One of the nice things about the playoffs is that there’s often just one game happening at a time. Don’t get me wrong. I love a summer day with a full slate of 15 games, but you are where your attention is, and there’s too much baseball happening in any one day for us to be present for all of it. When the whole of the baseball world gets compressed down to one high-stakes game, you catch little things that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
During the NLCS, I noticed a little thing about Kevin Ginkel. It was about how he holds runners on second base, and man, does he hold runners on second base. Here’s the pitch that caught my attention:
The World Series. It’s a playoff-capping battle that’s so iconic that other sports and activities borrow its name. The World Series of Poker, of Darts, of Snooker, the FINA Marathon Swim World Series, even briefly the World Series of Country Music Proudly Presents Stock Car Racing’s Entertainers of the Year – these events didn’t pick their name by accident, they’re basking in the glory of a long-running staple. Even as baseball matters less and less, the World Series is a big name on the marquee.
One of the best parts of playoff baseball, at least in my eyes, is that the brightest stage isn’t exclusively the domain of the top couple of teams in the game. Sure, the Dodgers and Astros have been there a lot in the last decade. Sure, the Cardinals and Yankees have a bunch of rings. But baseball is a variance-rich sport, and the playoffs are short. Make the dance and you might end up one of the last few teams standing, even if your squad doesn’t have its own wing in Cooperstown. One obvious example? This year’s clash between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Rangers are the closest thing we’re going to get to a postseason standby here. Sure, their last playoff appearance before this run came in 2016, but their roster is packed with playoff heroes. Corey Seager carried the Dodgers to a 2020 title. Max Scherzer seems to always be pitching in win-or-die games. Nathan Eovaldi saved Boston’s bacon in 2018 and has made a career out of coming up big in important spots. Will Smith pitched for the last two World Series winners (seriously!). Aroldis Chapman isn’t what he once was, but at his peak, he was a key figure in breaking the century-long Cubs curse. Their manager is Bruce Freaking Bochy, an October legend who has never lost a Game 7. The Rangers as a franchise might not be a World Series name brand – their trips to the Fall Classic in 2010 and 2011 ended in losses — but the ingredients are no different than what you’d expect to get in the luxury aisle. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing about playoff trends is risky business. The entire postseason, to this point, comprises 36 individual games. In the regular season, the league hit the 36-game mark on April 2. If you looked at the stolen base success rate that early into the season — 88% through those first 36 games — you’d have thought we were in for an absolute free-for-all under the new rules. Writing about individual players is even more dangerous. The most that anyone has played in this postseason is 13 games; 13 games into his season, Matt Chapman led the majors in WAR. Jorge López hadn’t given up an earned run. No one on the Rays knew what it felt like to lose a game. Mookie Betts had a 13-game stretch in mid-April where he slashed .184/.298/.306. Shohei Ohtani had a .538 OPS over 13 games in mid-May.
Nevertheless, we can’t not write about the postseason. It’s the postseason! The sample size will always be small, but we must try to make sense of it anyway, to find meaning in the small sample weirdness. And on that note, it’s time to talk about Marcus Semien. Read the rest of this entry »
As I’ve done for the past fewyears, I’m going to be grading each eliminated postseason manager on their decision-making. We spend the year mostly ignoring managers’ on-field contributions, because to be honest, they’re pretty small. Using the wrong reliever in the eighth inning just doesn’t feel that bad on June 22; there are so many more games still coming, and the regular season is more about managing the grind than getting every possible edge every day. The playoffs aren’t like that; with so few games to separate wheat from chaff, every last ounce of win probability matters, and managers make personnel decisions accordingly. What better time to grade them?
My goal is to evaluate each manager in terms of process, not results. If you bring in your best pitcher to face their best hitter in a huge spot, that’s a good decision regardless of outcome. Try a triple steal with the bases loaded only to have the other team make four throwing errors to score three runs? I’m probably going to call that a blunder even though it worked out. Managers do plenty of other things — getting team buy-in for new strategies and unconventional bullpen usage behind closed doors is a skill I find particularly valuable — but as I have no insight into how that’s accomplished or how each manager differs, I can’t exactly assign grades for it.
