You had to wait a little longer than usual, but it’ll be worth it …
It’s the fourteenth episode of a super awesome podcast featuring me and Sahadev Sharma (and a guest!). You can listen to the podcast there below, or download it for later listening. You can also subscribe via iTunes. Here’s your iTunes link, and you can also find it by searching in the iTunes store. For those of you who use other feed-catching services, here’s the podcast feed. For those of you just tuning in who want to catch up on prior episodes, here’s the whole lot.
As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. Today’s set hits on the Wrigley renovation, Alfonso Soriano’s trade value, and Dan Vogelbach’s weight.
But the focus this week is our first ever guest: PITCHf/x guru and all-around smart guy Harry Pavlidis. You may know his work from Brooks Baseball and Baseball Prospectus, or from his occasional beer-related tweets.
With Harry, we dig in deep on PITCHf/x – what is it, how is it tracked, how is it used, what does it tell you, etc. – and then wax philosophical and moralistic on performance-enhancing drugs. Harry and Sahadev have a unique take on the issue (with which I don’t entirely disagree), and you’re going to want to check it out. You’re going to want to hear the PITCHf/x stuff, too – the data being collected and analyzed around baseball (and available for you to check out if you’re so inclined) is going to amaze you.
Late in the episode, after Harry departed, we also talk a bit about the value of building a team around the manager, and the long-term role/value/projectability of “core piece” Darwin Barney.
And, for those wholly unfamiliar with PITCHf/x – or those who want to understand it better, in conjunction with listening to the podcast – Harry offered up some useful links that you should check out:
PITCHf/x data pitcher profile (showing Justin Verlander as example).
PITCHf/x data hitter profile (showing Joey Votto as an example).
Brooks Baseball Player Cards. (Here’s Jeff Samardzija’s – overflowing with data.)
The PITCHf/x matchup (pitcher versus hitter) analysis tool.
Example Arizona Fall League TrackMan pitch data (2011).
So, now, the podcast. Enjoy: