|
Defensive Spectrum
In sabermetrics, the defensive spectrum is a graphical representation of the positions on a baseball field, arranged from the easiest (such as first base and the outfield corners) on the left to the hardest (such as the catcher and middle infielders) on the right. The spectrum The defensive spectrum is: Designated hitter – First baseman – Left fielder – Right fielder – Third baseman – Center fielder – Second baseman – Shortstop – Catcher – Pitcher In some versions of the defensive spectrum, pitcher and catcher are not included, since the demands of those positions are so specialized as to be inapplicable to players at other positions. The designated hitter is sometimes omitted as well, since that player does not take part in defensive plays. As an example of the concept in action, players who are drafted by Major League Baseball teams as shortstops are far more likely to ultimately end up at a different position than players who are drafted as first basemen. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sabermetrics
Sabermetrics (originally SABRmetrics) is the original or blanket term for sports analytics in the US, the empirical analysis of baseball, especially the development of advanced metrics based on baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the movement's progenitors, members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), founded in 1971, and was coined by Bill James, (in 1980, according to SABR.org), who is one of its pioneers and considered its most prominent advocate and public face. The term moneyball refers to the use of metrics to identify "undervalued players" and sign them to what ideally will become "below market value" contracts; it began as an effort by small-market teams to compete with the much greater resources of big-market ones. Early history English-American sportswriter Henry Chadwick developed the box score in New York City in 1858. This was the first way statisticians were able to describe the sport of baseball by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill James
George William James (born October 5, 1949) is an American baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books about baseball history and statistics. His approach, which he named sabermetrics after the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), scientifically analyzes and studies baseball, often through the use of statistical data, in an attempt to determine why teams win and lose. In 2006, ''Time (magazine), Time'' named him in the Time 100, ''Time'' 100 as one of the most influential people in the world. In 2003, James was hired as senior advisor on Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox and worked for the team for 17 years during which they won four World Series championships. Early life James was born in Holton, Kansas. He joined the United States Army in 1971. After his service, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1973 with degrees in English and economics, and in 197 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Travis Shaw
Travis Richard Shaw (born April 16, 1990) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for three MLB teams—the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays—and was nicknamed the Mayor of Ding Dong City. During his professional career, he was listed at and ; he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His father, Jeff, is a former two-time All-Star pitcher who played for six major-league teams. Amateur career Shaw was born and raised in the city of Washington Court House, Ohio. Shaw attended Washington High School, the alma mater of his father, Jeff, a former MLB closer who was a two-time All-Star who played for six major league teams during an 11-year career. Travis Shaw played college baseball at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. He batted a .307 average with a Mid-American Conference-leading 14 home runs while playing 62 games for the Golden Flashes in 2011. He also slugged .553 an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Max Muncy
Maxwell Steven Muncy (born August 25, 1990) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Baylor Bears baseball, Baylor Bears. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He played in MLB for the Athletics in 2015 and 2016 and later joined the Dodgers in 2018, winning the World Series with the team in 2020 World Series, 2020 and 2024 World Series, 2024. Career Amateur career Muncy attended Keller High School in Keller, Texas. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 41st round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign with Cleveland and attended Baylor University. He played college baseball for the Baylor Bears baseball, Baylor Bears from 2010 to 2012, and also played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2010 and 2011. In his three years at Baylor, Muncy had a .311 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ryan McMahon (baseball)
Ryan Patrick McMahon (born December 14, 1994) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2017. McMahon was an MLB All-Star in 2024. Amateur career McMahon attended Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California), Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California where he played baseball and was a quarterback on his American football, football team. The Rockies selected him in the second round, with the 42nd overall selection, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Professional career McMahon signed with the Rockies, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at the University of Southern California, and made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies. He spent all of 2013 there, batting .321/.402/.583 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in 59 games. In 2014, he played for the Asheville Tourists where he posted a .282 batting average with 18 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 46 doubles in 126 g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
FiveThirtyEight
