Baseball Game Research Articles

Practically perfect in every way: Perfectionism and evaluations of perfect performances in sport

How do perfection strivers react when they witness a perfect sport performance? In two studies, we show that perfectionism is associated with a lower likelihood of providing perfect performance ratings when there is ambiguity about whether a performance is indeed perfect. In Study 1, 312 baseball fans watched the final plays from an infamous baseball game from 2010 in which a pitcher delivered what is known as a “perfect game”; however, due to an officiating error at the end of the game, the game was not officially considered to be “perfect”. In Study 2, a separate sample of 439 baseball fans participated in an experimental study in which they read scenarios depicting a perfect game in baseball. However, some participants were randomly assigned to learn that, due to an officiating error, the pitcher's performance could not be considered “perfect”. In both studies, we observed a negative association between perfectionism and the likelihood of rating the pitcher's performance perfectly when there was ambiguity about the perfectness of the game. These results speak to the mindset that is theorized to characterize perfectionists and demonstrate the hypersensitivity of perfectionists to signs of imperfection, even within perfect performances.

Fundamental study on ambient noise reduction for analysis of hitting sound of professional baseball players

In recent years, the sound of a hitting ball during a baseball game has focused attention on the American Major League Baseball and Japanese professional baseball. It is reported that information such as the direction and distance of a batted ball can be detected from the sound. The sounds of players hitting the ball are sometimes expressed using various onomatopoeic. In our previous study, we recorded the sound of a baseball hit during hitting practice for players of a university baseball team in the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan. Relationships between the acoustic characteristics of the sound and the distance and direction of the ball were clarified. In this research, acoustic analysis of professional baseball players' batted ball sounds from Youtube and other videos is used to identify the acoustic features and characteristics of the batted ball. This paper describes the method and accuracy of noise removal around the hitting sound extracted from the video using a convolutional neural network with images.

The Ballpark Effect: Spatial-Data-Driven Insights into Baseball’s Local Economic Impact

The impact of sporting events on local economies and their spatial distribution is a topic of active policy debate. This study adds to the discussion by examining granular cellphone location data to assess the spillover effects of Major League Baseball (MLB) games in a major US city. Focusing on the 2019 season, we explore granular geospatial patterns in mobility and consumer spending on game days versus non-game days in the Saint Louis region. Through density-based clustering and hotspot analysis, we uncover distinct spatiotemporal signatures and variations in visitor affluence across different teams. This study uses features like game day characteristics, location data (latitude and longitude), business types, and spending data. A significant finding is that specific spatial clusters of economic activity are formed around the stadium, particularly on game days, with multiple clusters identified. These clusters reveal a marked increase in spending at businesses such as restaurants, bars, and liquor stores, with revenue surges of up to 38% in certain areas. We identified a significant change in spending patterns in the local economy during games, with results varying greatly across teams. Notably, the XGBoost model performs best, achieving a test R2 of 0.80. The framework presented enhances the literature at the intersection of urban economics, sports analytics, and spatial modeling while providing data-driven actionable insights for businesses and policymakers.

Superstars Really Are Scarce: Shohei Ohtani and Baseball Attendance

We estimate the superstar effects in Major League Baseball, focusing on a particularly unique international athlete, Shohei Ohtani, using a fixed effects panel regression with multiway clustering. Ohtani’s scarce talent as both a pitcher and a hitter provides the potential to have outsized influence on demand at home (superstar effect) and away (superstar externality) games, providing new marketing opportunities for the league. We compare Ohtani’s impact on attendance with other top pitchers, particularly after large attendance drops attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that his superstardom played a key role in bringing fans back to baseball games. Results revealed a large attendance externality, especially after the pandemic, that increased away attendance by up to 40% in 2021 specifically (and up to 20% overall). We propose that Ohtani provides an opportunity for Major League Baseball to leverage a recognizable face of baseball and leverage superstar value that was previously shown to be in decline.