I’m also purposefully avoiding vague qualitative concerns like “trusting your veterans because they’ve been there before.” Playoff coverage lovingly focuses on clutch plays by proven performers, but Adolis García and Alek Thomas have been great, too. Forget trusting your veterans; the playoffs are about trusting your best players. Corey Seager is important because he’s great, not because of the number of playoff series he’s appeared in. There’s nothing inherently good about having been around a long time; when I’m evaluating decisions, “but he’s a veteran” just doesn’t enter my thought process.
One note: In the pitching section, I’m taking a more specific look at reliever matchups. This 2022 Cameron Grove study, which I’ve mentioned in a few prior report cards, measures a repeat-matchup reliever penalty. A forthcoming article, which I’ve reviewed, examines the issue without focusing on specific matchups, but rather looking at relievers pitching on back-to-back days or on short rest after heavy workloads. Both of these things are, unsurprisingly, bad for reliever performance. Managing the balance between starter and reliever over-work is really hard. I probably haven’t given enough credit to the necessity of balancing bullpen workloads against particular opposing batters in the past, but I’ll make a note of it going forward.
When they acquired him from the Mets on July 30, the Rangers may have envisioned Max Scherzer starting Game 7 of a postseason series, but probably not under the circumstances that led to the decisive game of the ALCS against the Astros, or the early exit that followed. While Texas won in decisive fashion, the 39-year-old righty was quite shaky for the second outing in a row, and far from peak form. In context, that’s hardly a surprise given that his two ALCS starts were his first ones since being sidelined by an arm injury five weeks earlier. As the Rangers await their World Series matchup with the Diamondbacks, his performances are worth a closer look.
Scherzer left his September 12 start against the Blue Jays after 5.1 shutout innings but just 72 pitches due to what was initially termed a triceps spasm but soon revealed to be a low-grade strain of the teres major, a muscle that sits above the latissimus dorsi and attaches the scapula (shoulder blade) to the humerus (upper arm bone). At the time, Rangers general manager Chris Young was publicly pessimistic about the possibility of Scherzer pitching in the postseason if the Rangers made it, given an expected four-to-six week recovery period. “I don’t want to rule it out at this point,” he told reporters. “We’ll see where the next two weeks go and how he’s feeling. That said, it’s probably unlikely.”
Schezer didn’t pitch again in September, but he was able to play catch within a week of his injury, opening up the possibility of a return on the near side of that timeframe. While he progressed far enough to throw nearly 40 pitches in a simulated game on October 6, the Rangers left him off the Division Series roster they submitted the next day; they hardly missed him while upending the 101-win Orioles. By advancing to the ALCS, they bought Scherzer time for another simulated game before he took the ball in Game 3 on October 18 at Globe Life Field, with the team having already jumped out to a 2–0 series lead.
Understandably, Scherzer was raring to go, and he came out firing, throwing a 95-mph fastball on his first pitch to Jose Altuve, albeit slightly off the plate and outside for ball one. Working mostly around the edges of the strike zone, he sped through the inning on just eight pitches but needed nearly all of the warning track for center fielder Leody Taveras to haul in Altuve’s 100.7-mph fly ball 393 feet away from home. He struck out Michael Brantley on three pitches, the last a low-and-away curve that Brantley chased, then got Alex Bregman to fly to Taveras on a 95.7-mph fly to deep right center.
The second inning didn’t go nearly as well, and whatever Willis Reed effect Scherzer’s return might have produced quickly wore off. Over the course of 22 pitches, he hit Yordan Alvarez in the leg; struck out José Abreu looking at a 95.2-mph fastball; walked Kyle Tucker; gave up a 104.8 mph single to Mauricio Dubón on a slider at the bottom of the zone; induced Jeremy Peña to pop up; threw a wild pitch that scored Alvarez; and finally yielded a two-run single to Martín Maldonado, 101.1 mph off the bat. Fortunately for Scherzer, the slow-footed catcher was thrown out trying to advance to second base following a throw home, but for the first time in the series, the Rangers trailed.
