Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo

News

All News | Prime News

Old-School Newsstand


Contributors

Jim Furtado
Founder & Publisher

Syndicate

Primate Meetups Newsbeat

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

BPP: An interview with Dan Szymborski

You can’t spell ZiPS without…Dan!

How long ago did you come up with ZiPS?

Szymborski: The genesis of it was there’s a [person] who contributes to Baseball Think Factory named Chris Dial, and in the late ’90s, they were talking about how someone could make a projection system that’s very basic and get most of the way there, in a way kind of a primordial version of Marcel which is a tabulator.

Before 2002, I was thinking maybe I should try my hand at a projection system. At that time, Voros McCracken’s FIPS research was fairly new, so I wanted to [align my idea.] That’s why I made it rhyme with FIPS, and the Z stands for Szymborski, the second letter of my name. I mean, it’s just a little side thing that started. Then I decided to do hitter projections, because it seemed kind of stupid to do because there were not hitter projections. And then over time, as computers got faster, I could do more things. Over time, it became a pretty complex system… I’m pretty happy with how it’s worked out.

Do you think you have another ZiPS idea in you or do you think that’s going to be your big thing?

Szymborski: I dunno. I always kind of think of myself more as a writer than a statistics developer, but I have more ideas how to use it. I continually refine my aging models and long-term projections and the different things I can do with it. I certainly hope there are other ideas in me, but I don’t have those ideas yet. Hopefully they will develop over the next few years.

Repoz Posted: September 20, 2011 at 04:43 PM | 26 comment(s)
  Beats: baseball geeks, media, primate meetups, projections, sabermetrics, site news, zips

Monday, September 19, 2011

FanGraphs New York Meetup

Amity Hall? Wuh…you guys too good for John’s Pizza? (chomp…I’ll probably be heading over…chomp)

On Sunday, September 25th, we’ll blow the horn for FanGraphs East and announce happy hour drinks and our own private space for our particular brand of nerdery. Come to Amity Hall any time after one PM eastern, and we’ll be hanging out, talking baseball and enjoying happy hour prices. And there will be a ton of togetherness because really how much can you hate a Mets fan right now. Oh! Also, come downstairs. We’ve got the downstairs bar.

And this is who will be hanging out:

David Appelman, FanGraphs Dark Overlord, so dark
Mike Podhorzer, Serious about (fantasy) baseball, RotoGraphs
Eno Sarris, Fan of Graphs, Fan, Not and Roto
Amanda Rykoff, espnW contributor, beer lover and Yankees fan
James Kannengeiser, professional curmudgeon and Amazin Avenue writer
Chris McShane, Amazin Avenue backbone, ready to dance
Eric Simon, Amazin Avenue head honcho guy, generally nice dude
Mike Axisa, aka “Mike from RAB, FanGraphs & Trade Rumors,” you know, just Mike
Joe Pawlikowski, music lover, FanGraphs escapee and River Avenue Blueser

Repoz Posted: September 19, 2011 at 09:02 PM | 0 comment(s)
  Beats: announcements, community, media, primate meetups, sabermetrics, site news, special topics

 

 

BBTF Partner

Dynasty League Baseball

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
aleskel
for his generous support.

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogDiamond Sports Group fails to pay Padres, loses broadcast rights
(23 - 2:21pm, Jun 02)
Last: Karl from NY

NewsblogThe Athletic: After 50 years, is this the San Diego Chicken’s last stand? [$]
(8 - 2:12pm, Jun 02)
Last: Karl from NY

Newsblog8 big All-Star voting storylines to follow
(23 - 2:10pm, Jun 02)
Last: cardsfanboy

Newsblog2023 NBA Playoffs Thread
(2526 - 1:51pm, Jun 02)
Last: Rally

NewsblogESPN the Magazine: Bat and Ball Games you've never heard of
(31 - 1:05pm, Jun 02)
Last: gehrig97

NewsblogFormer Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey weighs U.S. Senate bid
(17 - 12:59pm, Jun 02)
Last: People like Zonk and Chris Truby

NewsblogJays pitcher Anthony Bass sorry for posting video endorsing anti-LGBTQ boycotts
(95 - 11:15am, Jun 02)
Last: People like Zonk and Chris Truby

Sox TherapyThe First Third
(21 - 10:51am, Jun 02)
Last: Darren

NewsblogOMNICHATTER for June 2023
(27 - 7:11am, Jun 02)
Last: JJ1986

NewsblogOT Soccer Thread - The Run In
(415 - 4:49pm, Jun 01)
Last: Infinite Yost (Voxter)

NewsblogOMNICHATTER for May 2023
(649 - 4:09pm, Jun 01)
Last: Hombre Brotani

NewsblogCarlos Correa Diagnosed With Plantar Fasciitis And Muscle Strain In Left Foot
(20 - 4:02pm, Jun 01)
Last: Bourbon Samurai stays in the fight

Sox TherapyLining Up The Minors
(28 - 12:38pm, Jun 01)
Last: Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer

NewsblogFormer MLB Stars In Upstate NY, Here's How You Can Meet Them
(24 - 11:52am, Jun 01)
Last: kirstie819

NewsblogNew Top 200 Draft Prospects list: Execs rank the first five
(7 - 11:31am, Jun 01)
Last: kirstie819

Page rendered in 1.2504 seconds
51 querie(s) executed