What is CalledThird?
CalledThird is a baseball analytics platform that publishes original data-driven analysis, automated game reports, and interactive tools. It is not a blog. It is not a stats database. It is a place where rigorous quantitative work meets baseball fandom.
The Story
CalledThird was started by a quantitative researcher who fell in love with baseball in 2026 — the same week MLB launched the ABS challenge system. As a new fan with a background in statistical modeling, the founder saw baseball the way a scientist sees a new dataset: full of testable hypotheses, conventional wisdom begging to be checked, and beautiful patterns hiding in 700,000+ pitches per season.
The first question was simple: can you predict what pitch a pitcher will throw next? After four rounds of rigorous analysis on 730,000 pitches, the answer was humbling — the count tells you almost everything, and the fancy models add almost nothing. But that process uncovered something more interesting: the rich analytical landscape around umpire accuracy, the new ABS challenge system, and how data can reveal what the broadcast doesn't show.
CalledThird publishes what that process produces: honest analysis, interesting tools, and the occasional finding that overturns what everyone thought they knew.
What We Do
Original Analysis
Long-form articles that test baseball's conventional wisdom with real data. Every piece is methodologically rigorous and transparent about its sources and limitations.
Daily Reports
Automated nightly umpire accuracy reports for every MLB game. Zone heatmaps, worst misses, challenge analysis — published by 6 AM ET every morning.
Interactive Tools
Dashboards and explorers that let you dig into the data yourself. Filter by umpire, count, handedness — find the stories the numbers are telling.
What We Are Not
- Not a news site — no trade rumors, no injury reports, no game recaps
- Not a fantasy advice site — no "start/sit" recommendations
- Not a betting tips service — no "pick of the day"
- Not a stats database trying to compete with FanGraphs or Baseball Savant
- Not an AI content farm — every piece of analysis is original, methodologically rigorous, and transparent
Contact
Questions, feedback, or collaboration ideas? Reach out on Twitter/X, Bluesky, or email hello@calledthird.com.
CalledThird is a Prismind Analytics project. All data sourced from MLB's Statcast system via Baseball Savant. CalledThird is not affiliated with MLB.