The Astros continued to add to their lead, with Altuve leading off the third with a solo homer off a high fastball and Abreu leading off the fourth with a 112.5-mph double off a hanging slider, then coming around to score on a single by Dubón. Even while closing out his evening by striking out Peña (chasing a low curve) and Maldonado (looking at a slider on the inside corner), Scherzer had allowed five runs in four frames. He struck out four and walked only one, and while he did generate a 35% called strike and walk rate (CSW%) via eight whiffs and 14 called strikes, nine of the 12 batted balls he surrendered were hard-hit balls of 95 mph or higher, and all five hits were 101 mph or higher. Houston rockets, indeed.
Down 5–0 when Scherzer departed, the Rangers made a game of it, but lost 8–5. The Astros clawed their way back into the series, and Scherzer got the call again on Monday night. The potent Rangers offense staked him to a 3–0 lead before he even took the mound, but things didn’t go much better than in his first start; in fact, Altuve blasted his first pitch, a 93.7-mph high fastball, off the out-of-town scoreboard in left field for a ringing double. Bregman grounded out, and after Alvarez was intentionally walked, Abreu scorched a low slider down the left field line for an RBI single; all three balls were 99.9 mph off the bat or higher, if not necessarily elevated. Scherzer escaped by getting Brantley to hit into a routine 4-6-3 double play, a grounder that came off the bat at a comparatively pokey 88.3 mph. Though he was obviously on thin ice, by his own admission he kept his composure better than in Game 3, and that DP produced the game’s highest WPA (.116).
After a comparatively smooth second inning capped by another pair of back-to-back strikeouts of Peña (high 95.3-mph fastball) and Maldonado (chasing a slider in the dirt), then an Altuve groundout to start the third, Scherzer served up a middle-middle fastball to Bregman, who mashed it for a homer to left center, cutting the score to 4–2. Seven pitches later, including five straight foul balls, Alvarez reached out and drove a curveball that was well off the plate off the scoreboard for a triple. While third baseman Josh Jung’s play on an Abreu chopper prevented Alvarez from coming home, manager Bruce Bochy tabbed Jordan Montgomery — working on two days of rest — to finish the inning, which he did by getting Brantley to line out. The Rangers then broke things open with a four-run fourth inning; Montgomery added an additional two innings before Bochy turned things over to his late-inning guys, who shut the door for an 11–4 win.
For the outing, Scherzer walked two and struck out two, getting just six whiffs and four called strikes for a 23% CSW%. Six of the 10 batted balls he allowed were hit 95 mph or harder, including all four hits. All told, in his two outings he allowed seven runs via nine hits and two homers in 6.2 innings, that on the heels of an inconsistent season in which he posted his highest ERA since 2011 and the highest FIP of his 16-year career:
Max Scherzer Since 2021
Season
K%
BB%
K-BB%
HR/9
BABIP
ERA
FIP
2021
34.1%
5.2%
28.9%
1.15
.247
2.46
2.97
2022
30.6%
4.2%
26.4%
0.81
.276
2.29
2.62
2023
28.0%
7.2%
20.8%
1.65
.265
3.77
4.32
2023 Post
19.4%
9.7%
9.7%
2.70
.368
9.45
7.16
Batters have hit Scherzer exceptionally hard, with his xERA (which I estimated by interpolating his .395 xwOBA via the Statcast leaderboard) more than double his regular-season mark:
Max Scherzer Statcast Profile
Season
Events
EV
Barrel%
HardHit%
ERA
xERA
2021
411
87.9
8.0%
34.3%
2.46
2.88
2022
357
87.8
8.4%
33.9%
2.29
2.87
2023
398
88.5
8.5%
36.9%
3.77
3.28
2023 Post
21
95.8
14.3%
66.7%
9.45
7.07
Via Baseball Savant, Scherzer’s .333 batting average allowed is 60 points ahead of his xBA, and his .704 slugging percentage allowed is 120 points ahead of his xSLG, but even those expected numbers yield an xERA that could be mistaken for a Boeing model.
