Padding the Stats: a Study of MLB Player Performance in Meaningless Game- Situations
Padding the Stats: A Study of MLB Player Performance in Meaningless Game- Situations Evan Hsia1, Jaewon Lee2 and Anton T. Dahbura3 Department of Computer Science Johns Hopkins University Abstract This paper presents the concept of Meaningless Game-Situations (MGS) in Major League Baseball (MLB), defined as situations in which a team has a 95% chance or greater of winning the game given the score at that particular inning in the game. We determine the run differentials for each inning that yield a 95% chance or greater of winning the game based on 2013-2016 MLB statistics and look at individual batter performances under MGS. We argue that including a split for MGS in major baseball statistical references should be considered. I. Introduction Hope springs eternal, especially in the game of baseball. But should it? Perhaps the absence of a game clock in baseball, unlike other major sports, creates the illusion that anything is possible, and in particular that one’s team can overcome even the largest of deficits, even late in the game. And, indeed, significant comebacks from behind are possible, but are so unlikely that in some cases they’re considered to be historic. For instance, in the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies on June 8, 1989 the Pirates scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning. The Pirates’ radio broadcaster, Jim Rooker, proclaimed that if the Phillies were to come back from the 10-run deficit he would “walk home”. As fate would have it, the Phillies ended up winning the game 15-11, prompting Mr.
[Show full text]