Baseboll för anarkister

The aim of this article is to examine the emergence and establishment of the ball game ‘brännboll’ (lit. burnball) in Sweden. In doing so, it contributes to the knowledge of how sports have spread historically and how they have changed when established in new places. First of all, the existence of the concept of brännboll throughout history is examined. Although it can be traced back to the 17th century, the game we now commonly call brännboll is a modified form of the English game of rounders that was introduced to Sweden at the end of the 19th century. Unlike the closely related game of baseball, brännboll never developed into a modern sport with standardised rules, organisations and bureaucracy. This is seen in the study as a consequence of the fact that brännboll gained a foothold in the ‘play movement’ rather than in the modern sports movement, and that physical education was considered more important in brännboll than performance and results. As a result of this process of pedagogisation, the game developed into a simplified, stripped-down and more static game compared to its English predecessor.

Development of a Batting Tool for Learning Physical Education Sports and Health for Students in Elementary School

Research objectives: (1) to generate products for the development of baseball games targeting elementary school students (SD), (2) to assess the viability of developing a baseball game bat for Physical Education learning (PE learning) in elementary students, and (3) to evaluate the effectiveness of a baseball game bat for Physical Education learning (PE) in enhancing the hitting skills of elementary school students. This study was categorized as Research and Development (R&D) or development research, consisted of the following stages: 1) identification of potential and problems; 2) collection of information; 3) design of the product; 4) validation of the product; 5) revision of the product; 6) conducting product trials; 7) further revision of the product; 8) conducting broader trials; and 9) finalizing the model through revision. The trial participants consisted of third grade students from SD Negeri Dalangan 1 (Dalangan 1 Elementary School) in Minggir District. The trials were conducted on a weekly basis. For small-scale trials, there were 6 students involved, and for large-scale trials, there were 12 students. The sample was determined by using purposive sampling. The selected instruments included a questionnaire for material experts and media experts to assess the eligibility of a batting tool as a medium for learning baseball games, as well as questionnaires to gather student assessment responses. The acquired data would thereafter be quantitatively examined by using descriptive statistics, through the calculation of percentages. The acquired results indicate the following: (1) the development of baseball game batting products goes through nine stages of development, and (2) The assessment of the development tool's viability is based on a) the trial validity conducted by material experts shows that the mean value at 4.89 levels of achievement 97.78% are in the "very feasible" category. b) Media specialists undergo validity testing, resulting in an average value of 4.83. The achievement rates for this testing are at 96.67%, placing it in the "very feasible" category. c) A smallscale feasibility trial is conducted. Students receive an average score of 4.62, which corresponds to 87.23% in the "very feasible" category. The large-scale feasibility trials, conducted through a questionnaire, show an average score of 4.95, which corresponds to 99.10% in the "very feasible" category. Additionally, the t-test results indicate that the mean post-test score of 85.42 is significantly higher than the mean pre-test score of 41.67. The rise can be deemed significant based on the statistical significance (2-tailed) with a p-value of 0.000 (less than 0.05). Therefore, the creation of a castle game bat product is highly viable and efficient for teaching Physical Education for elementary school students.

Recognition of the game situation in baseball.

This study examines baseball players' recognition framework of out, ball, and strike counts in baseball games and clarifies the differences in psychological perspectives between batters and pitchers. The participants were 396 players (294 batters and 102 pitchers) belonging to baseball clubs at eight universities. Participants answered 288 questions for all game situations by combining out, ball, and strike counts and runner position. The advantages for batters or pitchers were evaluated using a 7-point Likert scale (from very advantageous for batters to very advantageous for pitchers). Factor analysis indicated four significant factors (36 items): "Batter's advantage count," "Pitcher's advantage count," "2 out young count," and "0 out young count." In a direct comparison of these factors between batters and pitchers, batters were more aware of their advantage over pitchers in the factors "Batter's advantage count" and "0 out young count" and disadvantage in the "Pitcher's advantage count." Significant differences in recognition of these factors were observed between batters and pitchers. Batters were more susceptible to game situations than were pitchers. Our findings suggest that baseball players recognize several types of game situations, although not an infinite number.

