Statcast Podcast

There's a new sheriff in town after Aaron Hicks surpassed Carlos Gomez for the fastest thrown baseball in the Statcast era at 105.5 mph. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers marvel at Hicks' arm strength and try to demystify stabilization with their guest, Russell Carleton from Baseball Prospectus. They also debate whether Bryce Harper or Mike Trout is better, as well as compare Clayton Kershaw to Noah Syndergaard, To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal is officially on the Statcast train. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers caught up with Rosenthal to find out how he sees the game using statistics most effectively, whether or not he'll bring up analytics in locker room interviews and why defensive stats provide the best read on a player's ability. Plus, the guys break down the most impressive starters, the ones having the most trouble and whether or not it's time to push the panic button on Shelby Miller. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heavy hitters are making their way out of Puerto Rico and into the Major Leagues. Former big leaguer and current ESPN broadcaster Alex Cora joins Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers to explain why so many hot bats like Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor come from the baseball-rich country and who he would choose to make up his infield based on today's advanced statistics. Plus, the guys take a look back at the first few days of Opening Week and spotlight a few guys who are standing out for Statcast. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do the numbers 88.2 mph, 327 feet, 94.4 mph and 3.85 seconds have to do with the 2015 season? Statcast host Mike Petriello and MLB.com national editor Matt Meyers take a look back at each team's most impressive statistic and go around the league to make their prediction for division winners and standouts for 2016. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can Drew Smyly and Alex Wood help your fantasy team? Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers spotlight seven bounceback pitchers worth keeping your eyes on. MLB.com Director of baseball research and development Daren Willman joins the Statcast podcast to highlight his work studying outfield range and where this data could be used in realtime broadcasts. Plus, hear how Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley focuses on "sneaky fast" pitches and how he's helping transform the San Diego pitching staff. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Blackmon was one of three players in 2015 to steal 40 bases. Statcast host Mike Petriello caught up with Blackmon at Spring Training to find out why he finds statistics so compelling and why fantasy owners should pay attention. Plus, MLB.com national editor Matt Meyers joins Petriello to spotlight the biggest, baddest, Statcast loving bats in the game and how they can affect your fantasy draft. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1982, Dan Evans literally changed the playing field in baseball for the White Sox. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers take time to hear how Evans, current director of the Pacific Rim for the Blue Jays, came up with the idea to shorten the field, what it was like to be so far ahead of the analytics world and how he looks at foreign statistics and their translation to American baseball. Plus, Mike and Matt discuss just how instrumental Evans' forward thinking has proven to be to the baseball world today and how Korean hitters are making a major splash in the Major Leagues. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the world of Statcast grows, so do the amazing accomplishments hitters, fielders, and pitchers achieve. MLB Network's Eric Byrnes joins Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers to explain why he still might be playing the game if he recognized spin rate and why Rafael Betancourt's four-seamer is so devastating. Plus, the guys take time breaking down a few players who shine brighter because of Statcast and reveal the Statcast stat of the week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's the difference between useful spin and total spin? Where does the donut hole exist? Dr. Alan Nathan, Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois, joins Statcast host Mike Petriello to explain why measuring useful spin is important, how to find the sweet spot in the field and earn a hit and what Dr. Nathan hopes to see for Statcast in the future. Plus, Matt Meyers, MLB.com national editor joins Statcast to dissect Dr. Nathan's ideas and spotlight how the Astros have some of the strongest and fastest talent at the Major League level. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Projections can't anticipate injuries or life events that occur throughout the baseball season but that doesn't stop anyone from trying to predict wins, losses, and player's performances. Jared Cross, creator of Steamer Projections, joins Statcast host Mike Petriello and MLB.com's national editor Matt Meyers to explain how Steamer creates projections, to discuss a few players with high and low projections and why you can't live and die by these numbers. Plus, the guys break down the future of projections with improved statistics and why the World Series Champions aren't necessarily the best team in baseball. