Spinning Yarn: Last Pitch
1/25One of our finest analytical minds says farewell and rides off into the sabermetric sunset to join an MLB team, introducing our newest addition in the process.
Spinning Yarn: Hit-and-Run Success is No Accident
12/21The hit-and-run is much maligned as a small-ball tactic, but it's a surprisingly successful strategy.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: How Does Quality of Contact Relate to BABIP?
11/22Mike continues his investigation of HITf/x data to glean more insights into whether pitchers can prevent hits on balls in play.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Who Controls How Hard the Ball is Hit?
11/16When a batter and pitch face off, which has a greater effect on how hard the ball is hit, and what can that tell us about pitcher BABIP?
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Can We Predict Hot and Cold Zones for Hitters?
10/26When is hot truly hot, and when is it not?
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Removing the Mask Encore Presentation
9/24In case you missed Mike Fast's extraordinary research into quantifying the heretofore hidden contributions of catchers, we're moving it back to the top of the list for the weekend.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Home Plate Umpire Positioning
9/07Does the way an umpire positions himself behind home plate affect the boundaries of his strike zone?
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Why are Batters Hit by Pitches?
8/17What factors determine how often hitters take one for the team?
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Counsell for the Defense
8/04Dissecting Craig Counsell's 45-at-bat hitless streak
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: A Zone of Their Own
7/20As Jose Bautista can attest, the percentage of pitches a batter sees in the strike zone tells us a good deal about his capabilities.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Vogelsong Poetry
6/15Examining the approach that has made Ryan Vogelsong a giant among Giants with the aid of PITCHf/x.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: The Real Strike Zone, Part 2
6/01When it comes to determining the actual upper and lower boundaries of the zone, pitchers may have more to tell us than the players at the plate.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Speed Traps
5/11How can we distinguish between benign fluctuations in fastball speed and those that indicate injury or ineffectiveness ahead?
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: A Soria Subject
4/27Do his early-season struggles suggest that Royals closer Joakim Soria's best days lie behind him, or can he succeed with a different style?
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: Do Spring Speeds Matter?
3/30Mike examines whether velocity changes in March and April can reveal whether the radar gun will be a pitcher's friend or foe throughout the season.
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightSpinning Yarn: How Accurate is PitchTrax?
3/02Before you yell at the umpire, consider making a few adjustments to your dataset.
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