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Stat of the Week

BY ALEX VIGDERMAN This year feels somewhat special to us at SIS because it’s the 10 year anniversary of a pretty cool honor, our Strike Zone Runs Saved research winning the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference’s award for the best research paper. The paper was called Who Is Responsible For A Called Strike? For those not […]

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1 month ago

April 2, 2025

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BY ALEX VIGDERMAN

This year feels somewhat special to us at SIS because it’s the 10 year anniversary of a pretty cool honor, our Strike Zone Runs Saved research winning the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference’s award for the best research paper. The paper was called Who Is Responsible For A Called Strike?

For those not familiar, Strike Zone Runs Saved (SZRS) is our method of capturing catchers’ skill in gaining extra strikes by framing the pitch as it comes in.

The core concept is pretty simple. We start with an expectation for how likely the pitch is to have been a strike, and we compare that to what actually happened. That expectation takes into account handedness, the count, the location, and even how much the catcher’s glove had to move off its initial target. We then attach a run value which is basically the value of turning a ball into a strike, which is about a tenth of a run.

Here are the leaders among catchers who played at least five years in that span, both in total and per season.

Strike Zone Runs Saved leaders, 2015-24

	Total SZRS
Tyler Flowers	68
Yasmani Grandal	66
Austin Hedges	64
Christian Vázquez	50
Roberto Pérez	33

Strike Zone Runs Saved per season leaders, 2015-24 (min 5 seasons)

	SZRS per season
Tyler Flowers	11.3
Yasmani Grandal	6.6
Buster Posey	5.3
Austin Hedges	5.3
Christian Vázquez	5.0

Tyler Flowers is one of those players who is primarily known because of our ability to measure this skill, and you can see why. We talked with him a couple years ago about it, when Defensive Runs Saved turned 20.

This range of years covered the back half of Buster Posey’s career, but that half a win (by WAR standards) per year of framing value makes a big impact for a player who didn’t play into his mid-to-late thirties.

Here are the year-by-year leaders in Strike Zone Runs Saved. Flowers either shared the lead or led outright four straight years.

Year-By-Year Leaders in Strike Zone Runs Saved

2015 to 2024

	SZRS
2015- Tyler Flowers	13
2016- Flowers & Yasmani Grandal	15
2017- Tyler Flowers	20
2018- Flowers, Grandal & Max Stassi	10
2019- Austin Hedges	18
2020- Yasmani Grandal	5
2021- Max Stassi	10
2022- Jose Trevino	12
2023- Hedges, Patrick Bailey & Francisco Alvarez	11
2024- Patrick Bailey	15

Our Strike Zone Runs Saved data actually dates back further than 10 years. We’ve been tracking it since the 2010 season. An overall leaderboard has Yasmani Grandal (87) at the top, followed by Flowers (85), Jonathan Lucroy (80), Russell Martin (72) and Posey (71).

Which organizations have developed framing the best?

It’s hard to know what teams are doing in terms of specific player development practices, but we can try to get at it from different angles.

For example, over the last decade three teams set themselves apart in how much improvement their acquired players showed year-over-year. Players acquired by the Athletics, Yankees, and Brewers over this decade averaged improving by at least 5 runs saved per 900 innings caught. (We’d give more credit to the A’s and Brewers, though, because they did this across many more players.)

A team that falls just short of that distinction is the Diamondbacks, who had 18 catcher acquisitions and averaged just under 4 additional runs saved per 900 innings. That’s a big deal because they had some of the worst performance from homegrown catchers (-5 runs saved per 900 innings from 4 players).

Bringing up a successful player from your system might just be about the player’s talent, and we have a hard time teasing out those elements, but it’s still worth noting that the Guardians clearly outpace the rest of the league in average SZRS from homegrown players (7 runs per 900 innings). The Astros are the only team within a run of them (6.4 per 900 innings) and we should give credit to the Giants, who had similar production (5 runs per 900 inn) with more homegrown catchers (7 compared to 5 for the leaders).

How much better are today’s framers than catchers a decade ago?

The strike zone gets adjudicated differently over time, but we can approximate the change in how good catchers are by placing them into each other’s context.

In other words, we can throw pitch results from the catchers in 2014 (the year before the Strike Zone Runs Saved presentation) in with the 2024 season sample, or vice versa, and compare our evaluation in this blended environment to their original context.

As an example, Cal Raleigh saved 11 runs with his framing in 2024. If we threw 2014 catchers into the mix, by virtue of that comparison we’d have him estimated at about 14 Runs Saved.

Correspondingly, Mike Zunino tied for the MLB lead with 16 Strike Zone Runs Saved in 2014. If he had been compared to 2024 players, he would have been more in the 12-13 run range.

