Mathletics
by Wayne L. Winston
Mem. Ed.
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Pub. Ed.
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Hardcover
Publisher:
Princeton University Press
Publication date: October 01, 2009
When you’re cheering for your favorite sports team, mathematics might be the farthest thing from your mind. But there’s no doubt it can help answer a lot of questions about the game. Is a singles hitter like Wade Boggs more valuable than a power hitter like David Ortiz? Should NFL teams pass or run more often on first downs? Could pro basketball have used statistics to expose the crooked referee Tim Donaghy?
In Mathletics, Wayne Winston describes the mathematical methods that top coaches and managers use to evaluate players and improve team performance. He also offers math enthusiasts the practical tools they need to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of baseball, basketball and football—and maybe even gain the outside edge to winning bets! Blending fun math problems with sports stories of actual games, teams and players, along with personal anecdotes from Winston’s work as a sports consultant, this book is packed with easy-to-read tables, illustrations and fully explained mathematical concepts.
The book begins with a simple formula to approximate the percentage of games won by a baseball team based on runs scored and runs allowed. You’ll learn how to evaluate hitters by linear weights, compare Derek Jeter to Adam Furcal, and ask if Ted Williams could hit .406 today. You’ll learn if it was better for the 2006 Indianapolis Colts to throw deep or short, assess the relative worth of a 1-point or 2-point conversion and ask how valuable high NFL draft picks really are. Later on, we investigate whether point shaving in college basketball is truly widespread and consider what a fair salary for a pro basketball player is.
Why should baseball teams almost never bunt? Why are football overtime systems unfair? Why are points, rebounds and assists not enough to determine the NBA’s best player? Mathletics gives you answers to these questions and many more.
