Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball Statcast Surprises & Grouping Hitters by Swing Traits w/Joshua Rodrigues
May 27, 2025
Joining the discussion is Joshua Rodrigues, a skilled baseball coach known for his expertise in hitting and swing data analysis. They dive into how to classify hitters differently using cutting-edge swing data from Baseball Savant. The conversation covers the importance of swing traits like bat speed, attack angle, and swing path tilt. Rodrigues also shares insights on how understanding these metrics can enhance coaching strategies and inform player development.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Bregman Injury Opens Door for Mayer
- Alex Bregman suffered a severe quad strain, likely sidelining him for several weeks as Marcelo Mayer is called up.
- Mayer's rookie season has him striking out more but showing promising power and contact ability.
Skubal's Near-Maddux Gem
- Tarek Skubal pitched a near-Maddux complete game shutout with 13 strikeouts and under 100 pitches.
- His performance joined few no-hitters historically with such high game scores.
Contact Point Shapes Hit Outcomes
- Contact point influences launch angle and pull tendency; hitting further in front increases attack angle and pull rate.
- Pulling the ball aligns with earlier contact, while deeper contact favors grounders to the opposite field.