The MVP Machine

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The MVP Machine Page 42

by Ben Lindbergh


  12. Brendan Gawlowski, “Soft Toss: Behind Driveline Baseball,” Baseball Prospectus, December 23, 2015, www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/28102/soft-toss-behind-driveline-baseball/.

  Chapter 6: The 10,000-Pitch Rule

  1. K. Anders Ericsson, Peak (New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016), 31.

  2. K. Anders Ericsson, Ralf Th. Krampe, and Clemens Tesch-Römer, “The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance,” Psychological Review 100, no. 3 (1993): 363–406.

  3. Rod Cross, “How to Curve a Baseball or Swing a Cricket Ball,” January 24, 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-3jnOIJg4k.

  Chapter 7: The Conduit

  1. D.K. Willardson, Quantitative Hitting: Surprising Discoveries of the Game’s Best Hitters (Hitting Tech, 2018).

  2. Seymour B. Sarason, The Culture of the School and the Problem of Change (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1971), chapter 2, https://archive.org/details/cultureofschool00sara.

  3. https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.sport.baseball/0RK6WRWEQks/R80tkdYC5bQJ.

  4. Nick Piecoro, “Dan Haren, Burke Badenhop Among New Wave in Front Office,” Azcentral Sports, USA Today Network, March 26, 2017, https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2017/03/26/dan-haren-burke-badenhop-among-new-wave-front-offices/99521052/.

  5. Larry Stone, “Bannister Digs into Stats to Pile Up Pitching Feats,” Seattle Times, April 20, 2008.

  6. Tyler Kepner, “Use of Statistics Helps Greinke to A.L. Cy Young, New York Times, November 17, 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/sports/baseball/18pitcher.html.

  Chapter 8: Perfect Pitch

  1. Adam Kilgore, “‘Granny’ Shot Master Rick Barry Is Glad Someone Had the Guts to Bring It Back to the NBA,” Washington Post, December 27, 2016.

  2. Kellie Green Hall, Derek A. Domingues, and Richard Cavazos, “Contextual Interference Effects with Skilled Baseball Players,” Perceptual and Motor Skills 78 (1994): 835–841, www.gwern.net/docs/spacedrepetition/1994-hall.pdf.

  Chapter 9: We’re All Astronauts

  1. Carol Dweck, “What Having a ‘Growth Mindset’ Actually Means,” Harvard Business Review, January 13, 2016, https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means.

  Chapter 12: The All-Star Player-Coach

  1. Travis Sawchik, “For Pirates’ Alvarez, the Struggle with the ‘Yips’ Is Real,” Trib Live, August 9, 2014, https://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6571471-74/alvarez-sax-blass.

  Chapter 14: Just Be Better

  1. David Laurila, “Prospectus Q&A: Craig Breslow,” Baseball Prospectus, December 18, 2006, www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/5769/prospectus-qa-craig-breslow/.

  Chapter 15: Soft Factors

  1. Alan S. Kornspan and Mary J. MacCracken, “Professional Baseball: The Pioneering Work of David F. Tracy,” NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture, University of Nebraska Press 11, no. 2 (Spring 2003).

  2. Dan Kopf, “The 2008 Financial Crisis Completely Changed What Majors Students Choose,” Quartz, August 29, 2018, https://qz.com/1370922/the-2008-financial-crisis-completely-changed-what-majors-students-choose/.

  Chapter 17: No Ceiling

  1. David Gassko, “League Difficulty (Part 4),” Hardball Times, April 16, 2007, https://tht.fangraphs.com/tht-live/league-difficulty-part-4/.

  2. Zach Smith, “Never Say Die: Brandon Mann Makes MLB Debut After More Than 16 Seasons,” Hill Country News (Cedar Park, TX), July 11, 2018, http://hillcountrynews.com/stories/never-say-die-brandon-mann-makes-mlb-debut-after-more-than-16-seasons,77745.

  3. John Thorn, “The Sky Is Falling, Baseball Is Dying, and the Roof May Leak: The Consolations of History in Calamitous Times,” Our Game (blog), November 19, 2018, https://ourgame.mlblogs.com/the-sky-is-falling-baseball-is-dying-and-the-roof-may-leak-e3f7e0b0e48d.

  Epilogue: The Residue of Design

  1. Bob Nightengale, “Trevor Bauer Says He Suffered ‘Character Assassination’ but Insists There’s No Ill Will with Indians,” USA Today, February 14, 2019, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2019/02/14/trevor-bauer-cleveland-indians-arbitration/2869671002/.

