Halos Stay Busy, Add Kyle Hendricks

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Well, the Angels aren’t waiting around, are they? In the week immediately following the World Series, the Halos have completed the only trade so far this offseason involving players going in each direction. They’ve also acquired Scott Kingery from the Phillies for cash considerations and executed a waiver claim on Oakland’s Ryan Noda, both low-risk acquisitions with the potential to fill a niche at the big league level.

The Triple-A first base depth chart for the Angels right now lists Noda alongside Niko Kavadas and Sonny DiChiara, which is a bumper crop of cube-shaped college sluggers if ever there were one. Someone find out what Tim Elko is up to and give him a call so the Angels can have the full set. But I digress.

Amidst all that other activity, Perry Minasian and Co. have made this offseason’s most notable free agent signing to date: right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks, late of the Chicago Cubs. Hendricks was the second major league free agent to sign so far this offseason, after Dylan Covey’s one-year deal with the Mets, and he’s a bigger name by far. A two-time Cy Young vote-getter and a cornerstone of the successful Cubs teams of the late 2010s, Hendricks joins the Angels on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Read the rest of this entry »


Diamondbacks Prospect Gino Groover Discusses the Controlled Violence in His Swing

Megan Mendoza/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gino Groover is one of the most promising prospects in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. He is also one of the most intriguing. When profiling him for our D-backs list back in May, Eric Longenhagen wrote that the 22-year-old third baseman “was among the 2023 draft’s more volatile and exciting prospects.” Bullish on his potential, our lead prospect analyst added that “2024 might be a breakout season” for the right-handed-hitting North Carolina State University product.

Fate intervened. As Eric explained, Groover ended up having surgery to repair a displaced radius fracture suffered in a collision with a baserunner at first base, this after just four games with High-A Hillsboro. He missed three months, did a rehab stint in the Arizona Complex League, then rejoined the Hops on July 19.

He hit well upon his return. The former second rounder logged a 129 wRC+ over 175 plate appearances with the Northwest League club, and he followed that up with a 178 wRC+ over 55 plate appearances with Double-A Amarillo. Counting his eight games in the ACL, Groover finished the season with a .281/.367/.484 slash line, 10 home runs, and a 133 wRC+. And two other numbers merit mention: His strikeout rate was 13.6%, while his walk rate was 11.4%.

Grover is currently making up for missed development time in the Arizona Fall League, where he is slashing .370/.444/.389 over 63 plate appearances for the Salt River Rafters. He talked hitting prior to a game in mid-October.

———

David Laurila: How would you define yourself as a hitter? Also, do you feel that you’ve established an identity at this early stage of your career?

Gino Groover: “I mean, I think everybody is different, but finding yourself as a hitter — what your strengths are, and playing to your strengths — is something you don’t really want to deviate away from. I’ve always had a hit-first profile, letting my power come later as I’ve gotten bigger, stronger, and a little older.

“I have my approach, and, especially at this level, you can’t be afraid to be wrong sometimes. You obviously can’t go up there and expect to hit everything, so you don’t want to deviate from your approach. If you do, you’ll get caught in between and won’t hit either heaters or offspeed. So, whatever my approach is, I stick to it. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m wrong, and we go from there, playing it by ear with whatever I’m seeing.” Read the rest of this entry »


Which Catcher Is the Best at Scrunching Himself Into a Tiny Ball?

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Look, we’ve put it off long enough. It’s time to dig in and answer once and for all the question that everyone has been asking: We’re going to determine conclusively which catcher squishes himself into the tiniest little ball when he gets into his crouch. As you may know, catchers these days often go down on one knee or stick their whole leg out to the side in order to get lower to the ground, because getting lower helps them earn called strikes at the bottom of the zone. Those called strikes are important. What’s even more important, though, is how adorable it looks when a grown man in a suit of armor crouches down and gets all tucked into a teensy little ball like a five-year-old about to do a somersault. At long last, we’re going to do the only thing that makes sense and find out who’s best at turning their human body into a bony little sphere.

