ESPN The Magazine’s “Analytics” Issue Hits Newsstands Friday

Courtesy: ESPN

The latest issue of ESPN The Magazine will have a special new feature piece.  The second annual “Analytics” issue examines the rise of “wins above replacement” in Major League Baseball in the article War is the Answer.”  The article, written by Baseball Prospectus writer Sam Miller, gives readers an in-depth look at how next level metrics are changing what we think we know about sports.  This is thanks in large part to last season’s AL MVP debate centered on Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout.  Miller’s article encourages fans to embrace, not fight Wins Above Replacement, arguing that it is MLB’s signature stat.

Miller’s article is one of the key features in the new issue of EPN The Magazine.  As a companion piece of sorts, it will also include a piece on how the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers use advanced metrics to rebuild its franchise.  That’s all in Jordan Brenner’s article, “You Can Call Them Trailblazers.”  Morty Ain’s article, “The Year analytics Took Over The World” brings everything together for this issue.  It adds stats and figures to show their impact on hirings, firings and even in-game decisions last year around the sports world.  That’s all in the new article, due to hit store shelves this Friday, February 22^nd.  Stories from the world of NASCAR and the NHL highlighting how analytics affects each are also included in this new issue. That and much more are all available in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine.

An added note for readers:  ESPN The Magazine is sponsoring the Research Paper of the Year Award for the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.  The conference was founded in 2006.  Co-Chaired by Daryl Morley and Jessica Gelman, it offers professionals and students a platform to discuss the ever growing role of analytics throughout the world of competitive sports.  Over 100 papers have been submitted for this year’s conference.  And now, readers can read each of the finalists and vote on them via SportsNation.  The fan’s choice will be announced at the next conference, next Friday and Saturday, March 1^st and 2^nd. 

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Eric Burdon Announces Album Release, Tour Dates

Courtesy: ABKCO Records

Iconic front man Eric Burdon will release his latest solo record later this month.  The singer, who rose to fame with WAR and The Animals, will release his new album, Til Your River Runs Dry on Tuesday, January 29^th.  The album is considered to be Burdon’s most personal record yet.  Burdon tackles topics such as religion, politics, and the environment on this record, just to name a few song topics.  The first single off of the new album, ‘Water’ is also the album’s lead track.  It starts running at radio stations across the country next Tuesday, January 15^th.  He even includes a cover of the blues classic, ‘Before You Accuse Me’ to close out the album.

In anticipation of the album’s upcoming release, Burdon is hitting the road to show off some of his new songs.  His tour kicks off with a very special performance the night before the album’s release on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  Burdon will also be performing at this year’s annual SXSW Festival in support of his album, too.  To get Burdon’s full tour lineup and all the latest news from Eric, fans can go online to http://www.EricBurdon.com, http://www.facebook.com/OfficialEricBurdon, http://twitter.com/EricBurdon, and http://www.YouTube.com/EricBurdonInc.  Fans can pre-order ‘Til Your River Runs Dry online both on CD and vinyl at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AGKH7K0/?tag=httpwwwabkcoc-20 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AO7HNFY/?tag=httpwwwabkcoc-20 respectively.

The complete track listing for the upcoming album is as follows:

‘Til Your River Runs Dry

1.  Water

2.  Memorial Day

3.  Devil and Jesus

4.  Wait

5.  Old Habits Die Hard

6.  Bo Diddley Special

7.  In The Ground

8.  27 Forever

9.  River is Rising

10. Medicine Man

11. Invitation to the White House

12. Before You Accuse Me

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