Pitchwise, Scherzer is mustering slightly greater velocity than during the regular season, knowing he won’t have to pace himself for 90 or 100 pitches. But for the most part, his offerings are getting less spin — and here it’s worth noting that he drew a sticky stuff suspension in April — and less movement:
Max Scherzer Pitch Specifications
Pitch
Split
%
MPH
Spin
Vert
Horiz
4-Seam
Reg
46.3%
93.7
2360
15.5
10.8 ARM
4-Seam
Post
49.5%
94.2
2322
15.3
9.1 ARM
Slider
Reg
16.8%
84.0
2300
37.2
3.4 GLV
Slider
Post
15.0%
84.7
2193
37.0
5.1 GLV
Curve
Reg
12.4%
75.4
2718
58.1
14.8 GLV
Curve
Post
21.5%
75.7
2639
56.0
14.3 GLV
Change
Reg
14.1%
83.8
1365
36.1
14.4 ARM
Change
Post
5.6%
83.9
1289
37.4
13.3 ARM
Cutter
Reg
10.4%
88.4
2399
27.4
1.5 GLV
Cutter
Post
8.4%
88.7
2418
27.7
2.5 GLV
SOURCE: Baseball Savant
Those spec changes are a mixed bag. By Stuff+, for which we actually have postseason numbers to compare to his regular-season ones (which isn’t the case for PitchingBot), Scherzer’s fastball grades out out as slightly improved thanks to the velo uptick. Likewise for his cutter and change, though both have been used much less often:
Max Scherzer Pitch Modeling by Stuff+
Split
Stf+ FA
Stf+ FC
Stf+ SL
Stf+ CU
Stf+ CH
Stuff+
Location+
Pitching+
Reg
104
99
106
96
94
101
103
103
Post
106
106
99
91
97
101
100
99
The problem is that Scherzer’s breaking pitches and overall location have been worse, and while Stuff+ doesn’t account for contact, you’ve seen the damage. Broken out by pitch type, batters are connecting at averages of 94.6 mph or higher on all of them. Against the fastball, they’ve averaged 94.9 mph on the 14 they’ve connected with, for a .385 AVG and .923 SLG, and against the 12 breaking pitches they’ve made contact with, it’s .333 AVG/.583 SLG. Those two classifications account for 86% of his pitches and 87% of his contact, compared to 76% of the former and 70% of the latter. Basically, I think, he’s shortened his arsenal, becoming more predictable and less precise, and while he’s fooled some hitters some of the time, he’s paid a steep price when he hasn’t.
All of this is reading into a limited sample of data, and it’s worth noting that he faced the Astros four times between the regular season and the postseason, which may have helped them crack his codes. As a Met, he threw eight innings of one-run ball in an 11–1 rout on June 19, but he was thumped for seven runs — three via homers by Alvarez, Brantley, and Abreu, the last a grand slam — in three innings in a 12–3 loss on September 6 with the Rangers. Scherzer did face the Diamondbacks once, on July 4, surrendering four runs in six innings, three by solo homers to Corbin Carroll, Christian Walker, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., the last two of which were back-to-back. Those two outings accounted for two of the four times he served up three or more homers in a start this year.
With Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi likely to start the first two games of the World Series, Scherzer should have six or seven days between starts, giving him more time to rebuild strength and make adjustments. “You’re always tinkering with stuff. You’re always making little adjustments and trying to find different stuff,” he said before his first start of the ALCS. Perhaps he can summon better results and give his season a storybook ending after all.
Job Classification: Part-Time Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Summary:
Contribute to Washington Nationals Baseball Operations for the 2024 season as one of our highly valued interns. We’re looking for accomplished individuals who can contribute to our front office by specializing in work related to Major League Operations. This internship is for the 2024 season and typically spans from Opening Day to November 1st. We will also consider candidates available after completion of the spring semester.
The Major League Operations internship includes assisting the Baseball Operations Department with day-to-day assignments, along with long term projects centered on roster management, salary arbitration, transactions, and the economics of baseball. A degree in economics, statistics, computer science or mathematics is preferred, and it is expected that the candidate will be able to demonstrate an interest and understanding of both publicly available sabermetrics research and the economics of baseball. Experience in finance or consulting is valued, as well as baseball/softball playing experience at the collegiate or professional level.
