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A Note on the Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball Production

Author

Listed:
  • John Ruggiero

    (University of Dayton, OH, USA)

  • Lawrence Hadley

    (University of Dayton, OH, USA)

  • Gerry Ruggiero

    (University of Dayton, OH, USA)

  • Scott Knowles

    (University of Dayton, OH, USA)

Abstract

Recent analyses of baseball managers' performances have employed the so-called 'Pythagorean Theorem' of baseball. This 'theorem' states that the ratio of wins to losses can be approximated by the square of the ratio of team runs scored to opposition runs scored. Recent publications assume this approximate relationship can be used to evaluate managers; implicit is the additional assumption that the Pythagorean relationship constitutes a production process. It does not. This paper derives the exact relationship between the wins, losses, runs scored and runs allowed. The result is an identity. We conclude that application of the 'Pythagorean Theorem' for manager evaluation is inappropriate. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • John Ruggiero & Lawrence Hadley & Gerry Ruggiero & Scott Knowles, 1997. "A Note on the Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball Production," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(4), pages 335-342.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:18:y:1997:i:4:p:335-342
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1468(199706)18:4<335::AID-MDE823>3.0.CO;2-D
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    Cited by:

    1. Young Lee, 2011. "Is the small-ball strategy effective in winning games? A stochastic frontier production approach," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 51-59, February.
    2. KimMarie McGoldrick & Lisa Voeks, 2005. "“We Got Game!â€," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 6(1), pages 5-23, February.
    3. Stekler, H.O. & Sendor, David & Verlander, Richard, 2010. "Issues in sports forecasting," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 606-621, July.
      • Herman O. Stekler & David Sendor & Richard Verlander, 2009. "Issues in Sports Forecasting," Working Papers 2009-002, The George Washington University, Department of Economics, H. O. Stekler Research Program on Forecasting.
    4. Martin B. Schmidt & David J. Berri, 2006. "Research Note: What Takes Them Out to the Ball Game?," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 7(2), pages 222-233, May.

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