The Approach Angle – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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The Approach Angle

Pitcher List

Sports

Frequency: 1 episode/11d. Total Eps: 16

The Approach Angle podcast is the easiest way to learn advanced baseball. Hosts Nate Schwartz and Kyle Bland guide listeners through the sea of baseball analytics, teaching advanced metrics and translating them into laymen terms, helping you watch baseball smarter.

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Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
22/07/2026
#86
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
21/07/2026
#68
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
12/05/2026
#57
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
11/05/2026
#43
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
05/05/2026
#78
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
04/05/2026
#63
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
03/05/2026
#42
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
02/05/2026
#47
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
30/04/2026
#81
🇨🇦 Canada - baseball
29/04/2026
#67

Spotify

No recent rankings available

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https://pcm.adswizz.com
16 shares
https://pitcherlist.com/introducing-str-icr/
1 share
https://pitcherlist.com/fixing-hardhit-pitcher-percentile-risers-and-the-case-for-ksc/
1 share

https://medium.com/@maxwellresnick/quantifying-pitch-tunneling-acc0cfcdff02
1 share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdL6dafOArc
1 share

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 48%

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TAA 3 - Stats for Identifying Underappreciated Pitchers

Episode 1

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • Duration 01:01:18

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) discuss the importance of WHIP and how it can be analyzed with Str-ICR to find underappreciated pitchers.

They talk about the basis of WHIP: first, why it's an important stat, and how it can be forgotten when analyzing a pitcher. Is it still important in today's analysis? Then, the discussion pivots to the most volatile part of WHIP, batted ball results. Ideal Contact Rate (ICR) groups all contact that's bad for a pitcher, and is an easier way to understand the quality of contact a pitcher is giving up. The two discuss the significance of finding the right batted balls to measure, and how ICR can be combined with Strike Rate as a proxy for estimating WHIP. This concept comes from an article Kyle wrote two years ago (https://pitcherlist.com/introducing-str-icr/). Finally, they mention players who stand out between their 2025 Str-ICR and 2026 projected WHIP.

Players mentioned: Mick Abel, Jose Soriano, Cade Horton, Spencer Strider, George Kirby

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 2 - Auction Calculators and Other Draft Evaluation Tools

Saturday, March 14, 2026 • Duration 01:03:35

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) are joined by Alexander Chase to discuss auction values and other draft evaluation tools for upcoming fantasy drafts.

They compare the importance of industry rankings and calculated auction values, then get into how auction values are built using calculators. The group also breaks down auction values specifically: establishing how playing time is such a strong tool and the balance between playing time & talent. Finally, they discuss the individuality of using these tools, such as why knowing your league format matters and how to leverage them in a draft room.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 1 - Advanced Metrics that Matter - Premiere at PitchCon!

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 • Duration 56:39

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz and Kyle Bland discuss 2026’s newest metrics that matter and where analytics stand heading into the season.

They talk about how players are adapting to all the information they have and what information they want next. Then, they break down bat-tracking metrics, highlight the importance of similarity scores, and share what non-competitive rate means for pitchers.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 4 - How to Understand Batted Ball Metrics

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 • Duration 01:07:25

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) discuss how to use a variety of batted ball metrics.

They start by talking about how average exit velocity can be deceptive, and isn't the best way to evaluate how hard hitters hit the ball. Instead, they pivot to talking about HardHit% and get into power stats such as max exit velocity and 90th percentile exit velocity. Then, they move into batted ball metrics that go beyond just how hard the ball is hit, such as Air EV (line drives and flyballs) and barrel rate. Kyle also touches on why PullAir% is an important stat that influences power outside of exit velocity. They wrap up by bringing it all together in xwOBACON, a one stat that measures everything on batted balls.

Articles discussed: Fixing HardHit%: Pitcher Percentile Risers and the Case for K+SC%, Alexander Chase; Exit Velocity: Modeling Average Maximum Athletic Effort, Jonathan Judge; Introducing a Dynamic Hard Hit Rate and "TrueHit", Connor Kurcon; Now Let’s Tweak Hard-Hit Rate Using Spray Angle, Alex Chamberlain; They Don’t Make Barrels Like They Used To, Ben Clemens

Players mentioned: Dominic Canzone, Roman Anthony, Chase Meidroth, Angel Martines, Rhys Hoskins, Coby Mayo, Hunter Goodman, Cal Raleigh, Ozzie Albies, Elly de la Cruz, James Wood, Jordan Walker

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

TAA 5 - The Ins and Outs of Bat Tracking Data

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Duration 01:06:40

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) talk about bat tracking data and why context matters so much for these stats.

They start by discussing bat speed as the best proxy for true batted ball power, but note that it's not as simple as the best swing speed is all that matters. Making the most of a slower bat speed can be just as effective at the same time. They briefly touch on swing speed risers and fallers, such as Cam Smith, Colt Keith, Jesus Sanchez, and Randy Arozarena. Then, they talk about swing length and its relationship to swing speed. This includes topics such as swing acceleration, relationships to plate discipline stats, and what a swing length change means for a player. After that, the conversation turns to swing path, as they break down swing tilt, attack angle, and attack direction. Finally, they talk about intercept point and how a hitter's mentality can shape the changes in the numbers.