  INDEX

  Aaron, Hank, 317

  Abreu, José, 281

  Adams, Ansel, 121, 131, 132, 138

  Adler, Daniel, 179

  Aerial Attack Study (Boyd), 20

  Albert, Jeff, 197

  Alderson, Sandy, 12

  Allen, Cody, 92

  Allen, Dick, 48

  Almora, Albert, 154

  Alonso, Yonder, 277

  Altuve, José, 170, 174–175, 182, 186

  American Sports Medical Institute (ASMI), 71, 72, 73–74, 116–117

  Anderson, Tyler, 308

  Ankiel, Rick, 243

  Antonetti, Chris, 23, 149, 150

  Appel, Mark

  injury question and, 184–185

  not making majors, 176, 177, 275

  Applied Technology in Pitching (Boyle, Wayne/Sean), 215

  Arenado, Nolan, 303

  Aristotle, 70

  arm-care (ABCA convention), 197–198

  Armour, Mark, 13, 41, 42

  Arnold, Matt, 63

  Arrieta, Jake, 123

  Aspen Institute, 331

  Astros

  bunt play fiasco (2012), 169, 171

  Correa hacking data and, 195

  downsizing/reasoning, 183–184

  draft edge and, 172

  examples of failures, 175–177

  growth mindset and, 167–168, 172, 180, 290

  leaders backgrounds, 171–172

  people leaving/changes, 196–197

  PITCHf/x use, 173

  pitching coaches purge and, 180–181

  player-development expansion, 177–178

  player development/sabermetrics and, 163–167, 169–178, 179–189, 191, 192–193, 194–198

  scouts and, 191–192, 194, 195

  status 2009–2014, 168–169

  status/improvement (2015–2018), 169–171

  technology and, 171, 173, 177, 182–185, 187, 189, 191, 192–193, 194, 197

  World Series win (2017), 164

  Athletic Pitcher, The (Wolforth), 28–29

  Athletic, The website, 179, 330

  Avila, Alex, 307

  Axford, John, 248

  BACS (Baseball Analytics and Coaching System), 147

  Baker, John

  as conduit, 286

  player development, 286–287, 288–289, 291, 300

  softer baseball factors and, 286–287, 288–289, 291

  Baldelli, Rocco, 179

  Ball Yard. See Latta, Doug/Ball Yard

  Bannister, Brian, 129, 130–131

  on analyst market, 321–322

  as analytical coach (MLB), 6–7, 121–124, 125, 129, 138–139, 140–144

  art/science of baseball, 131, 135

  as conduit (player development), 129, 132, 135–136, 147

  diagnosing his pitching, 141–142

  Fast and, 173

  on golf player development, 59

  Greinke and, 135–136, 310

  Hill and, 6–7, 121–124, 125, 129, 340

  Japan and, 134

  McClure’s criticism and, 134–135, 140

  minor leagues/diet, 293

  photography and, 130–131, 138

  pitch types and, 121, 122–126

  as pitcher/stats, 131–132, 133–134

  PITCHf/x data and, 132, 133, 136, 137

  on pitching machines, 327

  player development and, 142–143, 324

  on player-development era, 11, 278, 332

  playoffs/World Series and, 335–336

  Bannister, Brian (continued)

  positions with Boston, 138

  questions on pitching, 136–137

  Red Sox postseason/players (2018) and, 336–341

  responses to his recommendations and, 139

  sabermetrics and, 132–133, 134–139, 140–144, 173, 193

  self-directed reconstruction, 133–13
4

  technology use, 141

  Bannister, Floyd, 129–130, 132, 134, 139–140, 335

  Bard, Luke, 89

  Barnes, Matt, 339, 341

  Barrett, Charley, 41

  Barry, Rick, 151, 152

  Baseball America, 34, 168, 169, 243, 260, 303

  baseball comparisons across eras, 317–319, 318 (fig.), 320

  Baseball Gauge, The, 341

  Baseball Injury Consultants, 297

  Baseball Prospectus, 16, 18, 44, 69, 70, 79, 97, 128, 173, 174, 175, 230, 254, 266, 268, 293, 324, 332

  batting cage origins, 42–43, 44

  batting helmet origins, 42

  Bauer, Kathy, 248, 249

  Bauer, Trevor, 3, 23–24, 25, 35, 116, 120, 137, 262

  agent/agency selection and, 22–23

  aging concerns and, 106, 119, 344, 345

  ALDS (2018), 341, 342

  All Star game (2018), 237, 239, 241

  arbitration process and, 343

  Arizona Diamondbacks and, 23, 25, 36–38, 80, 150

  assisting teammates, 241–247

  Astros relationship, 199, 241

  ball cap and, 22, 150

  baseball/training as youth, 26, 27–28, 29–30, 117, 119

  “being a good teammate,” 149–150

  biomechanics of pitching and, 81–84

  Boddy and, 39, 154, 155, 342, 346

  Breslow and, 271–272

  catcher for, 238–239

  college baseball, 24, 33, 34, 35–36, 187

  control loss/return, 248–252

  Cy Young Award chase and, 8, 24, 34, 118, 119, 237, 241, 250, 280, 281, 282–283, 285, 343, 345