Bayesian bivariate Conway–Maxwell–Poisson regression model for correlated count data in sports

Abstract Count data play a crucial role in sports analytics, providing valuable insights into various aspects of the game. Models that accurately capture the characteristics of count data are essential for making reliable inferences. In this paper, we propose the use of the Conway–Maxwell–Poisson (CMP) model for analyzing count data in sports. The CMP model offers flexibility in modeling data with different levels of dispersion. Here we consider a bivariate CMP model that models the potential correlation between home and away scores by incorporating a random effect specification. We illustrate the advantages of the CMP model through simulations. We then analyze data from baseball and soccer games before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The performance of our proposed CMP model matches or outperforms standard Poisson and Negative Binomial models, providing a good fit and an accurate estimation of the observed effects in count data with any level of dispersion. The results highlight the robustness and flexibility of the CMP model in analyzing count data in sports, making it a suitable default choice for modeling a diverse range of count data types in sports, where the data dispersion may vary.

TINGKAT KETERAMPILAN PERMAINAN BOLA KASTI SEKOLAH DASAR NEGERI COT PREH KUTA BARO ACEH BESAR

The game of baseball is part of small ball which is included in the elementary school learning curriculum. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of skills of the baseball game at Cot Preh State Elementary School. This research uses descriptive quantitative with survey method. The population and research sample were Cot Preh State Elementary School students totaling 23 students with purposive sampling technique. Research collection instruments and techniques using tests and measurements of baseball skills, namely: 1) ball catching test, 2) ball hitting test, and 3) ball throwing test. Data is analyzed through percentages. The research results obtained were in the sufficient category (34.78%) with details: 1) very high category with a frequency of 2 students (8.70%), 2) high category with a frequency of 5 students (21.74%), 3) sufficient category with a frequency of 8 students (34.78%) 4) low category with a frequency of 8 students (34.78%) 5). The conclusion of the study is that the level of skill of the baseball game at Cot Preh State Elementary School is categorized as sufficient.

Effect of baseball stadium food service quality on outcome variables with emphasis on the moderating role of stadium atmosphere

PurposeWhile existing research has predominantly focused on the positive relationships between service quality and outcome variables, there has been limited investigation into the influence of food service quality on these variables or the moderating role of stadium atmosphere in the realm of sports marketing. This study aims to fill these gaps by examining the structural relationships between baseball stadium food quality, timeliness, satisfaction, and behavioral intention with an emphasis on the moderating effect of stadium atmosphere.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from spectators attending baseball games. This study established the validity of the measurement scale through confirmatory factor analysis, factor loadings, average variance extracted, and construct reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. In addition, this study employed structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation to examine positive relationships and mediating effects and used Jamovi statistical software to conduct moderation analysis.FindingsThe findings demonstrate the significant impacts of food quality on satisfaction and behavioral intention, the positive effects of timeliness on satisfaction and behavioral intention, and the notable influence of satisfaction on behavioral intention. Additionally, this study found that satisfaction partially mediates the aforementioned relationships and that stadium atmosphere moderates these pathways.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by addressing the impact of food service quality on outcome variables within sports marketing, an area that has received limited attention. Specifically, it examines how food quality and timeliness influence consumer satisfaction and behavioral intention. Furthermore, the study highlights the moderating role of stadium atmosphere, demonstrating its potential to enhance the relationship between food quality and consumer outcomes. These findings expand our understanding of consumer behavior in sports settings, offering practical strategies for team officials to enhance fan experiences. By diversifying menu options, optimizing concession operations, and collaborating with local vendors, team officials can significantly improve food service quality and create a more engaging stadium atmosphere.

Mass Gathering Events at an Event Hall in Osaka Are a Non-direct Risk of Admission to a Neighboring Emergency Hospital.