Articles discussed: Under the Hood of the Aging Hitter, Joshua Rodrigues; Brice Turang is a Great Model for How to Increase Bat Speed, Esteban Rivera; Swing Changes Through Motion Capture - Hitting Biomechanics, Driveline Baseball

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 6 - Everything About BABIP

Episode 2

Saturday, April 18, 2026 • Duration 01:14:09

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) are joined by Carson Picard to talk about BABIP and why it's more than just luck.

They start by discussing what BABIP actually is: getting into the original idea and what it specifically measures. Then, they talk about why using BABIP as "just a luck stat" leaves a lot of information on the table. They also talk about why BABIP has been steadily declining since the mid-2000s. The discussion transitions to talking about Carson's set of articles, covering both hitter and pitcher BABIP. Starting with pitcher BABIP, they cover both the internal and external factors that drive a pitcher's BABIP. The hitter conversation centers on which stats correlate best with BABIP and how Under% drives the storytelling. Finally, they conclude by talking about hitters with different 2026 profiles.

Articles discussed: Understanding BABIP Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Carson Picard; Pitching and Defense: How Much Control Do Hurlers Have, Voros McCracken; Ahead in the Count: Predicting BABIP, Part 1, Matt Swartz; Introducing the Newest Hitter xBABIP, Mike Podhorzer; New Hitter xBABIP Based on BIS Batted Ball Data, Alex Chamberlain; , Andrew Perpetua; , Russel Carleton

TAA 7 - What Does wRC+ Actually Measure

Episode 7

Friday, April 24, 2026 • Duration 51:25

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) talk about what goes into wRC+ and why it's a strong, all-encompassing hitter stat.

They start by discussing wOBA—the basis for wRC+. It's an important hitting stat that values outcomes in a slightly stronger way than OPS. Surprisingly, the under-the-surface nuances are more understandable for wOBA than OPS. They transition into talking about how wRC+ includes factors such as league environment and park factors, making it a useful contextual tool for any hitter. Additionally, they discuss how the single number can be useful for analyzing player quality but can miss some fantasy-specific stats. Finally, they discuss any gaps in wRC+ and how stable it is. Process+ is also mentioned as an effective tool to predict wRC+ both in-season and across seasons..

Articles discussed: Weighted On Base Average or wOBA, Tom Tango; Guts!, Fangraphs; DRC+: Updates and Improvements, Jonathan Judge; What is Process+? Pitcher List’s New All-Encompassing Hitting Stat, Nate Schwartz (shameless self-plug)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 8 - What Are Park Factors Worth?

Episode 8

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 • Duration 01:04:18

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) are joined by Sara Sanchez to talk about park factors.

The discussion starts with the group talking about what goes into park factors and what they actually mean. They discuss how specific factors, such as HR or strikeout factors, can be more important than the overall factor at times. They also talk about how the weather can get baked into some park factors and ignored in others (such as the wind in Wrigley). Next, they get into how players prepare and adapt to different parks, both offensively and defensively. Finally, Kyle explains how park factors get integrated into daily & weekly projections, and Sara talks about how controlled environments in domes is good for pitchers.

Articles discussed: An Updated System of Park Factors (and Volatility), Jonathan Judge; The Park Factors are in the Pudding, Kiri Oler; The Impact of Changing Park Factors Around Baseball (Pt. 1)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 9 - Creating Our Own Game Score

Episode 9

Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 54:44

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) talk about different versions of game score.

They start by talking about the theory behind the original game score, which was created by Bill James. That leads to the second version of game score, developed by Tom Tango, where the two talk about the philosophical differences in what a game score is meant to capture. Then they talk about how Kyle went about creating his version of the game score and what he wanted to get out of it. They extensively discuss the crowd-sourced rankings and how it applies to the letter grades with the pitch cards. Finally, they conclude with ideas for stats to include in a "start watchability" index.

Articles discussed: Game Scores, Bill James; Game Score Version 2.0, Tom Tango; Explaining Pitcher List’s Player Card Grades, Kyle Bland

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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TAA 16 - Pitch Tunneling and Arsenal Construction

Episode 16

Friday, July 17, 2026 • Duration 56:47

The Approach Angle

Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) discuss pitch tunnels and their impact on arsenal construction.

The podcast starts by talking about what a pitch tunnel is and why it can be effective against all types of hitters (including Jordan Walker, who Nate has to give a mention to after the Home Run Derby win). They talk about how release points and movement can confuse a hitter in terms of pitch recognition and affect their decision window when it comes to making a swing. Then, they talk about all of the different ways that the public has attempted to quantify tunneling. The next segment discusses arsenal construction -- like what makes pitches good tunnel partners and how bridge pitches can be effective. Additionally, they talk about why it can be useful to have pitches that don't tunnel with one another. Finally, they close with players that have interesting tunnels & mixes: Davis Martin, Bryan Woo, Nolan McLean, and Paul Skenes.

Articles mentioned: The Importance of Release Point Consistency, Daniel Schwartz; Introducing Pitch Tunnels, Baseball Prospectus;
Quantifying Arsenal Effects: A New Paradigm in Pitching Models, Driveline Baseball; The Science of Pitch Tunneling, Maxwell Resnick; Introducing BP's New Arsenal Metrics, Stephen Sutton-Brown

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Approach Angle – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

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The Approach Angle – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other39

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Youtube1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

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Medium1

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