''FiveThirtyEight'', also rendered as ''538'', was an American website that focused on opinion poll analysis, politics, economics, and sports blogging in the United States. The website, which took its name from the number of electors in the United States electoral college, was founded on March 7, 2008, as a polling aggregation website with a blog created by analyst Nate Silver. In August 2010, the blog became a licensed feature of ''The New York Times'' online and was renamed ''FiveThirtyEight: Nate Silver's Political Calculus''. In July 2013, ESPN acquired ''FiveThirtyEight'', hiring Silver as editor-in-chief and a contributor for '' ESPN.com''; the new publication launched on March 17, 2014. Afterwards, the ''FiveThirtyEight'' blog covered a broad spectrum of subjects including politics, sports, science, economics, and popular culture. In 2018, operations were transferred from ESPN to sister property ABC News (also under parent The Walt Disney Company). During the presiden ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Infield Shift
The infield shift in baseball is a defensive realignment from the standard positions, to place more fielders on one side of the field or another. Used primarily against left-handed batters, it is designed to protect against base hits pulled hard into the gaps between the fielders on one side. Originally called the Williams shift, it has periodically been referred to as the Boudreau shift or Ortiz shift since then. After shifts became very effective in reducing base hits by Major League Baseball (MLB) batters, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) agreed to begin restricting shifts starting in the season. History in Major League Baseball The infield shift strategy is often associated with Ted Williams, yet was first employed against Cy Williams during the 1920s. Cy Williams, a left-handed outfielder with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, was second only to Babe Ruth in major league career home runs from 1923 to 1928. Opposing defenses would shif ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safely as a result. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is usually denoted by the letter K, or sometimes by the initialism SO. A " strikeout looking"—in which the batter does not swing and the third strike is called by the umpire—may be denoted by an inverted K (i.e. ꓘ). Although a strikeout suggests that the pitcher dominated the batter, the free-swinging style that generates home runs also leaves batters susceptible to striking out. Some of the most prolific home run hitters of all time (such as Adam Dunn, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, and Jim Thome) were notorious for striking out often. Notably, Jackson and Thome respectively hold the major league records for most and second mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Society For American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is a membership organization dedicated to fostering the research and dissemination of the history and statistical record of baseball. The organization was founded in Cooperstown, New York, on August 10, 1971, at a meeting of 16 "statistorians" coordinated by sportswriter Bob Davids. The organization now reports a membership of over 7,500 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Membership While the acronym "SABR" was used to coin the word sabermetrics (for the use of sophisticated mathematical tools to analyze baseball), the Society is about much more than statistics. Well-known figures in the baseball world such as Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann, Craig R. Wright, and Rollie Hemond are members, along with highly regarded "sabermetricians" such as Bill James and Rob Neyer. Among Major League Baseball players, Jeff Bajenaru was believed to have been (until 2006) the only active player with a SABR membership; Elden Auker, Larry D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harlond Clift
Harlond Benton "Darkie" Clift (August 12, 1912 – April 27, 1992) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman for the St. Louis Browns (1934–1943) and the Washington Senators (1943–1945). He was an All-Star for the American League in 1937. He threw and batted right-handed, and was listed as tall and . Early life Clift was born in El Reno, Oklahoma. He tried out for the St. Louis Browns in 1931 and sustained an unusual injury during the tryout. While reaching to field a ball, Clift stepped on his own glove, which caused him to trip and roll forward. He broke his collarbone in the fall. Nonetheless, the Browns signed Clift and he made his major-league debut in 1934. Career Clift batted over .300 twice (in and ) and scored 145 runs in 1936, the second highest total in the American League behind Lou Gehrig. In 1937, he set single-season records of 50 double plays and 405 assists, which stood until 1971. The following year, Clift hit a personal best 34 home runs and eq ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby (April 27, 1896 – January 5, 1963), nicknamed "the Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager (baseball), manager, and coach (baseball), coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1915–1926, 1933), New York Giants (NL), New York Giants (1927), Boston Braves (baseball), Boston Braves (1928), Chicago Cubs (1929–1932), and St. Louis Browns (1933–1937). He was named the National League (baseball), National League (NL)'s Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, and was a member of one World Series championship team. Born in Winters, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Hornsby played for several semi-professional and minor league teams. In 1915, he began his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals and remained with the team for 12 seasons. During this period, Hornsby won his first MVP Award and the Cardinals won the 1926 World Series. Afte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nap Lajoie
Napoléon Lajoie (; September 5, 1874 – February 7, 1959), also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American professional baseball second baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "the Frenchman", he represented both Philadelphia franchises and the Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Naps, the latter of which he became the namesake of, and from 1905 through 1909, the List of Major League Baseball player-managers, player-manager. Lajoie was signed to the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) in 1896. By the beginning of the 20th century, however, the upstart American League (AL) was looking to rival the supremacy of the NL and in 1901, Lajoie and dozens of former National League players joined the American League. National League clubs contested the legality of contracts signed by players who jumped to the other league, but eventually Lajoie was allowed to play for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. During the season, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