  designing pitches, 109–110

  drone accident and, 21, 145, 279–280

  Edgertronic cameras and, 2–4, 107, 108–110, 112, 155, 156–158, 159, 246, 247, 252, 284, 344

  efficient training and, 106

  “grit”/growth mindset and, 25

  high school baseball, 26, 33–34

  Housel and, 21

  improvement, 1–4, 8, 23–24, 105, 114–115

  injury (2018), 281–284, 284–285

  Laminar Express pitch, 109, 110, 160, 252, 253, 352

  Latta and, 231

  Lincecum and, 34–35, 36, 82

  major-league stats, 237

  minor-league season (2013), 82–84

  off-season biomechanics, 342

  pain development, 82

  physics and, 111–112

  pitch design and, 109–110, 111–113, 114, 154

  pitching speed, 30, 31, 114, 118

  pregame data on opponent, 239

  pregame routines, 32, 36–37, 80–81, 199

  pulldown/long-toss, 28, 33, 36–37, 199, 242

  scouting/draft and, 36–37

  sharing techniques and, 152–153, 154, 216

  shoulder tube and, 31–32, 33, 37, 80, 151

  Silvio (pitching instructor) and, 27–28

  “69 Days of Giving,” 343

  social media and, 149, 150, 342–344

  SpinGate/experiments and, 200–201, 202, 203, 204, 205–207

  spring training, 148–149, 155

  Texas Baseball Ranch and, 22, 23, 30, 31, 39

  threshold score and, 151, 159

  weightlifting, 115, 118

  weighted-balls use, 27, 119, 148, 152–153, 242, 245

  worries/other pitchers’ development and, 345

  Bauer, Trevor/Driveline

  pitching to hitters, 115–116

  improvement, 85–86, 117–120

  Boddy on, 116–119

  elbow spiral and, 246

  Indians recall, 85–86

  memory card and, 39, 81

  off-season work (2018–2019), 1–4, 116, 344–345, 346

  pitching biomechanics and, 81–82

  pivot pick drill/weighted balls, 84–85

  reputation, 304

  workouts (2013–2014), 84–86

  Bauer, Trevor/slider (Myelin Express)

  designing, 111–113, 116, 120, 154–160, 161 (fig.)

  game at Detroit (2018) and, 159, 160

  stats (2018), 159–160, 239, 240 (fig.), 241

  Stroman’s slider and, 157–158

  Bauer, Warren

  Boddy/Edgertronic camera and, 113

  son/training and, 24, 25, 26, 27–28, 30, 32, 35, 83, 107, 108–109, 112, 113, 155, 231, 248, 250, 251, 252