Because every catcher saw different pitches the changes wouldn’t be entirely consistent, but on average the gap is about 4 runs per 900 innings.

That might not feel like a lot, but it certainly manifests itself at the bottom end of the population. Just based on actual Strike Zone Runs Saved, there were four catchers in 2014 who were worse relative to their context than any 2024 catcher was last year. With this merged group, the bottom 18 catchers are all from 2014.

Next week, we’ll look at Strike Zone Runs Saved from another angle: how it evaluates the batter, pitcher, and umpire (yep, the stat can do that too). What can we learn about the players who had the most (and least) success over the last 10 years? And we’ll have notes on the umps too.

Related Topics:big bottom group late mlb production season sports team try

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Middle blocker Alicia Andrew joining Wisconsin volleyball

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14 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

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LSU Beach Volleyball Swept by Cal Poly

That’s unfortunate. The LSU beach volleyball team wrapped up their season in Gulf Shores Friday with a 3-0 loss to #6 Cal Poly. This is the first time the Tigers have failed to win a game in the NCAA tournament since missing the first tournament altogether. LSU got dominated in the first set on court […]

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18 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

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That’s unfortunate.

The LSU beach volleyball team wrapped up their season in Gulf Shores Friday with a 3-0 loss to #6 Cal Poly. This is the first time the Tigers have failed to win a game in the NCAA tournament since missing the first tournament altogether. LSU got dominated in the first set on court 1, but the first set on the other four courts went beyond the 21 typically required to win a set. Unfortunately, despite having several chances to close those sets out with a win, LSU dropped the remaining four and put themselves in a hole. The 1s clawed back a win in set 2, but courts 3, 4 and 5 dropped their second sets to end what was an underwhelming season by the program’s lofty standards.

Cal Poly will face #3 Stanford today at 10 a.m. pending delays caused by either the first two quarterfinals running long or, more likely, weather. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be broadcast on ESPN2, and the final is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on ESPN.

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Beach Volleyball Bears Earn Four AVCA Top Flight Awards

Story Links LEXINGTON, Ky. – Four Missouri State beach volleyball pairs have earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top Flight Award, the organization announced on Friday. MoState’s regular pairs at Flight Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 were honored with the award. The Top Flight program, now in its […]

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35 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Four Missouri State beach volleyball pairs have earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top Flight Award, the organization announced on Friday. MoState’s regular pairs at Flight Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 were honored with the award.

The Top Flight program, now in its seventh year, recognizes beach pairs who compete in at least 15 matches together at a specific flight and win at least 75% of their matches. This year, 88 pairs representing 45 schools—from all three NCAA divisions, NAIA, and Two-Year Colleges—have earned Top Flight status. To qualify for the award, the team’s head coach must be an active AVCA member.

Missouri State is one of three Division I teams to win four AVCA Top Flight Awards, along with Chattanooga and Loyola Marymount. Overall, MoState is one of six schools nationally to win four awards. Carson Newman (DII), Fresno City College (Two-Year) and Santa Monica College (Two-Year) also won the honor on four flights.

Becca Bach and Allyson Larkin earned the award at Flight No. 1. The two boasted a record of 17-9 in 2025, which included a nine-match winning streak to start the season. Bach and Larkin only lost two sets during that stretch. The duo ended the season with a straight-set sweep over UAB’s three-time Conference USA Pair of the Week, Olivia Stant and Jasmine Haas, who each made the All-CUSA First Team. Bach was named to the All-CUSA Second Team on Thursday to become the first Missouri State student-athlete to make a CUSA all-conference team. She finished her career with 53 wins, the second-most in program history. Larkin sits at 42 career wins after her first two seasons, good for seventh all-time in team history.

Missouri State’s all-time winningest duo of MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary earned the Top Flight Award for the first time at Flight No. 2. The two ended with a 17-8 record, including a 1-0 result in the Conference USA Tournament with their win over UAB’s Isabel Day and Azmabeth Infante. Steele and Cleary started the season 10-0 while only dropping two sets during that stretch. The 37 wins Steele and Cleary have amassed over the last two seasons are the most in team history, surpassing the previous record of 35 set by Grace Cook and Chloe Tome. Steele became the fourth Missouri State player to reach 50 career individual wins with the victory against UAB in the conference tournament.

Rylie Cepicky and Manuela Niemeyer also earned their first career AVCA Top Flight Awards with a team-best 20-6 record and a Flight No. 4 record of 20-5. The two became the fifth Missouri State pair to reach 20 wins in a single season. Cepicky and Niemeyer also started the season on a 10-match winning streak and had a separate stretch of seven straight wins to start the season as winners of 17 out of 18 matches. Cepicky was named to the CUSA All-Freshman team on Thursday. Her 20 wins are the second most by a MoState freshman in team history. Niemeyer also won her 50th career match during the conference tournament, the third Bears player to reach that milestone.

