Comments on: Shift! http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:42:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hans http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63943 Hans Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:38:13 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63943 Would be great to see this data for the greater hitters in history, like Ted Williams. Would be great to see this data for the greater hitters in history, like Ted Williams.

]]> By: LarryinLA http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63896 LarryinLA Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:31:38 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63896 What's the definition of 'shift effected?' Seems a bit vague and ambiguous to me. When fielders are in different positions, just about every ball in play has a different difficulty factor for fielding it than if the shift wasn't on. It seems like excluding some plays will bias shift BABIP depending on whether those balls are easy or tough to field normally (the obvious ones to exclude are easy fly balls). At any rate, this would certainly change the mix of hit types you'd see. I'd also want to see if hitters are changing their approach. Does ISO go down, say? But, I'm assuming they've excluded HRs. And any ball lined into the gap, maybe. So, how can I tell? Without definitons, it's impossible for anyone other than the creators of the data to be able to interpret the results. What’s the definition of ‘shift effected?’ Seems a bit vague and ambiguous to me. When fielders are in different positions, just about every ball in play has a different difficulty factor for fielding it than if the shift wasn’t on. It seems like excluding some plays will bias shift BABIP depending on whether those balls are easy or tough to field normally (the obvious ones to exclude are easy fly balls). At any rate, this would certainly change the mix of hit types you’d see. I’d also want to see if hitters are changing their approach. Does ISO go down, say? But, I’m assuming they’ve excluded HRs. And any ball lined into the gap, maybe. So, how can I tell? Without definitons, it’s impossible for anyone other than the creators of the data to be able to interpret the results.

]]> By: David Appelman http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63876 David Appelman Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:24:32 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63876 For Delgado it was 89 AB. There might be something there with such a low BABIP, but it's not the best sample size. For Delgado it was 89 AB. There might be something there with such a low BABIP, but it’s not the best sample size.

]]> By: Eric http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63874 Eric Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:34:11 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63874 Do you have the sample sizes involved for Delgado for shift effected plays versus the rest? The gap between .191 and .285 is pretty huge, but not really if the .191 is just 40 PAs... Do you have the sample sizes involved for Delgado for shift effected plays versus the rest? The gap between .191 and .285 is pretty huge, but not really if the .191 is just 40 PAs…

]]> By: David Appelman http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63857 David Appelman Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:19:20 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63857 I believe they just don't record the shift at all when the shift isn't relevant in the result of the play. The main point of getting this was really to add another piece to the fielding data on the site, so I think only knowing when the shift effected the play will work just as well for that purpose, though it would be nice to know every time there's a shift when examining batters. I believe they just don’t record the shift at all when the shift isn’t relevant in the result of the play. The main point of getting this was really to add another piece to the fielding data on the site, so I think only knowing when the shift effected the play will work just as well for that purpose, though it would be nice to know every time there’s a shift when examining batters.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63846 Jeremy Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:01:01 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63846 Wow, I wish this data had been available when we tried the study. Really good stuff. To be honest, when our data showed that the shift didn't effect David Ortiz, I didn't much believe it, but I'm glad to see this somewhat confirms our numbers. And do they not even record when shifts are implemented but not relevant in or did they just not provide you with that data? I agree with Brian that it would be great if defensive alignments were recorded. Or better yet, take a snap shot from a bird's eye view on any pitch of each at bat and mark where each player is positioned. Wow, I wish this data had been available when we tried the study. Really good stuff. To be honest, when our data showed that the shift didn’t effect David Ortiz, I didn’t much believe it, but I’m glad to see this somewhat confirms our numbers.

And do they not even record when shifts are implemented but not relevant in or did they just not provide you with that data? I agree with Brian that it would be great if defensive alignments were recorded. Or better yet, take a snap shot from a bird’s eye view on any pitch of each at bat and mark where each player is positioned.

]]> By: Brian Cartwright http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63838 Brian Cartwright Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:19:10 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63838 I agree with Jimmie. I made a list on Tango's blog a little while ago of 6 or 8 basic defensive alignments (infield in, corners in, infield shifted right, etc). Just add a code to the database alogn with the results and let the analysts figure out what it means. It would keep me busy for awhile. I agree with Jimmie. I made a list on Tango’s blog a little while ago of 6 or 8 basic defensive alignments (infield in, corners in, infield shifted right, etc). Just add a code to the database alogn with the results and let the analysts figure out what it means. It would keep me busy for awhile.

]]> By: JimmieFox http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63831 JimmieFox Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:48:30 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63831 I'm probably missing something but why would Baseball Info Solutions only record a shift when effective? It just seems funny to not document every single shift and then tell us the resulting outcome of that particular AB. I’m probably missing something but why would Baseball Info Solutions only record a shift when effective? It just seems funny to not document every single shift and then tell us the resulting outcome of that particular AB.

]]> By: MattS http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/shift/#comment-63820 MattS Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:44:36 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=3217#comment-63820 I wrote an article about the implications of this a couple weeks ago. What it means is that hitters who are shifted against are primarily vulnerable to lower BABIPs with bases empty than with men on, and hence have higher BABIPs in higher leverage situations-- thus making them naturally more clutch in performance without being clutch in contact. Here's the article: http://www.thegoodphight.com/2009/1/29/741980/there-is-clutch-or-the-cas I wrote an article about the implications of this a couple weeks ago. What it means is that hitters who are shifted against are primarily vulnerable to lower BABIPs with bases empty than with men on, and hence have higher BABIPs in higher leverage situations– thus making them naturally more clutch in performance without being clutch in contact. Here’s the article:

http://www.thegoodphight.com/2009/1/29/741980/there-is-clutch-or-the-cas

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