May 13, 2003

We lead off this week with another foray into the world of Geography. When I saw a request for maps of the blackout areas for MLB TV, I realized that I wouldn't be worthy of the name Geographer Dan if I didn't at least give it a shot. So let's start with the maps--with apologies to our readers on 56K--and get to the disclaimers afterwards:

Hopefully those are pretty straightforward. Each shaded area represents the territory of one or more teams, which are labeled right on the maps.

How The Data Was Mapped

The blacked-out ZIP Codes were available on MLB's website here (thanks to Fog City Blues for directing me there). These were matched up with a GIS coverage of ZIP Code Tabulation Areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 Tiger files. (Whatever your opinion of the Census Bureau, for data-loving geographers, they're the equivalent of Retrosheet or Baseball-Reference.com.)

What are ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs)? Well, according to the Census Bureau, ZIP Codes are not simple polygons that cover a certain area. They are actually descriptions of delivery routes that can be approximated as polygons in most places--particularly urban areas. In the rural parts of the country, ZIP Codes are much less coherent.

The U.S. Census Bureau created ZCTAs in an attempt to show an approximate polygonal representation of the area included in a ZIP Code. They are not perfect, but they should provide a suitable approximation for this purpose.

In some large and sparsely populated areas, the ZIP Codes are difficult to approximate, in which case the Census Bureau used three digit codes--for example, 999XX. Had I left these unassigned, they would leave large empty areas on the map. So I made the questionable decision to assign them the same teams as the five-digit ZIP Codes that began with the same three digits. I can't guarantee that it is the intent of Major League Baseball to include these areas in the blackout areas, but given how complete the resultant coverage is, I strongly suspect these areas should be included. ZCTAs labeled in the form of 999HH, which represent large water features, were treated the same way. Any blank areas remaining on the maps are ZCTAs with ZIP Code numbers that were not included in the listings of any team's territory on MLB's web site.

One other problem with filling in the gaps this way: if the first three digits of a ZCTA filled in this way are shared by more than one team's territory, the team assignment between those teams is arbitrary. However, areas with this problem are both rare and small.

For more information on ZCTAs, visit the U.S. Census Bureau ZCTA page. And if you have a burning desire for a large, higher-quality version of this map that covers the whole country, e-mail me and I'll see if such a thing is possible. Also, if there are any GIS users around who'd like the coverage/theme/shapefile, feel free to drop me an e-mail.

I Meant to Include This Last Week

Thanks to Stan Javier for pointing out the Mariner blog Mariner Musings. There's more there than just Mariner coverage, so have a look.

Greg "More Plate Appearances Than Pat Borders" Colbrunn Watch

Two--count 'em, two--pinch hit appearances. And only one of them was for Ichiro in the ninth inning of a blowout. Colbrunn is tied for second on the Mariners in pinch-hit appearances (two) with Willie Bloomquist, behind John Mabry (ten). While that's still way out of whack, it could be worse. Colbrunn also hit his first Mariner home run on Sunday. Maybe it will inspire more consistent usage.

Geography of Baseball Trivia

If you drew a vertical line on a map so that fifteen teams were west of the line and fifteen teams were east of the line, what would be the easternmost team on the west side of the line? And the westernmost team on the east side? (In other words, the team closest to the line on each side.) (As always, please do not cheat and look it up.)

Song of the Week

From the man who brought you "The Real Jim Tracy," here's "Close It Out":

Close It Out

Look
If you had one chance
One save opportunity
To guarantee your team a victory
One inning
Would you convert it?
Or just let it slip?

Yo, his forehead's sweaty, he's weak, ball is heavy
He's behind in the count already, Dave Righetti
To a Yankee, but like Tom Henke he feels calm and ready
To throw strikes, but he keeps on forgetting
How to get outs, the whole crowd boos so loud
He works the count, but the hitter won't strike out
He's choking, how his mechanics are broken down
Throws on the ground, like he's pitching around
Don't feel like a big-leaguer, oh, there goes his heater
Oh, there goes Jeter, he smoked
One right back, and he's safe by a meter
But he's still eager to close, the whole game's on the ropes
The next batter's provoked
His bat shatters, a rope
To the gap and it goes
To the track, it's a double, throw home doesn't matter
He's safe and the batter to third, fielders scatter
He better get out of this inning before the game's in tatters

You better close it out in an inning, the role fits
You own it, you better never let it go
You only need three outs, do not miss your chance to blow
Save opportunities come every few games, yo

You better close it out in an inning, the role fits
You own it, you better never let it go
You only need three outs, do not miss your chance to blow
Save opportunities come every few games, you better

His balls aren't breaking, through the holes they're escaping
And the next guy is taking
They leave him in, no new pitcher, no pinch hitter
But he's no quitter, he's mad but not bitter
He's feeling the jitters, the crowd is atwitter, he only throws splitters
His throws they all miss or are easy for hitters
To foul off, waiting for their pitches
Finally he switches
He throws a few spitters, but no, they get hit
Or he can't find the plate and they miss by a bit
Or a lot, here comes the pitching coach, baby-sitter
He says through his mitt how these hitters obliterate
A bad splitter, that closers are richer
But they might make a switch or bring in a new pitcher
So he better not get lit or let the inning get bigger
He's his own grave-digger, but the game goes on

You better close it out in an inning, the role fits
You own it, you better never let it go
You only need three outs, do not miss your chance to blow
Save opportunities come every few games, yo

You better close it out in an inning, the role fits
You own it, you better never let it go
You only need three outs, do not miss your chance to blow
Save opportunities come every few games, you better

No more shame, close the game, better step to the plate
You better have the nerve to try to match my closer state
Of mind, I've been struggling, but it's going to change
I've been blown out and lit up and booed out of games
But I kept tossing and fought every loss
For as long as I could and it only gets longer
But I still get stronger despite the fact
That I can get swapped 'cause I ain't ten and five
And every time we lost, you remind me how much it costs for
A big-league closer, but I'm still on the roster
And it's no movie, there's no Kevin Costner
This is my life
And these losses are so hard and it's getting even harder
Giambi, Matsui, Jorge Posada
And then I gotta face Alfonso Soriano
And the press wants blood, like a bunch of piranhas
Got to pick my spots, gotta try to get hot
Gotta get three outs before an air-mail shot
Before they send me down to triple-A I've got
To not be circled by another comeback home-run trot
I remember the successes that they've all forgot
I cannot let go of my roster spot
So here I go, it's my shot
Arm fail me not
This may be the only save opportunity I've got

You better close it out in an inning, the role fits
You own it, you better never let it go
You only need three outs, do not miss your chance to blow
Save opportunities come every few games, yo

You better close it out in an inning, the role fits
You own it, you better never let it go
You only need three outs, do not miss your chance to blow
Save opportunities come every few games, you better

You can preserve any three run lead...