The Nationals are a military-friendly organization actively recruiting veterans and spouses.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Manage recurring tasks such as updating depth charts, maintaining tracking sheets, and disseminating daily reports
Ad hoc data analysis projects
Review of new research from various external analytical sources
Assist with major baseball events such as the trade deadline, the amateur draft, and salary arbitration
Support with general office administration
Other duties as assigned
Requirements:
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university
Undergraduate or graduate degree in Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, or Mathematics preferred
Experience in Finance or Consulting preferred
Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
College or professional baseball/softball playing experience preferred
Available for the entire term of the Internship
Authorized to work in the United States
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities necessary to perform essential functions:
Highly motivated and excellent attention to detail
Demonstrated passion for baseball and baseball operations
Excellent communication skills including the ability to write clearly and effectively
Ability to use time efficiently
Proficient in MS Office applications such as Excel and PowerPoint
Strong analytical skills
Uphold Core Values: Excellence, Performance, and Accountability. These core values set the tone in everything we do, help us succeed on and off the field, make a difference in the community and provide the best guest experience in sports. It is important that the person in the position commits themselves to these core values so that we can constantly move forward in the same direction—together.
Physical/Environmental Requirements
Office: Working conditions are normal for an office environment. Work may require occasional weekend and/or evening work.
All applicants for employment at the Washington Nationals are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment. Applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment will be required to produce proof of vaccination status prior to their first day of employment. Applicants with qualifying disabilities or bona fide religious objections may be exempted from this requirement or otherwise accommodated if they are unable to be vaccinated.
CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL R&D: ANALYTICS & SCIENCES OPPORTUNITIES
The Chicago Cubs Baseball Research & Development team is looking for analysts to contribute to the Baseball Analytics and Baseball Sciences teams. We have consolidated applications for these two roles so that candidates only need to apply once to be considered for both roles. There will also be an opportunity to specify the role that you think is a better fit.
Analyst, Baseball Analytics
REPORTS TO: Director, Baseball Analytics FLSA STATUS: Exempt
The Chicago Cubs are seeking analysts to join the Baseball Analytics group in the Baseball Operations’ Research and Development team. This role will focus on constructing models that estimate skills, likelihoods, and contexts for various baseball phenomena. The analyst will work closely with the entirety of the R&D department to develop methods to process data, improve the effective understanding and application of data, and disseminate analytic insights throughout the organization. Analysts may focus their efforts towards collaborating with the Advanced Scouting, Amateur Scouting, International Scouting, Professional Scouting, Baseball Sciences, or Player Development groups, as strengths dictate.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Create data modeling pipelines that maintain up-to-date predictions of a variety of baseball metrics
Analyze collected data leveraging in-house models and insights
Research, develop, and test methods and models for the purpose of player assessment, development, and acquisition, as well as the optimization of in-game strategy
Effectively present analyses using written reports and data visualization methods to communicate relevant findings
Work with Baseball Systems team to integrate new statistical analyses, models, and data visualizations into Cubs web applications
Incorporate new analysis into existing data processes to improve automated reporting
Identify, diagnose, and resolve data quality issues
Handle data and analysis requests from the coaching staff and other departments within Baseball Operations
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a quantitative field such as statistics, engineering, mathematics, physics, quantitative social sciences, computer science, or operations research
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency with SQL, and at least one statistical programming language (e.g., Julia, MATLAB, Python, R)
Expertise in one or more of the following areas: advanced baseball analytics, specialized statistical methods, implementation of models in a productionized data pipeline (i.e., MLOps)
Familiarity with advanced statistical modeling techniques
Relevant experience working in baseball preferred
Response Expectations:
Due to the overwhelming number of applications we receive, we unfortunately may not be able to respond in person to each applicant. However, we can assure you that you will receive an email confirmation when you apply as well as additional email notifications whether you are selected to move forward for the position or not. Please note, we keep all resumes on file and will contact you should we wish to schedule an interview with you.
