A new edition of Player Forecast Manager for generating in-season and past-season values.
A new version of the Player Forecast Manager (PFM) is now available. It allows you to see what players are worth in your fantasy league based on both in-season and past-season data.
Soon, the regular PFM will be updated with data from the 2013 PECOTAs. However, if you would still like to generate values based on the as-is 2012 stats—or stats from any of the past five seasons—this functionality will be available in the new PFM Year-to-Date (YTD). When the season begins, you will also be able to use PFM YTD to generate values for your league based on 2013 statistics.
Chicago Cubs Seek Director of Research & Development
Baseball Operations Position to Report to Assistant GM
Our friends in the Chicago Cubs front office asked that we post this excellent opportunity for someone qualified and interested in working in baseball. Don't forget to tell them Baseball Prospectus sent you!
Description
This role will be responsible for developing and overseeing the research and analytics function within Baseball Operations, reporting to the Assistant GM.
Responsibilities
Perform advanced statistical analysis on large volumes of baseball-related data and implement predictive models to aid in decision-making.
Develop and manage a talented staff (developers, analysts, and consultants) by identifying strong candidates, prioritizing work flows, supervising projects and providing productive feedback.
Present high-level analysis in an effective and articulate manner through the use of written reports, charts, tables, graphics, and other tools that enhance the Department’s decision-making process.
Develop and maintain proprietary projections model for future performance.
Monitor, identify and recommend new or emerging techniques, technologies, models and algorithms applicable to internal processes.
Analyze internal baseball processes in order to develop functional requirements (specifications) for outside vendors and application developers, including requirements, system impact, data flow diagrams, special considerations, etc.
Identify technologies that offer potential value to the organization through meetings with vendors and providers.
Oversee the departmental budget associated with R&D spending.
Contribute to baseball decisions and proactively generate ideas for player acquisition and player usage.
Other projects as directed the Baseball Operations leadership team.
Required Qualifications
Advanced degree or equivalent experience in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative field.
Demonstrated project management, problem-solving, and teaching abilities.
Demonstrated ability to communicate difficult and complex concepts at an appropriate level to colleagues possessing a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
Demonstrated expert-level knowledge (of at least 5 years) with baseball-specific data, modern statistical techniques, and sabermetric analysis.
Demonstrated expertise with R, STATA, SPSS, SAS, or similar software.
Demonstrated expertise with SQL Server, Microsoft Access, My SQL, Oracle, database administration/structuring, data warehousing and data modeling.
Knowledge and demonstrated ability in the areas of programming, software-coding, ETL, and/or machine learning techniques.
BP's Paul Sporer announces his annual Starting Pitcher Guide, and a special BP guest is joining him this year.
The sixth annual version of the Starting Pitching Guide is a comprehensive look at the starting pitching pool in all of baseball, ranging from the aces who will lead your fantasy team to the promised land in 2013 all the way down to the High-A prospects whom you hope will keep your dynasty fantasy team solvent through 2016 (just as your super-cap-friendly Mike Trout contract expires).
An amazing video compilation of what seems to be an art form in Japanese baseball.
If this video is to be believed, the bat flip following a home run is an art in Japanese baseball. The four-minute video, created by a true baseball hero, is mesmerizing to watch. The bats just keep flying. It's as if the NPB is filled with a thousand Carlos Gomez's.
When we talk about "impact" rookies, it's important to note that several rookies will be getting the call to the majors and will fail to help their team in any way, shape, or form. Coming up with a few big hits or making a couple of quality starts, however, could make a big difference at the end of a 162-game season. Here are some AL East rookies who I think can make an impact on their team's success in 2013. Click HERE for my NL East picks.
Jonathan Schoop, 2B: As a 20 year-old, Schoop wasn't overwhelmed in his Double-A debut in 2012. He had 14 home runs, 24 doubles, and 50 walks in 124 games playing primarily second base, which just happens to be the position the O's could be looking to upgrade at some point in 2013. If Brian Roberts fails to stay healthy again,Alexi Casilla and/or Ryan Flaherty could help to fill the void but a strong first half for Schoop could have him in position for an early August promotion for the stretch drive a la Manny Machado.
Dylan Bundy, RHP: The O's head into 2013 with enough rotation depth to compete in the AL East once again. What they will lack early in the season, though, is someone with a pitch arsenal as strong as Bundy, who shot through the minors as a 19 year-old before a late-season cup of coffee in the majors. He'll start the season in either Double-A or Triple-A, where the O's could monitor his workload before unleashing him on big league hitters at some point after June 1st.
Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF: A competitive Red Sox team with a healthy outfield is unlikely to call on Bradley, their likely center fielder and leadoff hitter of the future, in 2013. But if the 22 year-old can continue to show an ability to reach base at a high rate in the upper minors -- he had a .430 OBP between Double-A and Hi-A last season -- while the big league outfield struggles to produce and stay on the field, don't rule him out.
Steven Wright, RHP: The 28 year-old Wright had a terrific 2012 season and continues to get better at his craft, meaning that the Red Sox could have another knuckleballer on their roster less than two seasons removed from Tim Wakefield's last start. Wakefield, of course, debuted in Boston as a 28 year-old in 1995 and ended up winning 186 games for the Sox over the next 17 seasons.
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