How We're Using Statcast's New Bat Tracking & Bat Speed Leaderboards

Eno and DVR discuss Paul Skenes' MLB debut against the Cubs before digging into ways they are utilizing the new bat tracking and bat speed leaderboards from Statcast, including a few players to consider targeting via trade.
Rundown
0:00 Intro Start
1:45 Takeaways From Paul Skenes' Debut & Unexpected Comp
13:39 New Bat Tracking & Bat Speed Leaderboards from Statcast!
baseballsavant...
19:27 How Should We Apply Bat Speed Information?
25:47 'Squared Up' vs. 'Blasts'
27:59 Players to Target
40:14 A Tool to Use for 'Buy High' Players?
44:44 Learning From Good Players Without 'Ideal' Swing Speed & Length
52:11 Robert Gasser's Debut & Where the Money Went
1:04:13 Other Bids & Frequently Dropped Players
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Wyatt Langford Cover Photo by Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

[@neilmakohoniuk3768]

having heard the talk about swing length and swing speed - would be very curious to see what Paul Molitor would have come as - I remember his quick fast, short swing - straight to the ball

[@babbob.6218]

FWIW Tyler Freeman has not started anywhere except CF this season (33 of the Guardians' 42 games so far), though he has made occasional moves to the IF as part of late-inning lineup shifts.

[@brianburmeister62]

59:50 explains the Rhys hoskins injury. Thanks dvr

[@thomastrovato8672]

Does squared-up percentage = hit tool? As in, squared-up rate leads to high contact rates. So, it doesn’t matter if Matt Chapman has awesome swing speed and length, since he doesn’t really square up or contact the pitch?
It feels like squared-up rate involves a hand-eye coordination that tells you who the best contact rates will be, and therefore CAN be predictive.

[@Mamss_]

Phenomenal episode y’all, thanks. How long have players had access to this information. How do they use this data?

[@uncle-ted]

Nick Gordan, Otto Lopez, Weencel Perez, David Fry, Dairon Blanco and Tyler Fitgerald All Day!

[@TonySopranosDuck1]

I desperatley want the mariners to trade for spencer torkelson. feel like hes been pretty unlucky and he would fs solve long term 1b prob, although im unsure the tigers would trade

[@slip6699]

My guess is Verlander

[@RuRichelieu]

In last place in a 16 teamer and just traded away Stanton and Cruz or Bryan Reynolds and Bichette. Was just sick of the strikeouts idc about the exit velo lol.

[@gnosticbaseball]

Good trade

[@slimjimmypage]

Skenes' velo and spin were also pretty inconsistent and that slider had some real inconsistency in movement. Think there's a lot of development still needed here, and am worried he's been rushed.
I kind of wonder if this might be a new "type" of prospect who comes out of college more polished than we've ever seen before but without room to develop much more through facing better opponents.

[@davidlewis5464]

That's an awful lots of assumptions to make after one start where he was clearly nervous and the bullpen let him down.