REPORTS TO: Director, Baseball Sciences FLSA STATUS: Exempt
ROLE
The Chicago Cubs are seeking an analyst to join the Baseball Sciences group in the Baseball Operations’ Research and Development department. This role will focus on improving our understanding of player performance through the analysis of various data sources and technologies, including motion capture, force plates, wearable sensors, and off-field assessments. The analyst will be responsible for performing quantitative research on existing data while also helping the organization identify novel technologies or initiatives that could lead to further insight. The ideal candidate will possess strong quantitative skills, the ability to think critically and creativity, domain-specific knowledge/experience, and the ability to communicate effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform quantitative research to better understand and quantify player performance
Identify and evaluate new technologies and assessments
Work with the Baseball Analytics group to integrate Baseball Sciences research into player valuation models
Communicate research insights to various departments and stakeholders—including coaches, scouts, trainers, and S&C staff
Collaborate with Player Development to design/oversee initiatives that can help answer research hypotheses
Stay up to date with academic literature and public research
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in either a quantitative field (statistics, engineering, physics, computer science, etc.) or a domain-specific field (biomechanics, exercise science, neuroscience, etc.)
Proficiency with SQL and at least one statistical programming language (Julia, MATLAB, Python, R)
Familiarity with advanced statistical modeling and machine learning techniques
Experience analyzing motion capture data or other relevant time-series data sources
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience working in baseball preferred
Response Expectations:
Due to the overwhelming number of applications we receive, we unfortunately may not be able to respond in person to each applicant. However, we can assure you that you will receive an email confirmation when you apply as well as additional email notifications whether you are selected to move forward for the position or not. Please note, we keep all resumes on file and will contact you should we wish to schedule an interview with you.
Department: Baseball Operations Reporting to: Assistant GM, Baseball Development & Technology Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt Full-time Location (City, State): Mesa, AZ, OR remote
About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.
In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.
The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.
Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Junior Data Engineer to assist the Baseball Operations Department. This position will mainly support all Baseball Operations data ingestion, administration, and support, crossing into Player Development and Research & Development. This position is based out of Mesa, AZ or has the potential to be remote.
Responsibilities:
Develop efficient processes to import and maintain data from external data sources.
Document and optimize existing data pipeline processes.
Ensure all datasets are properly designed for R&D department usage.
Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to explore and improve statistical model outputs.
Perform ad-hoc queries for front office and coaching / video staff as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Applicable degree from accredited college or university.
Experience working with relational databases – SQL Server preferred.
Experience with importing data from different sources (API, flat file, database) via data programming languages – Python preferred.
Experience writing and optimizing SQL queries.
Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.
Familiarity with statistics and data science concepts.
Understanding of data lifecycle and testing requirements.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficient in Microsoft Office or Google G Suite.
Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.
Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
Department: Baseball Operations Reporting to: Director, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt Full-time Location (City, State): Mesa, AZ
About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.
In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.
The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.
Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Junior Biomechanist alongside and in conjunction with the Lead Sport Scientist / Biomechanist and the Sports Medicine / Performance department. This position will assist in numerous organizational priorities, including building and reporting new sports performance reports and metrics, playing an active role in biomechanical evaluations of both internal and external organizational players, and serving as a keystone for stakeholders between the Major League, Baseball Operations, Research and Development, Player Development and Sports Science staffs. This position will be primarily based out of Mesa, AZ.
Responsibilities:
Organize, interpret, and execute data-based analysis of in-game biomechanical data.
Collaborate with Lead Sport Scientist / Biomechanist to establish objective measures and workload-based reports relating to player health and injury prevention.
Assist with development and execution of performance science initiatives across the organization, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Effectively collaborate and communicate with player development, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and front office staff.
Test, implement, and create protocols for new and developing technologies within the baseball science world.
Work with Performance Staff, Player Development, and Baseball Research and Development departments to improve and tailor individual player development plans.
Requirements:
A graduate-level degree in biomechanics or a related field, or demonstrated experience collecting, interpreting, modeling, and applying biomechanics data.