The influence of planned mass gathering events on surrounding residents is not understood sufficiently. The purpose of this study was to investigate how events at an event hall affect a neighboring emergency hospital throughout the year. This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study conducted on all patients who presented to the emergency department from January 1 to December 31, 2019. The event hall is located 200 meters from the hospital, and various events such as music concerts and professional baseball games are held at the hall throughout the year. We collected patient information from the electronic medical records. The factors associated with hospitalization were assessed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. This study comprised 18,907 patients who visited our emergency department. The number of patients on event days was 9,981 and that on no-event days was 8,922. The mean (SD) number of patients visiting on event days was 56.4 (14.9), and that on no-event days was 47.5 (14.1) (p<0.05). The multivariable logistics regression analysis showed age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.04), male gender (AOR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.13-1.31), transportation by emergency medical services (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 2.37-2.75), rain days (AOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.04-1.23), and event day (AOR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.02-1.20) to be independent risk factors of hospitalization. In this study, we found that event day was one of the independent risk factors of admission to the hospital from the emergency department.

Poetic transcribbling: Ted Berrigan & Harris Schiff’s Yo-Yo’s with Money and Beaned in Boston

ABSTRACT In 1977 and 1978, the poets Ted Berrigan and Harris Schiff attended two baseball games, pretending to be game announcers and recording their repartee on a newly-released TCM-100 cassette tape recorder. The transcription of first game, between the Yankees and the Red Sox on September 14, 1977, was published by United Artists in 1979 as the mimeograph book Yo-Yo’s with Money. The second experiment, a May 26, 1978, Red Sox – Tigers game, was a ‘failure’, as Schiff puts it, and the audio recording was never fully transcribed. Using readings of tonal shifts in the text, an interview with Schiff, and archival material, including the Beaned in Boston tapes and Yo-Yo’s with Money’s original mimeograph title page and transcript, this essay examines Schiff and Berrigan’s self-reflexive process. I argue that the TCM-100 extends the qualities – immediacy, frequency, and ephemerality – which make the mimeograph so appealing as a production technology to writers and artists, and this moment occurs in anticipation of mimeo’s obsolescence. Furthermore, I suggest that these collaborative works can be viewed as ‘transcribbling’, a ludic form of transcription, enabled by this combination of tape recorder and mimeo.

Higher dimensional sports statistics and real-time game prediction

The rapid expansion of comprehensive sports datasets and the successful application of data mining techniques in various domains have given rise to the emergence of sports data prediction techniques. These techniques enable the extraction of hidden knowledge that can significantly impact the sports industry, as more and more clubs are using Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) methods to manage athletes and training. In this research, the focusing and intriguing aspects is predicting the outcomes of a specific basketball athletes, which has garnered significant attention for research. The paper was motivated by a dual interest in college and NBA basketball matches, alongside a keen observation of the evolving strategies employed by coaches in athlete management. Additionally, the interest was further reinforced by firsthand observations of such evolving methods during a baseball game at City Field in New York. These factors collectively underpin the relevance and significance of this research endeavor, highlighting the intersection of personal interest and the evolving landscape of sports management as compelling reasons for its pursuit. In the process of data selection, we acquired data from previously published essays as well as from Kaggle, a reputable online platform. Following this, we proceeded to evaluate several prominent machine learning models, namely Linear Regression, KNN, Gradient Boosting, Elastic Net, and Lasso, to ascertain their effectiveness in predicting the performance of specific players. Through rigorous analysis and comparison, we concluded that Linear Regression and Gradient Boosting exhibited superior predictive capabilities compared to the other models considered. These two models demonstrated a higher degree of accuracy and reliability in forecasting player performance, thus establishing them as the most suitable choices for our predictive modeling purposes. This meticulous selection process, involving both data acquisition and model evaluation, forms the foundation of our research methodology and underscores the rigor and precision with which our conclusions are drawn.

