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Tracking Tracking Flyballs

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 01 2014 11:36 PM

This is pretty cool. For instance, on a brilliant, game-saving diving catch by an outfielder, this new system will let us understand what created that outcome. Was it the quickness of his first step, his acceleration? Was it his initial positioning? What if the pitcher had thrown a different pitch? Everything will be connected for the first time, providing a tool for answers to questions like this and more. There will be something for everyone, far beyond what has been available in the past. Miller Park in Milwaukee, Target Field in Minnesota and Citi Field in New York will be operational for this tracking in 2014. The plan is to start rolling out the rest this season so that all 30 ballparks are operational by 2015 Opening Day. 30 frames-per-second on the players, 200 on the ball. Superaccurate data for potentially superaccurate fielding evaluation. Definitive proof that Intangibles Don't Catch. The only foreseeable negative? The sample in the presentation (seen in link) was Heyward robbing Justin Turner on the 2-on/2-out, bottom-of-the-ninth game-ender from last year.

Ceetar Mar 02 2014 08:46 AM Re: Tracking Tracking Flyballs

that's amazing.

Frayed Knot Mar 02 2014 09:28 AM Re: Tracking Tracking Flyballs

This is definitely the way defensive metrics and measuring is headed in the near future. Things like 'Zone Rating' always seemed to vague for me because it takes neither positioning (shifts) nor how hard the ball is hit into consideration. I like how, according to those stats, Heyward was only about 20 inches further away from where the ball was due to land than was LF Reed Johnson but Johnson was at least 10 feet away from getting that ball by the time Heyward had caught up to it. I do question the "first step" reaction time they list: 0.02 & 0.05 seconds (Heyward & Johnson)?!? ... that seems too quick even for a first flinch. I'm not sure ones brain can react that fast much less allow you to take a stride so I'm not exactly sure what they're measuring there. I'm still pissed at the fact that he caught that one.

MFS62 Mar 02 2014 10:49 AM Re: Tracking Tracking Flyballs

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: 30 frames-per-second on the players, 200 on the ball. Superaccurate data for potentially superaccurate fielding evaluation. Definitive proof that Intangibles Don't Catch. Dang! I wish they had that for infielders about 15 years ago, so we wouldn't have to listen to the Klap-trap about how good a fielder that guy playing short across town has been. Later

Edgy MD Mar 02 2014 06:35 PM Re: Tracking Tracking Flyballs

This will also speak to hitting metrics, as it will reveal more clearly whether a guy got that double because he walloped the ball at a trajectory and to a place where 83% of balls fall for doubles, or it benevolently fell in at a spot where and with such a force whereas only a mere 14% of balls are so lucky. I'd like to see the technology developed where this data can even be retroactively calculated based on available video. Come on, NASA, get with the program.

Nymr83 Mar 02 2014 08:40 PM Re: Tracking Tracking Flyballs

retro-active Jeter-bashing would be awesome

batmagadanleadoff Mar 03 2014 11:39 AM Re: Tracking Tracking Flyballs

Edgy MD wrote: This will also speak to hitting metrics, as it will reveal more clearly whether a guy got that double because he walloped the ball at a trajectory and to a place where 83% of balls fall for doubles, or it benevolently fell in at a spot where and with such a force whereas only a mere 14% of balls are so lucky. I'd like to see the technology developed where this data can even be retroactively calculated based on available video. Come on, NASA, get with the program. This is the future of batting analytics. I'd rather have this data over any other, because if I know how hard a player is hitting the baseball, and can account for trajectory, thus knowing how much time it takes for a batter's batted balls to reach their landing spots, I can formulate algorithms that should tell me what his batting average, his slugging percentage, his home run rate should be. These stats should correlate very positively with how hard the batter hits the ball. The harder the ball is hit, the faster it gets to its landing spot -- the less time a fielder has to generate an out. I''ll also know which batters are overly lucky or unlucky, and whether a batter's stats are sustainable and repeatable. And if a player's stats are significantly better than his hit tracking data suggests, well that player is either lucky, or he's got mad Ichiro/Rod Carew skills to aim or place the batted ball -- i.e., hit 'em where they ain't.