3.9. Sports Case Study

Sports sees significant growth in analytics with pervasive statistics shifting to more sophisticated measures. We start with baseball as game is built around segments dominated by individuals where detailed (video/image) achievement measures including PITCHf/x and FIELDf/x are moving field into big data arena. There are interesting relationships between the economics of sports and big data analytics. We look at Wearables and consumer sports/recreation. The importance of spatial visualization is discussed. We look at other Sports: Soccer, Olympics, NFL Football, Basketball, Tennis and Horse Racing.

3.9.1. Sports Informatics I : Sabermetrics (Basic)

3.9.1.1. Unit Overview

This unit discusses baseball starting with the movie Moneyball and the 2002-2003 Oakland Athletics. Unlike sports like basketball and soccer, most baseball action is built around individuals often interacting in pairs. This is much easier to quantify than many player phenomena in other sports. We discuss Performance-Dollar relationship including new stadiums and media/advertising. We look at classic baseball averages and sophisticated measures like Wins Above Replacement.

  • Slides: 40 slides: PDF

3.9.1.2. Introduction and Sabermetrics (Baseball Informatics) Lesson

Introduction to all Sports Informatics, Moneyball The 2002-2003 Oakland Athletics, Diamond Dollars economic model of baseball, Performance - Dollar relationship, Value of a Win.

3.9.1.3. Basic Sabermetrics

Different Types of Baseball Data, Sabermetrics, Overview of all data, Details of some statistics based on basic data, OPS, wOBA, ERA, ERC, FIP, UZR.

3.9.1.4. Wins Above Replacement

Wins above Replacement WAR, Discussion of Calculation, Examples, Comparisons of different methods, Coefficient of Determination, Another, Sabermetrics Example, Summary of Sabermetrics.

3.9.1.5. Resources

3.9.2. Sports Informatics II : Sabermetrics (Advanced)

This unit discusses ‘advanced sabermetrics’ covering advances possible from using video from PITCHf/X, FIELDf/X, HITf/X, COMMANDf/X and MLBAM.

  • Slides: 41 pages: PDF

3.9.2.1. Pitching Clustering

A Big Data Pitcher Clustering method introduced by Vince Gennaro, Data from Blog and video at 2013 SABR conference.

3.9.2.2. Pitcher Quality

Results of optimizing match ups, Data from video at 2013 SABR conference.

3.9.2.3. PITCHf/X

Examples of use of PITCHf/X.

3.9.2.4. Other Video Data Gathering in Baseball

FIELDf/X, MLBAM, HITf/X, COMMANDf/X.

3.9.3. Sports Informatics III : Other Sports

We look at Wearables and consumer sports/recreation. The importance of spatial visualization is discussed. We look at other Sports: Soccer, Olympics, NFL Football, Basketball, Tennis and Horse Racing.

  • Slides: 44 pages: PDF

3.9.3.1. Wearables

Consumer Sports, Stake Holders, and Multiple Factors.

3.9.3.2. Soccer and the Olympics

Soccer, Tracking Players and Balls, Olympics.

3.9.3.3. Spatial Visualization in NFL and NBA

NFL, NBA, and Spatial Visualization.

3.9.3.4. Tennis and Horse Racing

Tennis, Horse Racing, and Continued Emphasis on Spatial Visualization.