BtB Live Chat: Tuesday at 2pm

by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2009 11:42 AM EDT

Monday Night Update: Dan Szymborski is a big fan of live chats and has some free time tomorrow, so he's going to be a special guest panelist. He claims he's not pushing any product endorsements, but if you want to throw a few ZiPS questions his way, I'm sure he won't complain.

We're baaaack! The important info:

Who: Sky and whoever else he can round up on short notice.
What: A live Q&A about baseball and stuff.
Where: In this thread, after the jump. You can enter your email address right now to receive an email reminder fifteen minutes before the event.
Why: Do we need a reason?
When: Tuesday, May 12th, at 2pm. That's after Steven Goldman chats at BPro and before Tim Dierkes chats at MLB Trade Rumors.

Chat after the jump:

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=4cd4f15289" mce_href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=4cd4f15289" &amp;gt;BtB Live Chat Q&amp;amp;A&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

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ooooo... me first

my question:

Was Casey Stengel successful because of Gil Macdougald, or was MacDougald successful because of Stengel?

WaIt, wrong chat…

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 11, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Here goes nothing...

…First post here at BtB. Long time member of BleedCubbieBlue. Hopefully this is the appropriate forum. Thanks for your time.

I’m a grad student in the social sciences and upon declaring a minor of study to be statistical analysis (wholly unrelated to baseball), I’ve started to poke around about some of the more advanced baseball statistics. I’ve taken the basic regression and multivariate classes and have a limited understanding (I think…) of their application to the sport, but am looking for a good starter’s guide. I can read about UZR, WAR, or BABIP, but I guess I’m looking for some guidance in this broad field. Is there a good sabermetics’ book? A place to start compiling my own data and playing with it? How can I learn a bit more about some of the most valued/preferred/respected statistics used, and those that are newer and upcoming?

I know I’m asking a hellva lot of questions, but any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’ve started to understand my own statistics classes (in the field of education) a bit better when I can practically apply them to baseball; I’d love for it to turn into a hobby I can build up this summer. Thanks for you time.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on May 12, 2009 1:13 AM EDT reply actions

A few suggestions for you, hopefully others will chime in with more info...

The common “beginner books” include Moneyball (more philosophy than saber content), BPro’s Baseball Between the Numbers, something by Bill James, maybe Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame, and The Hidden Game of Baseball.

My best suggestion for picking up saber ideas is to hang out at saber-oriented websites and join the discussion, like this one, Fangraphs, and The Book Blog (don’t worry if much of it goes over your head, it does everyone’s). Also add places like Baseball Analysts, Hardball Times, VegasWatch, and maybe add some saber team-specific blogs like jinaz-reds.blogspot.com, ussmariner.com, lookoutlanding.com, and draysbay.com to your reading list.

As for specific topics, I’d recommend these as a good first look:
- zone based fielding why and how
- judging pitchers on peripherals and not ERA or (gas) Wins
- basic projection ideas and not overreacting to recent performance
- WAR methodology

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on May 12, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

I already read a few of those sites but will probably pick up a book or two this summer to peruse. Thanks a bunch.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."

--Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on May 12, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

My 2 cents

I would start with “Baseball Between the Numbers”. It is the best source from starting from scratch and catching someone up as quick as possible.

The Hardball Times Annuals are pretty good.
By the Numbers articles

Blogs/Websites
Baseballmusings.com
Neyer’s Sweetspot at ESPN
Stat of the Day at baseball-reference.com
Statistically Speaking at mvn.com

by Jeff Zimmerman on May 12, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah that’s got good review from what I’ve seen so far. Thanks again.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."

--Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on May 12, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I would also hang out at some of the more sabermetric blogs on SBnation

Beyond the Boxscore, Driveline Mechanics and Lookout Landing are all very sabermetrically oriented, and if you spend time there you should pick things up quickly.

St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008

by vivaelpujols on May 12, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions