Welcome
The fourteenth issue of Unexpected Points Added! Back after a quick bye week to soak up that LA sun.
Please do me a favor and share it with at least one person this week.
Lots of baseball this week (football is coming though, eek)! Field Of Dreams! Are closers actually getting worse? Why are the Giants performing so well? Why is spin rate so important for pitchers? Oh, and a look at NBA draft analytics.
Cheers!
This Week's Lineup
What If ‘Field Of Dreams’ Got A Do-Over?
Last night's game was FANTASTIC. Beginning to end, it had everything that baseball could have hoped for. A fun look at what an updated lineup might look like now, including more representation from the Negro Leagues.
Closers Aren't Closing
Relief pitchers are pitching more, and they're on record pace for blown saves. Using Leverage Index, we see how pitchers are performing in high-leverage situations over the past few years, and it's not pretty.
Modeling Whiff and BABIP Rates from Speed and Spin
We know about the breakdown of sticky substances that pitchers are using, but what advantages does extra spin actually have on performance? By analyzing whiff rate and BABIP, we're informed why the spin rate is so important, with graphs to illustrate.
Swinging Less Is (usually) Better
Looking into O-Swing% (swinging outside the strike zone) and placing it on a scatter plot with strikeout rate and walk rate. Viewing swing rate differential leaderboards provides a hint why the Giants might be so successful this year.
2021 NBA Draft Analytics
An analytical look at highlighting uncertainty in the NBA draft class. Includes machine-learning model vs. the actual pick breakdown—lots of links to dive into and explore further, too.
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Unexpected Points Added is curated and maintained by Patrick Hayes. If you have questions or suggestions for the newsletter, just reply to this email. I answer every single one.