One hundred different players spent time at catcher in 2024, far too big a sample for me to investigate, so I ranked them by the number of pitches caught and looked at the top 40. I watched catchers setting up for sinkers and soft stuff at the bottom of the strike zone, where they’d be angling for a called strike and therefore trying to get themselves as low as possible. One-knee down stances were fine, but I threw out stances like the one below, where Adley Rutschman is no longer crouched in a ball. That’s the whole point of this exercise. If you’re not in a little ball, what are we even doing here? Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Colorado Rockies – Lead Analyst, Data Science

Lead Analyst – Data Science

Location: Denver, CO
Status: Full-Time

ABOUT US:
The Colorado Rockies are a professional Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. The mission of the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club is to embody the principles and practices of a championship organization in both the sport and business of baseball. In the rich tradition that has made baseball America’s national pastime, we are committed to conducting our business with integrity, service, quality, and trust. We are committed to leveraging data and cutting-edge analytics to drive team success and enhance player performance. Our research and technology team is dedicated to using advanced statistical methods and machine learning to gain actionable insights that support strategic decision-making across all aspects of the team. We seek a talented Data Scientist to join our team and contribute to our mission of excellence.

POSITION SUMMARY:
We seek a highly skilled and experienced Lead Analyst to join our Colorado Rockies Baseball Club team. Enjoy tackling challenging problems, using interesting data, collaborating with smart people, and directly impacting what happens on the baseball field and in our business. This may be the opportunity for you! People in this role will use statistical and machine-learning techniques to understand and quantify the game of baseball better. Analysts must also be able to communicate clearly with members of departments across baseball operations, including technical and non-technical audiences. You will work alongside the rest of the R&D, data engineering, and IT groups, interacting with coaches, scouts, and executives from across the organization. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced sports environment and contribute to the success of our organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Data Analysis: Design, build, test, and deploy statistical and machine learning models to support all facets of baseball operations, including scouting, player development, and the major league team. Analyze large and complex data on player performance, game statistics, and team metrics. Utilize statistical methods and machine learning techniques to uncover trends and patterns.
  • Model Development: Develop and refine predictive models to forecast player performance, game outcomes, and other key metrics. Continuously improve models based on new data and feedback.
  • Insight Generation: Translate data analysis into actionable insights and recommendations for coaching staff, management, and other stakeholders. Create detailed reports and visualizations to communicate findings effectively.
  • Tool Development: Design and implement data tools and dashboards to support real-time decision-making and performance tracking. Ensure tools are user-friendly and meet the needs of various stakeholders. Use data to visualize model outputs and important baseball concepts. Designed and built informative data visualizations for automated reports or internal web applications.
  • Research: Stay current with advancements in data science, machine learning, and sports analytics. Apply innovative techniques and methodologies to enhance the team’s analytical capabilities. Research specific areas of the game using statistical modeling. Build and maintain these models and take ownership of their results.
  • Collaboration: Develop a deep understanding of the existing body of the R&D team’s research, code base, and database. Take on some responsibility for improving and maintaining existing projects. Perform ad hoc analyses on questions that come to Baseball R&D from across the organization.
  • Data Management: Ensure accurate and efficient data collection, storage, and management. Maintain data integrity and address any data quality issues.
  • Presentation: Prepare and deliver presentations to summarize findings and recommendations. Tailor presentations to different audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

  • Education: Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field. Certification programs are not considered equivalent.
  • Experience: 5+ years of experience in data science, statistical analysis, or a related role, preferably within a sports or performance environment.
  • Technical Skills:
    • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R for data analysis and modeling.
    • Experience with data analysis tools and libraries (e.g., pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, TensorFlow).
    • Programming skills in a language such as R or Python to work efficiently at scale with large data sets.
    • Strong knowledge of statistical methods and machine learning algorithms.
    • Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
    • Demonstrated research experience in a sports context (baseball is a plus).
    • Experience with a database language such as SQL.
    • Experience working with spatiotemporal data.
    • Experience working with high-dimensional time series data.
    • Experience with deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or Torch.
    • Experience with Bayesian statistics and languages such as Stan.
    • Enthusiasm for learning new skills related to programming, statistical modeling, and data visualization.
    • Experience with Generative AI techniques such as GANs, VAEs, or other generative models is preferred.

