Analyzing Baseball Data with R

4The Relation Between Runs and Wins

Contents

1. 4.1 Introduction
2. 4.2 The Teams Table in Lahman's Database
3. 4.3 Linear Regression
4. 4.4 The Pythagorean Formula for Winning Percentage
5. 4.5 The Exponent in the Pythagorean Formula
6. 4.6 Good and Bad Predictions by the Pythagorean Formula
7. 4.7 How Many Runs for a Win?
8. 4.8 Further Reading
9. 4.9 Exercises

4.1 Introduction

The goal of a baseball team is, just like in any other sport, winning games. Similarly, the goal of the baseball analyst is being able to measure what happens on the field in term of wins. Answering a question such as "Who is the better player between Brett Gardner and Prince Fielder?" becomes an easier task if one succeeds in estimating how much Gardner's speed and slick fielding contribute to his ...