First Pitch Arizona 2024 - Program
FPAZ24: HOME | SCHEDULE | SPEAKERS | HOTEL INFO | TESTIMONIALS | FAQs
All sessions tentative and subject to change; check back often for updates!
Updated: 10/2/24
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
| 1:30p | AFL games (on your own)
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| 2:30-5p | Registration/Check-in | BaseballHQ staff |
| 3:00-4:00p | 2024 in Review: Stats recap and what it means for 2025 2024 trends in HR, SB, W and more | Jason Collette, Ray Murphy, Joe Orrico |
| 4:15-5:15p | Thursday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| Role (with the) Changes: Relievers are Starters; Starters are Relievers What to look for and learn from in this increasing MLB tactic | Mike Carter, Rick Graham | |
| Crafting a Player Profile: Personal player evaluation in 125 words or fewer Not only for writers! | Peter Kreutzer | |
| First Time at First Pitch? A Weekend Q&A Get your bearings—and your questions answered | BHQ staff | |
| 5:30-7:30p | Welcome Reception | TBD |
| 7:00-8:15p | Podcast Room — Beat the Shift | Ariel Cohen |
| 8-9:30p | Evening Hangouts - CHOOSE FROM: | |
| Joey Votto and the Rotisserie Hall of Fame Is Votto among the all-time Roto greats? | Ron Shandler | |
| 2024 Attendee Retro Draft Can you win a league when you know the stats? Details and signup info to come | Jeff Zimmerman, Todd Zola | |
| Attendee Gladiator Draft 1 NFBC 15-team 2025 draft-and-hold competition. Details and signup info to come | ||
| 8:30-9:45p | Podcast Room — Toolshed | Chris Clegg, Eric Cross |
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
| 8:00-8:10a | Welcome and Introductions | Brent Hershey, Ray Murphy |
| 8:10-8:45a | Opening Address | Ron Shandler |
| 8:45-10:00a | Arizona Fall League Scouting Report | Eric Longenhagen, TBD |
| 10:00-11:15a | Podcast Room — BaseballHQ Radio | Patrick Davitt |
| 10:15-11:15a | Friday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| Prospect Q&A | Eric Longenhagen, Chris Blessing, TBD | |
| 2024 NFBC Takeaways | Toby Guevin, Rob DiPietro, Stephen Goodwin | |
| 11:20a-12:20p | Friday breakouts #2 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| Bullpen Hour | Doug Dennis | |
| Valuation Theory | Todd Zola | |
| 11:30-12:45p | Podcast Room — The Eyes Have It | Chris Blessing |
| Lunch on your own | ||
| 1:30p | AFL Game - Mesa at Glendale Optional: Bring-your-own Roster Analysis | |
| 1:30-2:45p | Podcast Room — The Sleeper & The Bust | Paul Sporer, Justin Mason, Jason Collette |
| 1:30-3:45p | Excel and Fantasy Baseball Workshop | Ariel Cohen |
| 4:15-5:30p | Podcast Room — Pallazzo Podcast | Michael Govier, Sam Wirsching, Britton Allan |
| 4:30-5:30p | Updates to Stuff+ Pitching Model | Eno Sarris, Max Bay |
| Optional Format Meetups: Scoresheet, Strat-o-Matic | ||
| 6:30p | AFL Games
| |
| 9:00-10:45p | Evening Hangouts - CHOOSE FROM: | |
| Small sample decisions (how season-long play can benefit from DFS) | Dave Potts | |
| Attendee Gladiator Draft 2 NFBC 15-team 2025 draft-and-hold competition. Details and signup info to come | ||
| 9:00-10:15p | Podcast Room — Bubba & the Bloom | Brian Entrekin, Ryan Bloomfield |
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
| 8:00-8:10a | Saturday intro/Housekeeping | Hershey/Murphy |
| 8:10-9:10a | Player Spotlights: Hitters | Panelists: Jeff Erickson, Vlad Sedler, TBD; Moderator: Ryan Bloomfield |
| 9:20-10:20a | Player Spotlights: Pitchers | Panelists: Paul Sporer, Nick Pollack, TBD; Moderator: Ryan Bloomfield |
| 10:30-11:45a | Live Podcast: Rates & Barrels | Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris |
| 12:30p | AFL Game - Mesa at Salt River (Lunch provided at ballpark) | |
| 2:30p | XFL Draft | |
| 3:30p | AFL Game - Peoria at Surprise (optional) | |
| 3:30-4:30p | An Introduction to Bat Speed Metrics | Andy Andres, Kyle Bland, Alex Chamberlain, Max Bay |
| 3:45-5:00p | Podcast Room — FTN Fantasy Baseball Podcast | Vlad Sedler, TBD |
| 4:45-5:30p | Saturday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| The Importance of Pitch Mix Changes 2024 movers; why it's important; future candidates | Eric Samulski | |
| Cheapers Keepers (Where'd You Get Those Buys?) Optimizing your keeper list to account for inflation and real value | Patrick Davitt | |
| Dynasty Discussion and Q&A Tips, strategies, approaches for this growing format | James Anderson, Chris Clegg, Eric Cross | |
| 5:00p | World Series Game 7 Watch Party (if necessary) | |
| 6:30p | ATTENDEE DRAFT NIGHT!
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| 6:30-7:45p | Podcast Room — Pull Hitter Podcast | Rob DiPietro |
| 8:15-9:30p | Podcast Room — On the Corner | Nick Pollack, Eric Samulski |
| 9:30-10:30p | FPAZ Rookie Draft 2025 | Participants: James Anderson, Chris Clegg, Eric Cross, Tim McLeod, Sara Sanchez, Brian Walton, Chris Welsh; Moderator: Chris Blessing |
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
| 8:30-9:15a | Sunday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| Balancing Formats, Fairness & Fun An interactive discussion of keeping your league enjoyable and competitive | Ariel Cohen, Tristan Cockcroft, Jason Collette | |
| Community Conversation: When Your Season Goes South | Led by Brian Feldman | |
| TBD | ||
| 9:20-9:30a | Sunday Housekeeping | Hershey/Murphy |
| 9:30-10:10a | Injury Roundup | Matt Cederholm |
| 10:15-10:55a | What's Behind Process+ A look at a new batter metric | Kyle Bland |
| 11:00-11:55a | Scout talk | TBA |
| 11:55-12p | Final Wrap-up | Hershey/Murphy |
All sessions tentative and subject to change; check back often for updates!
FPAZ24: HOME | SCHEDULE | SPEAKERS | HOTEL INFO | TESTIMONIALS | FAQs