  Bauers, Jack, 143

  Baumann, Michael, 282

  Beadle, Jim, 227–228

  Beane, Billy, Moneyball/A’s and, 12–14, 59

  Bedrosian, Cam, 89

  Beilock, Sian, 244

  Bell, Josh, 249

  Benetti, Jason, 281

  Berinsky, Adam, 128

  Bettis, Chad, 308

  Betts, Mookie

  Axe Bat, 87, 88, 89, 102

  Latta/Ball Yard and, 87, 88

  OPS, 87

  postseason play (2018), 340

  transformation/influence, 7–8, 87–90, 100–102, 255

  Bieser, Steve, 210–211, 212–213, 214

  Bingol, Spencer, 141

  Birnbaum, Phil, 15

  Bjornson, Craig, 197

  Blake, Matt, 154

  Blass, Steve, 243

  Blast sensors, 185, 189, 192, 197, 222, 227, 232, 235, 296, 298–299

  Bledsoe Agency, The, 245, 247, 314, 315, 342

  Bledsoe, Dustin, 314

  Bledsoe, Hunter, 314

  block practice, 153

  Boddy, Kyle, 66, 79–81, 137

  anxiety/depression and, 66, 67, 75

  Astros and, 180–181

  baseball interest beginnings, 67–69

  Bauer and, 39, 154, 155, 342, 346

  Clevinger and, 150–151

  Driveline blog, 63, 71

  helping Dodgers and, 247–248

  meeting with Rays and, 63, 64–65

  MLB pitching coach position and, 346

  player development/analysis and, 63–65, 67, 70

  research/goals, 63–64, 65, 216

  SpinGate and, 200–201, 202

  Texas Baseball Ranch and, 81

  wearable technology (arm sleeve), 81

  Wolforth and, 80

  Boddy, Kyle/Driveline

  biomechanics lab and, 73–75

  Cingrani and, 315

  coaching verbal cues and, 85

  Lindbergh’s assessment, 218–224

  MaxVelo Program, 77, 219

  Ochart and, 256–257

  pitching biomechanics, 71, 72–79, 109

  pulldown drill, 77

  revenue, 346

  sending info to teams, 244

  space/relocations and, 77–78, 84

  technology, 1–4, 8, 219–226, 231, 345–346

  3-D analysis and, 73–75

  weighted balls and, 75–79, 150–151, 248, 304, 320

  See also Bauer, Trevor/Driveline

  Body Issue, The (ESPN: The Magazine), 118

  Bogaerts, Xander, 101–102

  Bohack, Josh, 30–31

  Bonds, Barry, 275

  Bonifay, Josh, 196

  Boone, Bob, 23

  Bosch, Frans, 76, 152

  Bourn, Michael, 92

  Bowen, Rex, 43

  Boyd, John, 20–21

  Boyle, Sean, 215

  Boyle, Wayne, 215

  Bradley, Jackie, Jr., 101–102

  brain, research and training, 104–105, 293, 328–329

  Breadon, Sam, 41

  breathing exercises, 294

  Bregman, Alex

  as baseball player/improvement, 170, 186, 259–260, 342

  draft pick and, 170

  SpinGate/Bauer and, 202, 241

  Breslow, Craig, 265, 266, 270

  Bauer and, 271–272

  becoming conduit, 274

  following changes/end of playing, 270–274

  Hill and, 269–270, 273

  Breslow, Craig (continued)

  pitching problems/changes and, 266–270

 
technology and, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272

  Brett, George, 185

  Brewer, Clive, 296

  Brewster, Ben, 29

  Briend, Sam, 223–224

  Britton, Zach, 269

  Broadie, Mark, 325

  Brooks Baseball, 137, 138

  Brooks, Dan, 138

  Bryant, Kris, 287

  Buckel, Cody, 243–244, 245

  Buehler, Walker, 345

  Bush, Dave

  on minor leagues, 293

  on MLB player abilities, 319

  player development, 144, 147, 294, 330

  Byrd, Marlon

  Latta/Ball Yard and, 99

  suspensions/banned substance, 90

  swing transformation, 90, 102

  Turner and, 90, 91–92, 96

  CAA talent agency, 22

  Cadavid, Steven, 297

  Callaway, Mickey, 114

  Cameron, Dave, 132, 277

  Candiotti, Tom, 237, 280

  Caravan, Alex, 261

  Carey, John, 208, 209

  Carleton, Russell, 18, 293–294

  Carlton, Steve, 130

  Carpenter, Bob, 47, 48, 49

  Cash, Kevin, 333

  Castellanos, Nick, 159, 160

  Castro, Jason, 174, 175

  Catapult tracking devices, 182, 298

  Chamberlain, Craig, 98

  Chamberlain, Wilt, 151–152

  Chaves, Rafael, 132

  Cherington, Ben, 16

  Chernoff, Mike, 83

  Cherveny, Patrick, 296–297

  Chester, Bob, 157, 284

  Chicago Cubs, experiments, 45–47, 49

  Chilcott, Steve, 176

  Cingrani, Tony, 315

  Clemens, Roger, 82, 119

  Clevinger, Mike

  Bauer and, 112, 148–149, 150–151, 245, 250

  as pitcher, 112, 156–157, 239, 341

  Cobb, Ty, 55

  Cody Bellinger, 96–97

  Cole, Gerrit

  Bauer and, 35, 36, 199–200, 203

  college baseball/draft and, 35, 36

  Cy Young Award chase and, 282

  spin rate/SpinGate and, 200, 202–203, 207

  trade to Astros/improvement, 8, 188–189, 192

  colleges/player development, 215–216, 218

  Comstock, Keith, 244

  conduits, 128–129, 132, 135–136, 144–147, 286

  constraint/differential training, 152–153

  Cooper, J.J., 34

  Copping, Corey, 247–248

  Cora, Alex, 98, 197, 201

  Corbin, Patrick, 124–125, 143

  Corral, Fred, 197–198

  Correa, Carlos, 170, 195, 340

  Cotham, Caleb, 245, 313, 314–315, 342

  Coyle, Daniel, 154

  Crane, Jim, 168, 169, 196

  Crawford, Carl, 117

  Creighton, Jim, 326

 

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