SIR Mathematics Investigation Abstract
A JOURNEY INTO SABERMETRICS: UTILIZING BASEBALL STATISTICS INTO PERFORMANCE AND TALENT EVALUATION
Presenters:
Kwin Xie, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Di Zhuang, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Advisor:
Dr. Don Porzio, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Abstract:
This inquiry's purpose is to find more effective ways to evaluate talent and performance in Major League Baseball by utilizing historical, numerical statistics. This research was conducted through using regression analysis on statistical categories, to determine which ones were useful and which were not. The following conclusions proved to be the most revealing and significant. The most effective tool of evaluating the number of runs a team scores is by its on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Thus, the most effective way to judge a player's batting contribution to a team is by his OPS. There is no significant difference in recent years of batting or pitching statistics between the American and National Leagues. Despite the disparity in quantity, there is almost an equal amount of talent batting-wise between left-handed and right-handed hitters near the top of the OPS rankings. The number of games a team wins during a season can be accurately and consistently predicted by the difference in runs scored and runs given up in a linear relationship. Due to this, we can also conclude that pitching and hitting take nearly equal importance in a game. Defense can be measured more effectively by counting the number of successful plays made rather than with errors.