Welcome
Issue One Hundred And Seventy-One.
First of Twenty Twenty Five, happy new year!
Wearable technology enhances football performance by providing real-time data to optimize training and recovery. In MLB, the shift ban modestly improved batting stats, while LAFC's tactical flexibility drives their success, and defense played a key role in overachieving pitchers like Berríos. Additionally, NFL edge rushers like Watt face frequent chips, impacting their pass rush.
This Week's Lineup
How Wearable Technology Elevates Elite Football Performance
Wearable technology, like GPS trackers and heart rate monitors, collects real-time data on athletes' movements, heart rate, and physical load. This data aids coaches in optimizing training, reducing injury risks, and improving recovery.
[Research Paper] The Effects of Major League Baseball’s Ban on Infield Shifts: A QuasiExperimental Analysis
This study analyzes MLB's 2023 shift ban using causal inference methods, showing it modestly improved batting average and on-base percentage, with varied impacts across individual players. The findings highlight valuable sports analytics methods.
Stat of the Week: Who Were 2024’s Most Overachieving Pitchers?
In 2024, pitchers like José Berríos and Ryan Yarbrough outperformed their expected OPS allowed, benefiting from strong defensive support. Their success highlights how defense can influence a pitcher's actual performance.
Are Los Angeles FC Evolving Into The Ideal MLS Team?
LAFC's tactical flexibility and balance between possession and counterattacking play have driven their recent success. Their adaptability, highlighted by formation shifts, and star player Denis Bouanga's counterattacking prowess, set them apart.
Chip Percentage: How frequently are NFL edge rushers getting chipped?
No defender in the NFL has been chipped more than Watt, who has been contacted on almost a third of his pass-rush snaps through 14 weeks.
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Unexpected Points Added is curated and maintained by Patrick Hayes.
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