Classifying batted ball outcomes from Division I collegiate baseball players

ABSTRACT Modern technology challenges anecdotal beliefs on baseball performance. The study’s purpose examines these beliefs by classifying batted ball outcomes. Three categories of independent variables (anthropometry, in-game situation, technique-based), from 1,922 batted ball outcomes produced by 230 players, were used to classify the likelihood of hits during 2021 college baseball games. Anthropometry included player’s heights and weights. In-game situation entailed batter side, same side, ahead count, and pitch type. Technique-based variables measured by TrackMan radar included exit speed (ExSp), launch angle (LA), batted ball distance (BBD), and hang time (HT). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed with batted ball outcome as the dependent variable. Independent variables provided a good fit (χ2 (10) = 522.358, p < 0.01) and correctly classified nearly three-fourths of outcomes. Height (β = 0.030, p < 0.05), ExSp (β = 0.023, p < 0.05), LA (β = 0.028, p < 0.01), and BBD (β = 0.067, p < 0.01) each had significant positive associations, yet HT (β = –1.661, p < 0.01) had a significant negative association, with batted ball outcomes. TrackMan provided four significant independent variables. Anthropometry’s contribution to batting outcome was modest, while in-game situation’s impact was non-significant; results contradict anecdotal beliefs of their importance.

Cooler Bobbleheads Prevail: Bobblehead Character Type and Impact on Attendance at Major League Baseball Games

Abstract: Giveaways such as jerseys, caps, or bobbleheads are part of a host of promotions used to entice fans to purchase tickets and attend live events, particularly in sports. Bobbleheads have often been viewed as the bellwether giveaway in demand-side analytical studies as they are common across sport, league, and team and are viewed as highly prized collectable items. Empiricists typically code promotions as binary variables to measure the impact these additional perks have on attendance, yet each bobblehead event features a distinct figurine distinguished by several previously unexplored dimensions. Due to the nature of bobbleheads typically resembling real-life individuals, consumer sentiment toward the bobblehead’s namesake may drive or deter the demand for the giveaway. Using a novel dataset of descriptions of bobblehead giveaways, this study finds that demand for Major League Baseball games varies by a bobblehead’s character type, where the impact on attendance is greatest for bobbleheads featuring players and sportscasters, lowest for managers, and middling for mascots and other types. Evidence suggests that bobbleheads depicted in costumes or as characters of licensed brands lead to greater attendance than brandless bobbleheads, yet the gains observed from the average branded bobblehead game may not offset the additional costs associated with licensing agreements.

Inefficient Forecasts at the Sportsbook: An Analysis of Real-Time Betting Line Movement

This paper tests the efficiency of a set of sports betting markets using detailed betting line movement from opening until closing for four different sportsbooks for each of 3,681 Major League Baseball games. The reliability of the markets’ forecasts are assessed at several lead times. The forecasts are mostly reliable, but there are simple betting strategies that would have yielded significant profit. In addition, forecasts do not always improve monotonically as the games get closer, despite more information being available; forecasts at weekend day games’ start times are significantly worse than forecasts 90 minutes earlier. Furthermore, analysis of the sequences of forecasts within individual games reveals that these betting markets do not incorporate information optimally. There is sufficient evidence to reject weak form market efficiency; specifically, betting lines tend to overreact, exhibiting significant negatively autocorrelated changes that could be exploited by sophisticated bettors. This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.00456 .

Baseball Injury Prevention Through a Community Outreach Initiative.

Sports-related craniofacial injuries account for 10% to 42% of facial fractures in the US pediatric population, with the incidence of injury peaking at ages 6 to 7 and 12 to 14. The National Survey of Children's Health reported ~5.6 million children between the ages of 6 and 17 participated in baseball in 2021. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System reported 861,456 injuries resulting from baseball and 511,117 injuries resulting from softball in 2021, with ~500,000 of those injuries being to the face/head/neck. While participation in baseball and other youth sports has tremendous physical and mental health benefits, facial and other athletic injuries are concerning beyond the pain and disability caused by the incident itself. Severe injury can result in lost time from school as well as other social activities. Players and their families often experience financial strain as a result of physical trauma as well. The use of protective equipment has decreased the incidence of emergency department visits due to baseball-related trauma, especially mouthguards. However, adherence to using mouthguards is relatively low in baseball, with over 80% of players reporting not being told by a coach to wear mouthpieces. Youth from low-income areas often lack financial means to provide protective equipment and health insurance in the case of injury. The authors, along with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Miami Marlins RBI Program, created an outreach program by which over 400 mouthguards were given to players and caretakers at inner-city baseball and softball programs. Two community outreach events took place in South Florida. One event was held at a University of Miami Men's Baseball Game, and another was held on the opening day of the Miami Marlins RBI Program youth baseball league. In addition to handing out protective equipment and informational pamphlets, a question and answers session was held to discuss injury prevention. In conclusion, our community safety initiative created an interactive dialogue and message to hundreds of youth baseball players about the importance of protective gear to prevent injuries.

