Optimal Launch Speed and Angle for Extra Base Hits
by Harry Pavlidis on Jun 9, 2009 2:00 PM EDT
17 comments
Where do extra base hits come from? The goal here is to show the gap between SLGCON and BABIP, along with their general trends, along two parameters: the initial speed and the launch angle of a batted ball. Data is from the April HITf/x sample.
Let's split that last one up, at the 90mph mark (that's too low, as you can see below).
Digest those. Next time around, I'll isolate velocity by direction (xyz) instead of giving you the overall speed.
2 recs |
17 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Based on the second big graph...
I see that BABIP and SLGCON (SLG on BIP and HR, right?) get better at the same angle, but SLGCON peaks later, because higher fly balls result in more extra base hits…
And then comparing the two smaller graphs, it appears angle matters for hard hit balls, but doesn’t matter at all for softer balls, because softer balls never go for XBH? Wow, the sub-90 MPH is a shocker. How about some more ranges of MPH? Like five-MPH intervals between 75 MPH and 100 MPH (or whatever you deem are the limits of frequently contacted balls.)
Um, awesome.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
Didn't you kind of answer your question.
Since SLGCON includes HR and going from HitTracker the minimum elevation angle was ~18.5 with the maximum elevation angle at ~43 should explain a large portion of the difference on #2. Maybe look at non-HR SLGCON?
Then the side-by-side says that harder hit balls leave the yard while softer hit balls will be the “warning track power”.
Ok, I see your first point...
Homeruns don’t occur until 18 degrees, which brings that large blue hump.
But in addition to softer balls never being home runs, they also appear never to be XBH, either. Right? (Looking at the two smaller graphs again.) You would think that some softer balls would be gappers somewhat often, right?
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
Not never
then the two lines would be identical, I believe. Some softer balls turn into doubles (I’m thinking about bloopers over the third basemens head going into the corner) causing the small differences.
I guess we're just disagreeing on a matter of degree.
I don’t literally mean zero difference, but I was expected a lot more than I see.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
Yeah, you're right
Just an example:
BABIP with 500/1000 = .5
SLGCON with 350 Singles/150 doubles = .65
which would approximate a point on the above side-by-side.
150 doubles seems like a lot to me on weakly hit balls.
There's zero ISO until the 85-94 plot, and nothing significant until 95+.
That’s probably obvious, as anything too low isn’t well hit, even for a David Eckstein.
But within the range where BABIP and SLGCON start to converge, I bet we’ll start to see variations between players and angles and other interesting things.
Another idea is to separate HRs from in-play XBH.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
Lowest SOB for home runs is 90 mph. Gotcha, was confused for a minute.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
This seems to make sense to me
below 95 mph there are a few differences between BABIP and SLGCON due to what I said above about bloopers (either into the corner or possibly the gap) but when they hit the ball well its more likely to get to the wall thus resulting in more XBH.
Two more animations
I hope you don’t get too dizzy from these animated comments.
LWBABIP, based on Tango’s suggestion, is the metric. Error/Single = 0.9, Double/Triple = 1.3, Home run = 2.0
by Harry Pavlidis on Jun 9, 2009 10:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Jesus Harry
St. Louis relievers... defying win expectancy since 2008
http://www.drivelinemechanics.com/
by vivaelpujols on Jun 10, 2009 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I Think Harry Has A "Plot" To Kill Us All
Pun intended.
A noob or n00b is someone that lacks intellegance or common sense, most people think that noob is a word used only in the online gaming world, but in reality it is becoming an ever popular word with teenage society.
a noob could be simply a level 100 running round shouting ‘’WTF DO I GO!?’’ or someone calling someone else a noob and then getting hit with a brick, anyone can call anyone a noob, but normally they are noobs themselves
-robert_d_wilfong
I'm relatively surprised the 90 spike
isn’t higher from HR, since that is the approximate “minimum” speed to hit one.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
BtB on Facebook
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
