14 replies to this topic

[Jnai]

Hi guys-

Thanks to your help we are very close to selling out the event. Like, sub-10 tickets remain, and we are very likely to sell out this weekend.

If you've been on the fence about coming, now is the time to get your ticket before it sells out.

And if you're not coming but still want to help out our cause - which is 100% of our ticket sales to the Jimmy Fund - please think about tweeting or facebooking our event! =)

For information and tickets, visit:
SaberSeminar.com

Edited by absintheofmalaise, 18 August 2012 - 06:35 PM.

[Frisbetarian]

Sold out! Thanks to all who supported this event. The Jimmy Fund thanks you as well.

[absintheofmalaise]

The seminar had a really nice mention in the Sox press release today that announced August as Jimmy Fund month.

Also helping raise funds in August are Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine; Bench Coach Tim Bogar; Director of Professional Scouting Jared Porter; and Director of Baseball Information Services Tom Tippett, who will all donate their time for the Sabermetrics, Scouting and the Science of Baseball seminar at Boston University on August 4 and 5 to benefit the Jimmy Fund.

[Redkluzu]

This was a great event -- even for a non linear human/non mathematical/non scientific person like myself. The organizes did a superb job and it was impressive. I actually learned things.

[PaulinMyrBch]

ESPN reported that Bobby V said to the seminar that since he has been in Boston he has not been offered one bit of sabermatric advice regarding a player from within the organization. Is this true? Did he actually say that or is this just bad reporting on behalf of ESPN (no surprise if so).

[sittingstill]

ESPN reported that Bobby V said to the seminar that since he has been in Boston he has not been offered one bit of sabermatric advice regarding a player from within the organization. Is this true? Did he actually say that or is this just bad reporting on behalf of ESPN (no surprise if so).

My recollection is that the question was more like "has the front office ever insisted that you do something because of the sabermetric numbers?" and his answer was that no, nothing had ever been forced on him that way. I didn't interpret it at all as his not receiving information. And FWIW, Mark Simon of ESPN told a story of Bobby on the air last year taking off his headset to ask for some sabermetric stats before an on-air discussion.

Also, I've just gotta say... this whole event was awesome. I admit that during the "stats in media" hour I kept thinking "These stats are never really going to make it to mainstream media, because too many folks who supply the $$ for mainstream media just want the simple narrative of winning and losing, good guys and bad guys and beer and chicken." That said, and partially because of that, it was sheer joy to spend two days in the company of folks (at all levels of experience and understanding) who fundamentally got it, who loved the game enough to try to understand it at a ridiculously deep level. And who wanted to benefit the Jimmy Fund. I love you guys.

[PaulinMyrBch]

That makes more sense. The ESPN report was a throw-in line during the highlights segment and they made it sound like it would be a developing story saying he snubbed the entire analytical department of the front office. Thanks

[Frisbetarian]

His exact quote was, "I'll give you a scoop, I haven't been given one suggestion based on sabermetrics since I've been in Boston."

[Frisbetarian]

Also, I know some here apparently think posts about this event pollute the main board, but this was an incredible weekend. It was worth giving up two prime summer beach and surfing days for (those who know me will understand how much this means). Bobby V. absolutely killed it, as did Dr Chris Geary (our own Dave Roberts Shoes), Dan Brooks, Tom Tippett, Alan Nathan, et al. There were reps from 6 MLB teams attending, including some bearded dude named Bill James. It was a long two days, but worth staying until the very end to see Mitchel Lichtman (mgl) and Dave Cameron (fangraphs) go at it about WAR and defensive stats Jerry Springer style.

[crow216]

Great news. Hope my ticket found a worthy student.

Friend from another forum who found his way there posted this fun review.

Best part by far of the conference by far was Bobby V's Q&A. Sarcastically ripped on the media a lot, and was actually surprisingly revealing when it came to player specifics. He noted that Aviles had been upset a few days before that he wasn't in the lineup, that they felt good about Crawford but not as good about Ellsbury being where he needs to be/was last year. Said he believes in taking any good information and utilizing it, but that he's never received any in particular statistical-based suggestions from the FO. He said that he thought Adrian Gonzalez was overconfident in terms of his approach to high fastballs, and that was the reason for his struggles against the pitch this season. He told a really entertaining anecdotal story about being called up to AAA due to an injury after only having rookie ball experience and being asked to play shortstop when he had only ever been an OFer. Long story short, the pitchers were pissed about his lack of defense and told the manager, Tommy Lasorda, that they would refuse to pitch with him at short. Lasorda responded (as Valentine enthusiastically impersonated) by screaming for every player to get a pen and a paper in the next 5 minutes and that everyone had to line up at Bobby V's locker and get his autograph because someday he would be doing something in the majors and none of them would. It was really fun to watch him impersonate Lasorda. Mentioned that American approach to baseball is really just about emphasizing "less" compared to the Japanese approach. This includes the number of pitches guys throw. Ripped umpires apart (including asking an audience member who noted Bobby's displeasure with the zone what he thought of it the night before), saying he doesn't believe they have the capability to make calls given the short amount of time they have to process where the pitch was and what angle he sees it from. Said he's waiting for the day that they have lasers shoot up from the plate to call strikes.

Tim Bogar and a college baseball coach presented a stat called "OVP" that revolved around giving players a point of credit for doing anything positive (including sac. outs, going from first to third, and having an 8 pitch at-bat). Was interesting but fell short in it's lack of a weight system (anything bad is minus one, anything good is plus one), and seemed to show no real correlation with runs scored. Hard to argue that an 8 pitch AB resulting in an out is worth exactly the same as a walk.

Edited by crow216, 06 August 2012 - 10:52 PM.

[Sprowl]

The 8-pitch threshold is an interesting idea. SoSH has been tracking great at-bats for several seasons, and it is usually the longest at-bats that are the greatest in game impact, either from the at-bat itself or from the exhaustion effect that follows it against other hitters. Presumably they ran significance tests on datasets of at-bats of varying lengths and found a threshold effect at 8 pitches. I would be surprised if Pedroia is not one of the league leaders in the data they obtained.

[shepard50]

I know many of you attended the conference and I, for one, am mighty envious. Absintheofmalaise kindly shared this link with me as a catch up for those of us who couldn't attend (because we either live in Australia or couldn't unlock the padlock from the inside of our basement door.)

It's a nice recap, many thanks to whomever took the time it write it. I look forward to hearing and learning more from those of you who were there.

My Weekend at Saber Seminar

[absintheofmalaise]

We are selling two limited edition posters from the 2012 Sabermetrics, Scouting and the Science of Baseball Seminar. The posters were designed by John Kenyon and are letterpress printed on 100% cotton Crane Lettra paper and individually hand numbered in a one-time run of 150 posters. They measure 18″ x 24″. You may purchase one for $35 plus or two for $55. Prices include $5 for shipping. All net proceeds of the sales go to The Jimmy Fund.

[Pearl Wilson]

That is awesome work by John.

[absintheofmalaise]

These are selling pretty quickly if you're on the fence about buying one.