A "new era in analytics" starts today when MLB "rolls out its Statcast tracking technology during the MLB Network's broadcast" of Cardinals-Nationals, according to Ronald Blum of the AP. Real-time access "will expand quickly to Fox, ESPN and Turner," then to RSNs "within about six weeks." By June, fans "should be able to look up leaderboards for hitters' exit velocity, fielders' route efficiency, speed and distance, and pitchers' spin rates and arm extension." All the equipment is in place at each of the 30 ballparks, including cameras and sensors "built specifically for MLB" that "capture 120,000 bits" and 2,000 samples of data per second. MLBAM Exec VP & CTO Joe Inzerillo said that the cost "was tens of millions of dollars." Blum noted MLB "made a major advance" in '06, when Sportvision's PITCHf/x "started measuring the velocities and trajectories of pitches." The sport "started testing Statcast prototypes during the second half" of '13 at Citi Field, Miller Park and Target Field, and also at the '14 All-Star Game, LCS and World Series, "plus the spring training home" of the D-backs and Rockies, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (AP, 4/20).
