Finding the strike zone: data analytics in the classroom and on the field

View larger image — Dr. René Salinas, professor in Appalachian’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, far left, Kermit Smith, head coach of Appalachian’s varsity baseball team, far right, and Cameron Lyons, a first-year mathematics major, talk stats while examining TrackMan data from a previous game. Photo by Ellen Gwin Burnette

“… this academic–athletic partnership is pretty unique, but it’s one that will provide important opportunities both on and off the diamond for our students, which is a win-win.”

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Neva J. Specht

By Andrew Scott and Ellen Gwin Burnette

Posted Nov. 2, 2018 at 10:41 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Kermit Smith, head coach of Appalachian State University’s varsity baseball team, is excited about the partnership between Appalachian Athletics and the Department of Mathematical Sciences in Appalachian’s College of Arts and Sciences.

The College of Arts and Sciences purchased and supported the installation of TrackMan Baseball technology into Appalachian’s Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium to create an unprecedented opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience with sports analytics and data sciences.

TrackMan Baseball is used for player evaluation and development by all major league and minor league teams in the U.S. as well as teams abroad, and is the leading technology in the baseball industry, driving the next generation of analytics.

“The college previously partnered with Athletics on a smaller piece of equipment to track pitching. The TrackMan technology now takes data collection to the next level,” said Dr. Neva J. Specht, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Our students will have a chance to collect and analyze big data, which are skills that have applications far beyond just athletics.”

TrackMan collects both pitching and hitting data, including pitch velocity, spin rate, tilt, extension, effective velocity, zone velocity, release height, release side, vertical break, horizontal break, exit speed, launch angle, direction, spin rate, hang time, bearing and distance. The library of variables that TrackMan records throughout a game provide analysts with innumerable options for performance study.

“We used to look at the back of baseball cards for stats — now you can look at a player’s detailed statistics online and TrackMan is going to give that to our team now,” Smith said. “This type of data science can revolutionize athletics’ stats.”

Methods of sports analytics in baseball made famous by Billy Beane with Oakland Athletics during the early 2000s — including making the team’s decisions via advanced data science and statistics — have become an all but certain process within the game. These ideas were portrayed in the films “Moneyball,” based on Michael Lewis’ book “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game,” and “Trouble with the Curve.”

While there are numerous benefits for both the coaches and players, students will have the chance to work with live data that is being produced at high speed, vast quantity and substantial detail. Students will have the chance to work with the TrackMan software and use the data collected within an academic setting. The departments of Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science at Appalachian are focusing courses on analytics, data science and machine learning.

“Data science has evolved from the rapid accumulation of large data, mainly from companies in the private sector looking for a competitive advantage, and the need to extract information from that data,” said Dr. René Salinas, professor of mathematical sciences.

Beginning in fall 2019, the Department of Mathematical Sciences will offer an undergraduate sports analytics certificate. The 15–hour certificate will include two data science courses in the mathematical sciences, a sports analytics course that Salinas is currently teaching, an economics of sports course that is currently offered in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business and an internship with an Appalachian sports team or an external athletic organization.

“Students working with this equipment at other universities are leaving with active knowledge of how to use TrackMan and (are) being hired in the MLB just because of being able to use the interface. Our students are going to be able to get that experience, while also getting course credit, which is invaluable in this industry,” Smith stated.

Additionally, the TrackMan system assists players with their future careers. The technique of recording performance at both the major and minor league levels is standard, with every team in the respective leagues utilizing TrackMan equipment. Within the Sun Belt conference, only Coastal Carolina University has the TrackMan equipment available, but this technology is being used in dozens of the top NCAA Division 1 teams.

“As we’re learning from other institutions, this academic–athletic partnership is pretty unique, but it’s one that will provide important opportunities both on and off the diamond for our students, which is a win-win,” Specht said.

About the Department of Mathematical Sciences

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in actuarial science and mathematics, with concentrations in business, computation, life sciences, physical sciences, secondary teaching and statistics, plus a general, self-designed concentration. The department also offers the Master of Arts in mathematics, with concentrations in college teaching and secondary teaching. Learn more at https://mathsci.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About Mountaineer Athletics

More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University, and dedicated fans love to cheer them on. App State's championship football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) with seven bowl wins in its first 10 years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). For more, visit https://www.appstatesports.com.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.