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's been the key to success for the No. 3 prospect in the Dodgers organization? Right-handed pitcher Jose De Leon joins Statcast host Mike Petriello and MLB.com's national editor Matt Meyers to give a better insight to how he's changed his approach, discuss his time spent in the Cal League and how the Dodgers organization has changed over the years. Plus, Mike and Matt explain FIP and why pitchers should care about this stat. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can the Coors Field altitude be the Rockies' greatest weapon? Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich joins Statcast host Mike Petriello and MLB.com's national editor Matt Meyers to explain why the sooner the Rockies play to their home-field advantage, the more successful they'll be. They also discuss how the game has changed since Bridich joined in 2005 and how their fastball pitchers can thrive in Colorado. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What fueled Cubs' outfielder Chris Coghlan to use statistics to help turn his career around? Coghlan joins Statcast's Mike Petriello to explain how talking to the right people and understanding why statistics like slugging, on base percentage and route efficiency could turn him into a more complete, above average player. Plus, the guys discuss how manager Joe Maddon's decision making and confidence helped the Cubs earn 24 more wins in 2015. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is it possible that RHP Tyson Ross hits the ball harder than he throws it? Statcast host Mike Petriello and MLB.com's national editor Matt Meyers uncover this mysterious fact, explain how exit velocity correlates to production and remind Mets fans why everything will be alright without Yoenis Cespedes. Plus, MLBPipeline.com's Jonathan Mayo joins Statcast to highlight the Top 100 list coming out January 29 and Cuban prospects coming. through the Major League system To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are the Dodgers still the team to beat in the NL West? MLB.com's national reporter AJ Cassavell joins Statcast host Mike Petriello to explain, despite "winning" the offseason, why the D-backs are still the third best team in the division and how some of the hardest hit balls in baseball are not home runs. (12:00) Plus, newest Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis joins Statcast to detail his new gig and how he will utilize stats in his broadcast to help viewers see the old-school game in a new way. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How big of a role do statistics play in a pro scout's job? Statcast host Mike Petriello checks in with Astros Director of Pro Scouting Kevin Goldstein to take a look into his day-to-day operations and why statistics play a role in his decisions. Plus, MLB.com's Pirates reporter Adam Berry joins Statcast to forecast Andrew McCutchen's production in 2016 and why Arquimedes Caminero's statistics are a team's dream. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Statcast's reach is growing wider and higher heading into its second season. MLB.com's Daren Willman joins Statcast host Mike Petriello to discuss how he got his start in Statcast and where the future lies for data-driven information. (10:30) Plus, former big league pitcher Brian Bannister talks shop with Petriello about his new gig as the director of pitching analysis and development for the Boston Red Sox, Dave Dombrowski's view of statistics and how he'll help his pitchers grow through numbers. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plenty of questions surround two AL Central teams looking to contend in 2016. Statcast host Mike Petriello chats with Aaron Gleeman, author at HardballTalk, to learn how the Twins' offense gets a major boost with recently acquired Byung Ho Park and how Miguel Sano is so successful at the dish. (16:30) Plus, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian joins Statcast to demystify why Carlos Carrasco is one of the most underrated pitchers in the game. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can spin rate revive a pitcher's career? Statcast host Mike Petriello dives into this idea with Tigers reporter Jason Beck as they explore how Justin Verlander finished 2015 stronger than he started. (19:32) Plus, Angels reporter Alden Gonzalez joins Statcast to evaluate how Garrett Richards' out of this world spin rate could help him be the ace he's meant to be on the mound. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does high spin rate correlate with a higher number of injuries? How does Driveline Baseball find success in their slogan, "throw harder and reduce your injury risk"? Kyle Boddy, President and Founder of Driveline Baseball, joins Statcast host Mike Petriello to answer these questions and more. (15:35) Plus, Padres beat reporter Corey Brock joins Statcast to discuss San Diego's offseason plan and how the Friars front office is utilizing statistics like spin rate to find success in their starting rotation. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices