In this episode of our podcast, host Ian Bach welcomes special guests Ben Deatsman and Braeden Sample to discuss various aspects of Moeller Baseball Analytics. The episode begins with a review of the year's major implementations, including the Awre and Moller App, and their impact on the program's growth. Ben and Braeden analyze the significance of "X" in the department's development and highlight necessary corrections for the coming year.

The conversation then shifts to the role of analytics at the high school level, offering a guide on starting an analytics program, the types of data that can be collected, and essential pre-implementation steps. The importance of conducting independent organizational research is emphasized, along with brainstorming potential research ideas.

TimeStamps:

Interns' Introduction and Aspirations (00:01:19) The host introduces the interns, Ben and Braeden, who discuss their backgrounds and career aspirations.

Challenges and Learning Experiences (00:04:08) The interns share their challenging experiences and learning moments during their internship with the analytics team.

Implementation of Data Analytics and Social Media (00:06:57) The host discusses the implementation of data analytics, the development of an app, and the use of social media for the analytics program.

Importance of X (00:08:53) The interns discuss the importance of X, including play-by-play updates and posting highlights on social media.

Future Plans and Skill Development (00:14:32) The interns express their plans for skill development and the use of data visualization tools to enhance the program.

Challenges and Opportunities for High School Analytics Programs (00:16:07) The host and interns discuss the challenges and opportunities for starting analytics programs in high schools, including the use of available resources and technology.

Starting a Program (00:20:24) Discussion on starting an analytics program, emphasizing the need to begin with simple stats and video analysis.

Creating Research (00:22:00) Exploration of the need for independent research and thinking differently in analytics, especially for high school teams.

Learning to Code (00:24:12) Importance of learning coding for analytics, including the potential to take coding classes in high school.

Scouting and Data (00:27:52) The value of incorporating scouting into analytics programs and the challenges of obtaining data from other teams.

Building Analytics Departments (00:32:57) The importance of building analytics departments and the need for more data, tools, and serious commitment to the program.

Internship Opportunities (00:35:51) Promotion of internship opportunities in baseball analytics, emphasizing the need for serious commitment and passion for improvement.

Seeking Corporate Sponsors (00:39:17) A call for corporate sponsors and potential sponsors to support the analytics program, including the desire for a TrackMan unit.