CCS Stats Explanation - How to Read Pitch Strike Zone Data (px, pz)

If you've watched our MLB content, you'll notice certain variables and numbers appear on-screen during ball/strike ejections. In this illustrative video, we will teach you how to read pitch strike zone data—px, pz, RAD, MOE, etc.—to calculate umpire expected ball/strike calls. All numerical values presented are in feet.

In this video, you will learn about the following variables:

px - The pitch's horizontal location.

pz - The pitch's vertical location.

sz_bot - The batter's bottom-of-zone boundary.

sz_top - The batter's top-of-zone boundary.

RAD - The radius of a baseball subtracted from sz_bot or added to sz_top.

MOE - The margin of error variable applied to vertical pitch values (it is embedded within the core formula for horizontal location, since horizontal is a static entity whereas vertical changes depending on each batter's individual sz_bot and sz_top values).

For horizontal location, Umpire Expected Calls:

All else equal, |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE-ABSOLUTE STRIKE < |0.831| < BORDERLINE-ABSOLUTE BALL < |.914| < BALL. This is known as the Kulpa Rule (UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1).

For vertical location, Umpire Expected Calls:

All else equal, BALL < sz_bot - RAD +/- MOE < STRIKE < sz_top + RAD +/- MOE < Ball. The borderline zone for vertical pitches is located in the span between sz_bot - RAD - MOE to sz_bot - RAD + MOE, and between sz_top + RAD - MOE to sz_top + RAD + MOE. This is known as the Miller Rule UEFL Rule 6-2-b-2).

Related Post: Podcast - Truth About Baseball's Electronic Strike Zone (6/5/19).

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Instructional video on using pitch location variables to generate QOC (CCS)