views, actively engaging and partnering with team members. Seeks clarity and shares information transparently, fostering a collaborative environment while influencing others and aligning support. Excels in seeking out and leveraging the right resources, engaging in teamwork with a positive and productive approach. Whether verbally or in writing, communicates in a clear and constructive manner, contributing to an engaged and efficient workplace.
Execute with Purpose: Takes action and demonstrates accountability, leading with a sense of urgency and dedication to achieving results. Sets and meets challenging expectations for themselves and others, making timely, data-driven decisions and taking ownership of outcomes. Approachable, engaged, and committed; sets a positive tone and cares deeply about the organization. Manages time, priorities, and resources effectively, aiming for and achieving excellence.
Adapt and Innovate: Acts boldly, fosters innovation, and supports transformational change. Leveraging analysis and insights, develops new directions and solutions, identifying opportunities for improvement and displaying a commitment to fixing them. With an ongoing commitment to learning and self-development, overcomes challenges constructively and adjusts effectively to shifting priorities and rapid change. This approach contributes to a dynamic work environment focused on progress and continuous improvement.

The Mariners are committed to providing a competitive total rewards package for our valued Team Members. 

The anticipated compensation for this role is $20.00 per hour. We also provide complimentary parking and paid public transportation. 

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents which may be modified or amended from time to time. 

This information is being provided in accordance with the Washington State Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Seattle Mariners.

Sunday Notes: Cubs Rookie Ethan Roberts Cuts and Sweeps His Spin

by David Laurila

September 22, 2024

Prior to talking to him in Wrigley Field’s home clubhouse in late August, my knowledge of Ethan Roberts mostly consisted of his being a 27-year-old, right-handed reliever with limited big-league experience and a high spin rate. I also knew he’d had Tommy John surgery in 2022 as that was mentioned, along with his spin, when he was blurbed as an honorable mention on our 2023 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects list.

The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Tennessee Technological University has added to his résumé since we spoke and now has 27 appearances for his career, 18 of them this year. His numbers in the current campaign include a 2.66 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 23-and-two-thirds innings. Three days ago he tossed a scoreless frame against the Washington Nationals and was credited with his first big-league win.

Roberts learned that he spun the ball well upon entering pro ball. Not long thereafter, he learned that not all spin is created equal.

“It was my first time around technology,” explained Roberts. “I threw a bullpen and my fastball was spinning pretty high. It was spinning like 2,800 [RPMs] —right now it’s more 2,600-2,700 — and I actually throw it very supinated. It’s kind of like a natural cutter. But yeah, when I got on technology there, in Arizona [at the Cubs spring training complex], I was like, ‘I don’t know what any of this means, but thanks for telling me.’”

Which brings us to his spin characteristics, as well as to pitch classifications. Read the rest of this entry »

Effectively Wild Episode 2221: 50-50 Shot

by Ben Lindbergh

September 21, 2024

EWFI
Ben Lindbergh and FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens dissect the glorious game in which Shohei Ohtani founded the 50-50 and 51-51 Clubs, Ohtani’s most awe-inspiring feats, and his future, followed (29:51) by banter about the state of defensive stats, the mystery of Salvador Perez’s swing decisions, questionable kudos for Bud Black, whether Victor Robles made the worst steal attempt of all time, and MLB’s Players of the Game. Then (1:19:55) Ben talks to trailblazing journalist Melissa Ludtke, author of Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside, about the landmark 1970s Ludtke v. Kuhn case that opened MLB team clubhouses to women.