Demonstrated work in sports science or performance field, either with team or program, relating to data collection, analysis, and implementation.
Biomechanics background or experience working with biomechanical data.
Prior knowledge of motion capture and other technologies.
Excellent communication skills including written and verbal.
Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Some travel required (California, affiliate cities, or elsewhere).
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated experience and proficiency with: biomechanical datasets, Database querying (e.g., SQL) and statistical software (e.g., R, Python).
Strong proficiency in data analysis tools.
The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.
Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
Department: Baseball Operations Reporting to: Director, Baseball Development Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt Full-time Location (City, State): Oakland, CA
About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.
In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.
The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.
Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Advance Scouting Analyst to assist the Advance Scouting Department. This position crosses into the intersection of several fields (Baseball Operations, Player Development, Video, Research & Analytics). The ideal candidate will seamlessly integrate into the advance work process, aiding the coaching and video support staff in pre-game and game tasks for the duration of the 2024 season. This position will be primarily based out of Oakland, CA, but will require extensive travel with the Major League club.
Responsibilities:
Assist in pre-game preparation and assignments for coaching and advance staff.
Perform ad-hoc queries for coaching and video staff, and front office as needed.
Help chart, film, and clip early work and game video and data feeds.
Navigate through public and proprietary data sources for strategic insights.
Requirements:
Degree from accredited college or university.
Demonstrated quantitative background, either by degree or work sample (SQL, R, Python, Tableau, or other programming language).
Proficient in Microsoft Office or Google G Suite.
Excellent verbal communication and problem solving IT or other technical issues.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Playing background (baseball or softball) at the collegiate level or above is a plus.
Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Willingness to travel with the Major League club up to 90 days a year.
The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.
Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
In adherence to California’s Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162), the salary range for this role is $65,000 – $70,000, consistent with California’s minimum salary threshold requirement.
Department: Baseball Operations Reporting to: Director, Baseball Development Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt Full-time Location (City, State): Mesa, AZ
About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.
In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.
The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.
Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Player Development Analyst to assist the Player Development Department. This position will handle multiple responsibilities, including building and reporting new statistical models and findings, assisting in producing player improvement plans, and serve as a resource for the Player Development and Sports Science staff. This position will also assist in operating and producing analysis for various tracking technologies. This position will be primarily based out of Mesa, AZ.
Responsibilities:
Produce statistical analysis and reporting for Player Development coaching staff.
Conduct research projects for various groups within Player Development (Strength & Conditioning, Sports Science).
Collaborate with the research and development team on statistical modeling techniques and projects with a focus on Player Development.
Assist with the capture and analysis of ball and player tracking technologies.
Assist the staff with ad-hoc analysis and reporting.
Requirements:
Undergraduate degree in math, computer science, economics, statistics or related quantitative field.
Strong proficiency in SQL and R.
Experience with Microsoft Excel is a plus.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Self-starter with an ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Excellent communication skills including written and verbal; ability to present ideas clearly and concisely.
Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Willingness to occasionally travel to Oakland, CA, minor league affiliates, or elsewhere.
Playing background (baseball or softball) at the collegiate level or above is a plus.
The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.
Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
PHILADELPHIA – “A lot of people don’t believe in us,” Diamondbacks infielder Geraldo Perdomo said before Game 7 of the NLCS. “I think that’s why we play with the patience we’re playing with right now, to prove to everyone we can do it.”
“Nobody believed in us” is such a hackneyed trope in sports motivation, one that’s been co-opted over and over by teams that everyone believed in. But Perdomo was absolutely right to invoke it; the Diamondbacks were the lowest seed in this year’s playoffs, and before that a dark horse to make the postseason at all. They were under .500 in August, for goodness’ sake. Manager Torey Lovullo was asked after Game 7 if, in mid-August, he thought he’d be in this situation now. “To be totally honest, no,” he said.
But here they are. They took two must-win games against the defending National League champions in one of the most hostile environments in baseball, the latest by a score of 4-2. And now the Diamondbacks, pennant in hand, are off for Texas and a shot at the second World Series title in club history. Read the rest of this entry »