Lastly, Missouri State earned a Top Flight Award at No. 5 for the second straight year. Olivia Rattler and Erin Eschleman received the honor with a 16-9 record together. The two started their time together on a six-match winning streak, then later won seven consecutive matches spanning from late March to mid-April. Rattler went 19-9 as an individual, including going 3-0 to start the season with Riley Drew at Flight No. 5. Rattler became the first Bears player to reach 50 career wins at the start of the season and finished her beach volleyball career with a program record 61 career victories. Eschleman is the first player in team history to win the AVCA Top Flight Award twice. She won it last season at Flight No. 3 alongside then-senior Olivia Muriel when the pair went 24-7.

Missouri State beach volleyball went 18-10 in 2025 to complete its eighth year as a program and second as a Conference USA affiliate. The Bears advanced to the second day of the CUSA Tournament in Louisiana for the second straight season.

#BearsUnite

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Blue Moon becomes Official Event Partner for World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing

Blue Moon will provide its trusted laundry detergents and cleaning products to support Team AQUA and the Organising Committee as part of the hospitality arrangements for this landmark event. Blue Moon has supported the Chinese Diving Team on its way to outstanding success in international competitions. The partnership with World Aquatics for the competition in […]

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42 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

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Blue Moon will provide its trusted laundry detergents and cleaning products to support Team AQUA and the Organising Committee as part of the hospitality arrangements for this landmark event.

Blue Moon has supported the Chinese Diving Team on its way to outstanding success in international competitions. The partnership with World Aquatics for the competition in Beijing demonstrates Blue Moon’s commitment to leveraging the huge popularity of diving in China to support the global development of the sport.

The growth of diving around the world has already been seen through the gold medals won by athletes from Mexico and Great Britain on the first two stops of this year’s World Aquatics Diving World Cup.

“Blue Moon, as a partner of the Chinese Diving Team for many years, is honoured to join hands with World Aquatics to become the official event partner for laundry and cleaning products of the World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2025 – Super Final in Beijing. In the future, adhering to the concept of ‘Professional Cleaning’, Blue Moon will continue to support the Chinese Diving Team, and sincerely wish the Chinese Diving Team remarkable success in this event, and look forward to their continuous writing of a glorious chapter for the ‘Dream Team’,” said a Blue Moon spokesperson.

World Aquatics President, Captain Husain Al-Musallam, commented:

“Their support for the Chinese Diving Team over the years shows real passion for our sports, and it’s great to bring that energy to one of our biggest events. We are looking forward to a world-class competition that celebrates our athletes and inspires our community worldwide.”

About Blue Moon

The Blue Moon brand was established in 1992 and has been developed into a leading innovative household cleaning solutions provider in China. The Group has spent relentless effort in focusing on providing the customers with top quality products in fabric care, personal hygiene and home care categories. The Group’s liquid laundry detergent and liquid soap have ranked first in the China Brand Power Index for 14 consecutive years (2011-2024). The Group has stayed true to its consumer-centric brand philosophy and aimed to allow every family to enjoy a clean, healthy, comfortable, respectable and delightful lifestyle. Going forward, the Group will continue to provide comprehensive home cleaning solutions that bring relaxing and efficient cleaning experience to consumers.

About World Aquatics

Driven by the vision of a world united by water for health, life and sport, World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. Founded in 1908, World Aquatics is an independent organisation formed of 210 National Federations and five Continental Organisations. 

World Aquatics oversees six aquatic sports – swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving – and is recognised as the leading global authority of these sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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Spring high school softball heats up; MSU baseball leading the Valley

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – KY3′s Chad Plein and the Ozarks Sports Zone’s Chris Parker look at area high school and college action. Check out the latest high school action on the Ozarks Sports Zone’s website by clicking here. To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject […]

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46 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – KY3′s Chad Plein and the Ozarks Sports Zone’s Chris Parker look at area high school and college action.

Check out the latest high school action on the Ozarks Sports Zone’s website by clicking here.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.

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Grand Slam Track, a pro league for track and field

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. May 2, 202501:10 Plane makes emergency landing on California golf course 00:17 Harvard students push back on DHS demands 03:04 California considers increasing marine protections 01:07 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Chile sparks tsunami alert 00:19 Trump downplays concerns of potential economic […]

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1 hour ago

May 3, 2025

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Grand Slam Track, a pro league for track and field

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