Simple Change Over Time
Design Description: Simple analysis of two parameters per player - 1) how many games they played in a season is represented by the absolute number of spheres, and 2) what position they played in that game. Multiple rows of spheres showing multiple players’ seasons.
Use Case: Simple layouts like this resolve quick questions about player performance. They’re also used when trainers and coaches want to view a quick overview of performance as a doorway into deciding a specific focus for deeper digging.
Scatterplots for Multiple Players with Common Set of Parameters
Design Description: 5-50 scatterplots on sub-grids. A set of players (for instance, top 20 forwards in the draft) could be compared against a few parameters on x, y, & z axes to see the clusters and standouts. Having multiple scatterplot boxes let’s us see that same group of players compared on several sets of parameters.
Use Case: Instructors/ trainers can use this to flush out differences and similarities in a cohort. Who stands out, and for which parameters of performance? Are there trends in performance? ie. a cluster of some subgroup of players indicates lack of improvement on some skill.
This could indicate an issue with training conditions, instruction, or gear at the group level, rather than individual weakness.
Player Summary
Design Description: Each grouping of objects shows a player summary: the bottom ring shows profile data like height, weight, age at draft, etc; the rod shows performance data. The pink and blue sections of data show scouting reports when the player was an amateur or in the minor leagues, and the yellow objects show summary averages of performance parameters while in the MLB.
Use Case: Summary designs like these are helpful companions to detailed visualizations examining performance pitch by pitch or game by game. The provide context to the quality of opponent, or to a temporary poor performance.
Per Game Details of a Play and Players
Design Description: Multiple MLB games are shown, with breakdowns per game of the top and the bottom of each inning. Each inning half is broken down into sections showing plays, with individual glyphs showing each pitch. Each play also shows summary information about the batter and pitcher facing each other.
Use Case: This kind of visualization can be used for a nearly simultaneous experience of moment by moment detail to a game performance, and the eagle eye view to see the overall structure of the event. The user can see roughly how many plays were in each inning and how long different pitchers played when zoomed out. It’s a useful design both for review of performance and preparation for an upcoming competition.