  • Soft Skills:
    • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
    • Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex data and insights clearly to various stakeholders.
    • Ability to work collaboratively with a team.
    • Comfortable working in a fast-paced sports environment and willing to adapt to changing priorities.
    • Ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines in a busy environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS/WORK SCHEDULE:

  • Work Environment: The position is primarily office-based at Coors Field.
  • Work Hours: Standard full-time hours with the potential for extended hours during key periods, such as during the season or critical project deadlines.
  • Travel: Minimal travel is required, though occasional travel to team facilities or events may be necessary.
  • Team Dynamics: Collaborative environment involving regular interactions with coaching staff, analysts, and front office personnel.
  • Physical Job Requirements:
    • Sitting/Desk Work: Most work involves sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Prolonged periods of sitting and working with data are typical.
    • Typing and Hand Dexterity: Frequent typing and use of a mouse or other input devices are necessary. Good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills are essential.
    • Visual Acuity: This requires the ability to review and interpret detailed data and visualizations, which necessitates good visual acuity and the ability to work with screens for extended periods.
    • Communication: Regular communication via email, video calls, and in-person meetings. Clear verbal and written communication skills are essential.
    • Stress Management: Ability to manage tight deadlines and multiple priorities while maintaining focus and accuracy. Capability to handle pressure during critical analysis periods or high-stakes projects.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

  • Annual salary range of $125,000 – $145,000. This is a regular status, full-time position.
  • As a candidate for this position, your salary and related elements of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, job-related skills, and any other factors the Colorado Rockies consider relevant to the hiring decision for this position.
  • In addition to the base salary, the Club believes in providing a very competitive and generous compensation and benefits package for its employees. Benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, generous vacation and holiday program, employee parking, employer provided game tickets to home games, onsite fitness classes and experiences, employee discounts on merchandise, and so much more! All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents which may be modified or amended at any given time.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  • Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received by November 18th, 2024.
  • The estimated time to complete the recruitment process will be by December 20th, 2023. Please note this is just an estimate, and the application process and recruiting process may extend or close at any time.
  • A note for Colorado Rockies employees:
    • Please apply via the internal job board in UKG by following these prompts: MENU > MYSELF > VIEW OPPORTUNITIES > select the position > CONSENT > APPLY NOW
    • If you cannot access UKG, please list your most recent Manager as an Employee Reference on your application. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Rockies baseball is for everyone! We pride ourselves on hiring, developing, and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment or promotion without regard to race (including, but not limited to, traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length and/or protective hairstyles), color, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, ancestry, age (40+), creed, religion, disability, veteran status, pregnancy/childbirth and related conditions, or any other category or activity protected by law. In addition, we will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified job applicants and employees with known physical or mental disabilities in compliance with the ADA. All employment and promotion decisions will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business needs.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Colorado Rockies.


The 2025 Classic Baseball Ballot Is Long on Familiarity, Short on Imagination

Kate Collins / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

On Monday, the National Baseball Hall of Fame officially revealed the 2025 Classic Baseball Era Committee ballot, an eight-man slate covering players, managers, executives, and umpires who made their greatest impact on the game before 1980. In a rare lapse, the Hall somehow managed to steal its own thunder, as an article in the Winter 2024 volume of its bimonthly Memories and Dreams magazine revealed the identities of the eight candidates in the days ahead of the announcement. Not that it had any real effect, as the slate won’t be voted upon until the 16-member committee meets on Sunday, December 8, at the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

This is the third ballot since the Hall of Fame reconfigured its Era Committee system into a triennial format in April 2022, after a bumper crop of six honorees was elected by the Early Baseball and Golden Days Era Committees the previous December. The new format splits the pool of potential candidates into two timeframes: those who made their greatest impact on the game before 1980 (Classic Baseball Era), including Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues Black players, and those who made their greatest impact from 1980 to the present day (Contemporary Baseball Era). The Contemporary group is further split into two ballots, one for players whose eligibility on BBWAA ballots has lapsed (Fred McGriff was elected in December 2022), and one for managers, executives, and umpires (Jim Leyland was elected last December). Non-players from the Classic timeframe are lumped in with players, which doesn’t guarantee representation on the final ballot.

As with any Hall election, this one requires 75% from the voters to gain entry. In this case, the as-yet-unannounced panel will consist of Hall of Famers, executives, and media members/historians, each of whom may tab up to three candidates. Anyone elected will be inducted alongside those elected by the BBWAA (whose own ballot will be released on November 18) on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown. Read the rest of this entry »


Scott Kingery’s Contract Is Dead. Long Live Kingery!

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It was the perfect exemplar of a Friday news dump, a quiet transaction between frequent trading partners. The Phillies and Angels swap players so often it’s sometimes hard to remember whether Brandon Marsh got traded for Logan O’Hoppe or George Klassen or Ron Gant. And while the Angels also made a splashy swap with the Braves the day before to acquire Jorge Soler, Philadelphia slipped another move in while nobody was looking: minor league infielder Scott Kingery to Los Angeles for cash considerations.

With all the fanfare of your buddy paying you back for buying Taco Bell on the way home the other night, an era is over.

Kingery could be a useful player for the Angels. He hit .268/.316/.488 in Triple-A last season, with 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases, playing mostly at shortstop with appearances at second, third, and in center field. The Phillies are pretty well set on the infield, but Kingery hasn’t appeared in the majors since June 8, 2022, when he went out to second base for a single defensive inning in a 10-0 blowout in Milwaukee. He hasn’t taken a major league at-bat since May 16, 2021, which is the last time he had anything like a regular roster role. Read the rest of this entry »


Postseason Managerial Report Card: Aaron Boone

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

I’m using a new format for our postseason managerial report cards this year. In the past, I went through every game from every manager, whether they played 22 games en route to winning the World Series or got swept out of the Wild Card round. To be honest, I hated writing those brief blurbs. No one is all that interested in the manager who ran out the same lineup twice, or saw his starters get trounced and used his best relievers anyway because the series is so short. This year, I’m sticking to the highlights, and grading only the managers who survived until at least their League Championship series. I already covered Stephen Vogt and Carlos Mendoza. Today, I’m looking at Aaron Boone.

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 the 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 behind closed doors for new strategies or unconventional bullpen usage 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 Luke Weaver and Brent Honeywell were also important contributors this October. Forget trusting your veterans; the playoffs are about trusting your best players. Juan Soto is important because he’s great, not because he won the 2019 World Series. 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. Let’s get to it. Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Milwaukee Brewers – Associate (Intern), Baseball Systems

Associate (Intern) – Baseball Systems

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Position Summary:
As part of the Baseball Systems department, this role will work closely with the Data Engineering and Software Engineering groups to enhance existing tools and processes, and build new ones using technologies that bridge multiple engineering disciplines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Investigate user identified data quality concerns relating to areas such as game statistics, scouting reports, and transactions. Diagnose and fix the issue(s).
  • Load new datasets from vendors into internal databases and make the data available to users.
  • Develop user interface (UI) components using front-end technologies, ensuring user-friendly design.

Qualifications:

  • Experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, C#, Javascript-based frameworks, and object-oriented programming (OOP) principles.
  • Experience with SQL, including writing and maintaining queries.
  • Experience working with relational databases such as SQL Server and PostgreSQL.
  • Experience with advanced statistical baseball concepts, including advanced statistics and player evaluation metrics.

Our Team:

  • Baseball Systems is the software backbone of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Baseball Operations department. We provide data and decision-making tools for analysts, coaches, and front office personnel to help win a World Series.
  • Our department consists of a team of data engineers and a team of software engineers who work across all different aspects of Baseball Operations providing support and tools relevant to each group.
  • We work directly with stakeholders in every department of Baseball Operations to ensure every project we work on drives value to the organization and helps us win more games on the field.
  • We help drive technical innovation to find new ways to solve baseball problems.

Our Pitch:
You come here to make a difference. We are a purpose-led organization, focused on building an inclusive and engaging culture that fosters excellence, collaboration, and ingenuity. We strive to be a model employer and cultivator of talent, empowering our teams to drive innovation through the inclusion of diverse thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. We operate at the highest standard of excellence, investing in the development of our staff across all levels and embracing differences through a culture of respect and understanding.