Machine learning prediction of factors affecting Major League Baseball (MLB) game attendance: algorithm comparisons and macroeconomic factor of unemployment

PurposeThis study aims to identify an automated machine learning algorithm with high accuracy that sport practitioners can use to identify the specific factors for predicting Major League Baseball (MLB) attendance. Furthermore, by predicting spectators for each league (American League and National League) and division in MLB, the authors will identify the specific factors that increase accuracy, discuss them and provide implications for marketing strategies for academics and practitioners in sport.Design/methodology/approachThis study used six years of daily MLB game data (2014–2019). All data were collected as predictors, such as game performance, weather and unemployment rate. Also, the attendance rate was obtained as an observation variable. The Random Forest, Lasso regression models and XGBoost were used to build the prediction model, and the analysis was conducted using Python 3.7.FindingsThe RMSE value was 0.14, and the R2 was 0.62 as a consequence of fine-tuning the tuning parameters of the XGBoost model, which had the best performance in forecasting the attendance rate. The most influential variables in the model are “Rank” of 0.247 and “Day of the week”, “Home team” and “Day/Night game” were shown as influential variables in order. The result was shown that the “Unemployment rate”, as a macroeconomic factor, has a value of 0.06 and weather factors were a total value of 0.147.Originality/valueThis research highlights unemployment rate as a determinant affecting MLB game attendance rates. Beyond contextual elements such as climate, the findings of this study underscore the significance of economic factors, particularly unemployment rates, necessitating further investigation into these factors to gain a more comprehensive understanding of game attendance.

The psychophysics of home plate umpire calls

We analyze the visual perception task that home plate umpires (N = 121) perform calling balls and strikes (N = 3,001,019) in baseball games, focusing on the topics of perceptual learning and bias in decision-making. In the context of perceptual learning, our results show that monitoring, training, and feedback improve skill over time. In addition, we document two other aspects of umpires’ improvement that are revealing with respect to the nature of their perceptual expertise. First, we show that biases in umpires’ decision-making persist even as their overall accuracy improves. This suggests that bias and accuracy are orthogonal and that reduction of bias in decision-making requires interventions aimed specifically at this goal. Second, we measure a distinct difference in the rate of skill improvement between older and younger umpires. Younger umpires improve more quickly, suggesting that the decision task umpires engage in becomes routinized over time.

Predicting baseball pitcher efficacy using physical pitch characteristics

The efficacy of baseball pitchers can be predicted from prior pitching data using machine learning (ML) models. Previous ML studies relating to baseball have primarily involved predicting outcomes of baseball games and a thrown pitch. This paper is the first work that uses 16 game-independent features, which describe a pitcher’s set of thrown pitches, to predict pitcher efficacy metrics, like walks/hits allowed per inning (WHIP), batting average against (BAA), and fielding independent pitching (FIP). We hypothesized that these 16 “physical features,” measured by sensors, can explain greater than 50% of the variance while predicting pitcher efficacy. We applied neural network (NN) models to predict the efficacy metrics using all 16 features, while we used linear regression (LR) models to analyze the individual impact of each feature for predicting the efficacy metrics. We observed from the NN and LR models that the “ballFrequency” feature was the most impactful in predicting the WHIP for any pitcher. For the BAA and FIP metrics, the LR models showed that none of the features, including the pitch velocity and types of pitches thrown, were statistically significant; however, our NN model did improve the prediction of the BAA and FIP metrics. Based on our evaluations, the ML models could not prove our hypothesis, as the results accounted for less than 50% of the variance when predicting the pitcher efficacy metrics. Professional scouts can still use the results of our feature analysis to select better pitchers who have never played a game at the professional level.