My review of 2013 will follow the same format as the song Calendar Girl sung by Neil Sedaka in 1961. We will begin with January, 2013 and end with December, 2013. ESPN, in January, 2013, conducted a survey to see which teams are most and least improved before the start of the 2013 season. The …
I would like to begin by looking back at the predictions I made at the All-Star break on which teams would make the playoffs. These predictions were based on using the formula I developed to predict a team’s expected winning percentage based on their runs scored (RS) and runs allowed (RA). The formula is: A …
With the book done, nurturing the book was next. Nurturing involves creating value-added tools to enhance the book and to make decisions on how to market the book. Marketing the book is Step 20 in the publishing process. In my first posting, I mentioned how I was forced to streamline my book. Originally, at …
In the spring of 2008, my colleague, Professor Larry Levine, knowing how much baseball was part of my life, suggested that I offer a course which introduces a student to the area of mathematics called sabermetrics. Sabermetrics uses statistics to replace subjective decisions in baseball with objective decisions. This course would be offered as part of …
Before looking at the pitchers most deserving of a ticket to Cooperstown, the news on December 9, 2013, was the Expansion Era Committee of the Hall of Fame elected three retired managers Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre to the Hall. Up until July, 2010 the Veterans Committee was responsible for considering baseball …
From the list of positional players (excluding pitchers) eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013, the four players with the best chance of getting the 75% votes necessary for induction into the Hall of Fame (HOF) include Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, Tim Raines, and Frank Thomas. From the most likely to the least likely …
2014 marks the 75th anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF). There are no statistical guidelines for a player to meet in order to be chosen. Rather, members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) who are qualified to vote will vote based on the candidates’ abilities, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the …
Before reading another excellent posting by one of my baseball and statistics students, here is an update on free agency signings and non-signings. As a Yankee fan, I can’t tell you how excited I am about the signing of Brian McCann, the 30 year old former Braves catcher. The 2013 Yankee catchers were near the …
The blog below was written by Dr. Martin E. Cobern, a longtime friend of Dr. Stan, the Stats Man. Despite the fact that we support warring factions in the baseball wars, our friendship has lasted for over 40 years. When he is not blogging, Dr. Cobern is Vice-President, Research at APS Technology, Inc. in Wallingford, CT. I know …
Speaking of marathons, here is an interesting statistic about this year’s New York Marathon. Of the 50,740 runners who started the NYC Marathon, only 436 did not finish. The oldest finisher was 89 years old. How About that? Now, returning to baseball, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Red Sox organization and …