Page 46 April 2012 Another season has SABR counting on Phoenix of fi ce By Wayne Schutsky Based in Cleveland the past 20 years, the Society for American Baseball Research, better known as SABR, moved to Arcadia last April to take advantage of Phoenix’s rich baseball culture. SABR is a membership organization that brings people together from a variety of backgrounds with the common goal of performing high-quality baseball research, said Jacob Pomrenke, a member of the four-person staff. Bob Davids and a group of researchers at the Baseball Hall of Fame started the organization in 1971 when they saw a need for a place to perform high-quality baseball research, Pomrenke said. After starting with 16 founders, SABR now claims 6,000 members. Through the years, SABR has been responsible for reversing several age- old baseball trends and maxims by introducing accurate research. Much of the analysis produced or inspired by SABR falls under “sabermetrics,” a term fi rst coined by SABR member Bill James. James, who now works as consultant for the Boston Red Sox, popularized looking at baseball beyond the traditional major statistics such as home runs and batting average. “Not a lot of people were interested in the beginning,” Pomrenke said. “They were just interested in the triple-crown stats on the back of baseball cards.” Over time, James and other SABR members researched and wrote on sabermetrics and gained a following. Some commonly used sabermetric ratings include Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) and Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR). The Internet helped increase the popularity of sabermetrics and SABR because it made the data more accessible to everyday fans, Pomrenke said. Sabermetrics has even gone Hollywood. The 2011 fi lm Moneyball , about the Oakland Athletics’ use of advanced data, was a box of fi ce hit and an Oscar nominee. To continue promoting the type of research that led to sabermetrics, SABR publishes three magazines, two editions of the Baseball Research Journal and newsletters. SABR boasts 26 research committees that range from 20th century baseball to the history of the Chicago Black Sox scandal. The organization moved to Phoenix last year because it is one of the only cities with year-round baseball, and Continued on page 47 * Customer must present original ad from Arcadia News, photocopies not accepted. One offer per customer, please. Offer expires 5/31/12, and may not be combined with any other offer. Discount not valid on linen rentals, delivery or set-up, or on any special order items. Other restrictions may apply You are cordially invited to You are cordially invited to A to Z Party & Event Rentals A to Z Party & Event Rentals Everything you need for your dinner, backyard party or any special event. Make it special within your budget! Rent your party equipment at A to Z Party & Event Rentals and get 15% off your total order with this ad!* PHOENIX 4050 E. Indian School Rd. 602-955-5100 www.a-zequipment.com Other Valley Locations: N. PHOENIX • 15643 N. 32nd St. • 602-992-1150 E. VALLEY • 1313 E. Baseline, Gilbert • 480-635-3899 W. VALLEY • 803 E. Van Buren, Avondale • 623-925-0200 30th Street & Indian School Road • 602.957.8402 Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Your Neighborhood Car Wash Visit us at LindstromAutoWash.com for the “Deal of the Month!” Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 4/30/12. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 4/30/12. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 4/30/12. 15% OFF Any Detail Package $3 OFF “The Works” Car Wash $2 OFF Regular Car Wash lid ith th Lindstrom Family Auto Wash lid ith th Lindstrom Family Auto Wash d ith th ff Lindstrom Family Auto Wash PROFESSIONAL DETAIL SERVICES Engine Cleaning • Dress (top only) • Express Shampoo • Express Wax • Leather Cleaning Conditioner • Complete Interior • Exterior Over Spray Removal ARCADIA NEWS ARCADIA NEWS ARCADIA NEWS Autos / Motorcycles • Homes / Mobile Homes • Commercial Vehicles EAST PHOENIX 3517 E. Thomas Rd. (602) 288-2388 E. Thomas Rd. N. 35th St. N. 35th Pl. N. 36th St. WEST PHOENIX 7102 N. 35th Ave. (602) 595-6444 MESA 1027 E. Broadway Rd. (480) 634-5772 $10.00 DISCOUNT off the down payment for a new policy Bring this ad to our of Ƃ ce. www.starinsuranceaz.com Insurance Services LLC VERY LOW INSURANCE PRICES!!!!! VERY LOW INSURANCE PRICES!!!!! Our goal at Inspired Life Strategies is to help YOU to ¿ nd your direction, your passion, your next best thing. Each year, we create a variety of retreat experiences both locally and internationally, designed to help you discover new insights, shed what does not serve you, provide inspiration, expand your horizons, and have an amazing experience that you'll never forget! BALI IMMERSION RETREAT Uncover the Masterpiece - YOU! Ubud and Sanur, Bali, Indonesia Session 1 - September 9 - 19, 2012 Open to all Participants Session 2 - September 20 - 30, 2012 for Behavioral Health and Medical Professionals, Coaches S TUSCANY ADVENTURE Renewing the Joy and Passion in Life Lucca, Italy Session 1 - May 31 - June 7, 2012 Open to all Participants Session 2 - June 9 - 16, 2012 for Behavioral Health & Coaching Professionals Upcoming Retreats & P The most powerful force on earth is the human soul on fire - Ferdinand Foch BALI IMMER RSION RETRE EAT AT T AT RSIO f h h h Ou E d p T TU TU TUS SCANY ADVEN N f f fi www.inspiredlifestrategies.com Inspired Life Strategies, LLC. Retreat Workshops & Transformational Travel