We are proud to offer a highly competitive perks and benefits package including:

  • League wide medical insurance plan
  • 401(K) match and an additional annual contribution from the Club 
  • Collaborative recognition program and incentives
  • Online educational platform for personal and professional development
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • Paid time off for volunteering 
  • Year-round diversity, equity and inclusion training and development
  • Brewers Home Game tickets, promotional giveaways and other discounts!

For more information about our Crew, other benefits and insight into our Club culture please visit our Careers Page.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Milwaukee Brewers.


Effectively Wild Episode 2240: We’ve Got Options

EWFI
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about team/player option/opt-out decisions involving Gerrit Cole, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, and Eugenio Suárez, the Royals re-signing Michael Wacha, the players who received qualifying offers, the Minasian brothers as rival GMs (and potential PoBros), Carlos Santana’s historic Gold Glove, an international signing scandal (on multiple levels), evidence of racial bias in player development, a Japan Series upset, and more, plus a postscript.

Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme
Audio outro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme

Link to MLBTR on Cole 1
Link to MLBTR on Cole 2
Link to pitcher WAR since 2020
Link to P RA-9 WAR since 2020
Link to MLBTR on Snell
Link to Snell leaderboard
Link to MLBTR on Bellinger
Link to MLBTR on Suárez
Link to Suárez leaderboard
Link to Suárez Stathead search
Link to MLBTR on Wacha
Link to FG on Wacha
Link to qualifying offer list
Link to FG top 50 FA
Link to Rob Arthur article
Link to Rob on racial bias in 2020
Link to Rob on Black catchers in 2020
Link to Ringer scouting reports series
Link to MLBTR on Minasian
Link to LAT on the Minasians
Link to USA Today on the Minasians
Link to Langs Santana stat
Link to ESPN on signing scandal
Link to MLBTR on signing scandal
Link to Rob Arthur article
Link to Rob on racial bias in 2020
Link to Rob on Black catchers in 2020
Link to Ringer scouting reports series
Link to Climax Series wiki
Link to Climax Series bracket
Link to BayStars win 1
Link to BayStars win 2
Link to Jim Allen tweet
Link to Ben on the BayStars
Link to Hank Hill promo

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Wacha Won’t Walk: Michael Wacha Signs Three-Year Deal To Stay in Kansas City

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Excuse us while we adjust our Top 50 Free Agents list. Coming off their first postseason appearance since 2015, the Royals have decided to keep the band together. On Sunday, the team announced that Michael Wacha has signed a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. Royals starters ran a 3.55 ERA in 2024, second only to the Mariners. Their 16.7 WAR trailed only the Braves. Now that Wacha is locked up long-term, Kansas City is set to return eight of the nine pitchers who started a game for the team during the 2024 season, led by ace Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Wacha. The only exception is midseason acquisition Michael Lorenzen, who has entered free agency.

Wacha joined the Royals as a free agent before the 2024 season, inking a two-year, $32-million deal with a player opt-out. After running a 3.35 ERA and putting up a career-high 3.3 WAR, he was all but certain to exercise that opt-out. Instead, the 33-year-old is set to stay in Kansas City through at least 2027, his age-35 season. He’s also guaranteed to roughly double his career earnings to this point. The deal guarantees Wacha a minimum of $51 million and could be worth as much as $72 million. According to Mark Feinsand, Wacha will earn $18 million in the first two years. In 2027, he’ll have a base salary of $14 million, with performance bonuses that could push it to $18 million. If the Royals exercise their 2028 option, Wacha’s salary will feature the same 14/18 structure. If they decline the option, they’ll pay him a $1 million buyout. As Anne Rogers reported, five of the 10 largest contracts in franchise history now belong to players on the current roster. Wacha joins Lugo, Bobby Witt Jr., and Salvador Perez, who appears on the list twice thanks to two separate extensions, in that club.

The 2025 season will be the first since 2019 in which Wacha doesn’t pitch for a new team. He came up in 2013 and pitched for the Cardinals until 2019, then signed a succession of one-year deals with the Mets, Rays, and Red Sox. In 2023, Wacha signed with San Diego on a convoluted one-year deal that featured a club option for two more years (which the Padres declined), and player options for three more years (which Wacha declined). Read the rest of this entry »