Page 47 April 2012 SABR Continued from page 46 such an environment lends itself to the SABR’s mission. From Spring Training to the Diamondbacks to the Arizona Fall League, the area is buzzing with baseball- related activities. “Phoenix is arguably the baseball capital of the world,” Pomrenke said. In addition to games that take place in Phoenix, Major League Baseball has an of fi ce in the Valley, and USA Baseball has an of fi ce in Tucson. “Phoenix is where the baseball community is,” Pomrenke said. SABR recently brought that community together in the SABR Analytics Conference at the Hilton in Mesa. The conference, the fi rst of its kind, joined the top minds in the baseball analytics community for a few days of intense discussion on technological innovations such as Pitch FX and Field FX. The conference featured talks with industry professionals, including Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall, Cleveland Indians president Mark Shapiro and Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy. In addition to the Analytics Conference, SABR’s yearly convention will be in Minneapolis June 27 to July 1. One of SABR’s most notable contributions to the baseball tradition is its dedication to the accuracy of historical uniforms. When the classic baseball fi lm The Natural came out in the early 1980s, the uniforms of real major league teams used in the movie were historically inaccurate, Pomrenke said. SABR members took the inaccuracies as a wake-up call and did in-depth research to construct an accurate reference for anyone who wished to make use of baseball uniforms from the past. Now, because of that effort, the Baseball Hall of Fame has well-illustrated and detailed depictions of every team’s uniforms dating back to 1901. The main goal of the SABR of fi ce is to facilitate research by its membership. SABR gives baseball researchers from all walks of life, from fans to front-of fi ce executives to amateur historian, the opportunity to organize and show off their work in a city with a year-round baseball presence. SABR is at 4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite D-140. Visit sabr.org or call 800-969- 7227 for more information. a a l Garden • Arcadia High • Peo op p p p s o o • St. Theresa • Basketball • Ki id d ds i se e eu ums • Softball • Shemer Art • Ch hr r ri r Vo o o ol lleyball • Neighborhood News • Sp po o or N te e e er rtainment • Ingleside • Football • N N N a en n n nt ts • Squaw Peak • Recreation • Dram m m ma a d Da a an nce • Church News • Hopi • Arc ca a a n l lt t th & Fitness • Arts & Entertainme e en n a s s • Hopi • Football • Desert Botani ic c c ca S a ad d d dia High • People • Phoenix Zoo • S S le • Ph a as s sketball • Kids • Tavan • Museums s • Tav h h er A l w w w Peak • Recreation • Drama • Baseb ba a a hu u ur rch News • H i Follow the Titans. Visit Sports at l h h hem em emer er er er A A A A Art rt rt rt rt • • • • Ch Ch Ch Ch Chri ri ri ri rist t st st st L L L Lut ut uth he he her ra ran n • • V Vo V l ghborhood News • Sports • Arts & Ent ngleside • Football • Neighborhood w w Pe Peak ak • • R Re ecr t ti i w Peak • Recr ti hemer Art Ch i orts • A l • Nei V rts & En ghborh h he A l l hemer Art • Christ Lutheran • Vo e d d w w Pe Peak ak • • R Rec ecre reat atio ion • D D l d ARCADIADAILY COM i i i i i i i i ig g g i i i i i i i i i i i ig g g g crafts • home and patio décor • unique gifts • holiday décor • folk art • jewelry • clothing • one-of-a-kind items crafts • home and patio décor • unique gifts • holiday décor • folk art • jewelry • clothing • one-of-a-kind items For Information: Jeannie Cueto • (480) 948-3942 • www.briarpatchmarketplace.com Support Your Local Schools Sponsored by Parent Teacher Organizations Sunday Sale @ Camelback Consign & Design 1030 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix AZ (N. Side of Camelback at 10th Place) Inside & Outside Shopping Sun., April 29th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Plenty of parking behind Padre’s Restaurant Landscaping extends your world outdoors. Invest in your lifestyle. S U CC E S S F U L LY T R A N S F O R M I N G A N D TA K I N G C A R E O F A R I ZO N A P R O P E R T I E S F O R 1 8 YE A R S 602 200 1749 www.treelinedesigngroup.com ROC License NO 158731 No matter how far deep your drug or alcohol addiction has taken you, you owe it to your family, your loved ones and most importantly yourself to get sober . No more putting it off, get your life back! SRC is a state licensed Treatment Facility in Scottsdale, AZ. We offer non-judgemental, confidential and non-invasive treatment for substance abuse disorders and DUI Treatment & Education. • Intensive Outpatient Program • Treatment with Housing (90-day in-house treatment program for adults 18+) • Group therapy • Individual counseling sessions • Upscale recovery homes, transportation included • DUI Treatment and Education • Domestic Violence Treatment • Underage Substance Abuse Treatment • Equine therapy • Recovery based yoga classes • Art Therapy • 60 Plus years of addiction experience; therapists in recovery themselves WE’VE BEEN THERE. No matter how far deep your drug or alcohol addiction has taken you you owe it FREE YOURSELF FROM ADDICTION t • Intensive Outpatient P FREE Y WWW.SCOTTSDALERECOVERY.COM • 888-309-3385 75-minute Signature Organic Facial*& Lip and Brow Thread Sugar Value $105.00 4636 North 32nd Street 480.336.0042 www.sageorganics.az.com info@sageorganicsaz.com t o a g i f t o f h o l i s t i c b e a u t y T R E A T Y O U R S E L F Value $105.00 *Sage facials incorporate local raw honey and organic goats milk yogurt for a blissful and holistic experience. t t 480 336 0042 i i f @ g g g goa oa oa oats s s ts t t ts m m m m m m m m mi il il il i il il l il il l il il il il il l ilk k k k k k k k k k k k k k MO FI$>@F>I1MB@F>I