Racial Discrimination and Long-Term Contracts in Major League Baseball

1996 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Marburger
Keyword(s):  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Term Contract ◽  
Major League ◽  
Salary Determination ◽  
Pay Differences ◽  
Biased Distribution

The preponderance of studies on salary determination for major league baseball players suggests that significant pay differences do not exist between races. The possibility exists, however, that salary discrimination may be disguised by a racially biased distribution of long-term contracts. This study suggests that nonwhites are not victimized by long-term contract discrimination, which is consistent with the findings of others on pay discrimination in major league baseball.

scholarly journals Lower Extremity Biomechanics Predicts Major League Baseball Player Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 232596712110152
Author(s):  
Lucas G. Teske ◽  
Edward C. Beck ◽  
Garrett S. Bullock ◽  
Kristen F. Nicholson ◽  
Brian R. Waterman
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Regression Trees ◽  
Minimal Detectable Change ◽  
Vertical Force ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Major League ◽  
Lower Extremity Biomechanics ◽  
Statistical Metrics

Background: Although lower extremity biomechanics has been correlated with traditional metrics among baseball players, its association with advanced statistical metrics has not been evaluated. Purpose: To establish normative biomechanical parameters during the countermovement jump (CMJ) among Major League Baseball (MLB) players and evaluate the relationship between CMJ-developed algorithms and advanced statistical metrics. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: MLB players in 2 professional organizations performed the CMJ at the beginning of each baseball season from 2013 to 2017. We collected ground-reaction force data including the eccentric rate of force development (“load”), concentric vertical force (“explode”), and concentric vertical impulse (“drive”) as well as the Sparta Score. The advanced statistical metrics from each baseball season (eg, fielding independent pitching [FIP], weighted stolen base runs [wSB], and weighted on-base average) were also gathered for the study participants. The minimal detectable change (MDC) was calculated for each CMJ variable to establish normative parameters. Pearson coefficient analysis and regression trees were used to evaluate associations between CMJ data and advanced statistical metrics for the players. Results: A total of 151 pitchers and 138 batters were included in the final analysis. The MDC for “load,” “explode,” “drive,” and the Sparta Score was 10.3, 8.1, 8.7, and 4.6, respectively, and all demonstrated good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.75). There was a weak but statistically significant correlation between the Sparta Score and wSB ( r = 0.23; P = .007); however, there were no significant correlations with any other advanced metrics. Regression trees demonstrated superior FIP with higher Sparta Scores in older pitchers compared with younger pitchers. Conclusion: There was a positive but weak correlation between the Sparta Score and base-stealing performance among professional baseball players. Additionally, older pitchers with a higher Sparta Score had statistically superior FIP compared with younger pitchers with a similar Sparta Score after adjusting for age.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Cardinal Gaze Speed between Major League Baseball Players, Amateur Prospects, and Non-athletes

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e17-e28
Author(s):  
Karla Kubitz ◽  
Claire-Marie Roberts ◽  
Melissa Hunfalvay ◽  
Nicholas Murray
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Professional Baseball ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Major League

PurposeSensorimotor variables have been shown to predict performance in professional baseball players. However, cardinal gaze speed in baseball players has received only limited attention. This study tested the hypothesis that the cardinal gaze speed in Major League Baseball (MLB) players would be faster than in amateur prospects and non-athletes. MethodSeventeen MLB athletes, 160 amateur prospects, and 128 non-athletes were tested using an eye-tracking test (i.e., the RightEye CGP test) designed to measure cardinal gaze speed. ResultsMLB players had significantly faster cardinal gaze speed than either amateur prospects or non-athletes. Moreover, there were significant differences in cardinal gaze speed across different directions. ConclusionsThis was the first study to examine the speed of gaze in the cardinal positions in an athletic context. The results highlight the significant difference in cardinal gaze speed between MLB players, amateur prospects, and non-athletes.

History-Dependent Mixed Strategies: Evidence From Major League Baseball

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-398
Author(s):  
Michael William Gmeiner
Keyword(s):  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Mixed Strategies ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Small Magnitude ◽  
Best Response ◽  
Major League

This article analyzes to what extent baseball players adjust mixed strategies depending on the history by which the batting count is realized, then tests if these adjustments are aligned with best-response play. Two situations are examined: (1) pitches preceded by a borderline ball or strike at which the batter did not swing and (2) batters taking a strike as opposed to swinging and missing. Adjustments in batter and pitcher strategy on the following pitch are identified as statistically significant, however, of small magnitude. Analysis considers the effects of these adjustments on the expected runs scored during the plate appearance.

Do You Get What You Pay for? Salary and Ex Ante Player Value in Major League Baseball

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 705-722
Author(s):  
John L. Solow ◽  
Anthony C. Krautmann
Keyword(s):  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Economic Gain ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Expected Performance ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
Major League ◽  
Contract Signing ◽  
Benefits And Costs

The last few years have seen a resurgence of very long, very expensive guaranteed contracts in Major League Baseball. Commentators who examine the outcomes of earlier long-term contracts generally conclude that teams greatly overpay in these situations. These assessments suffer from the use of perfect hindsight, however. In this article, we estimate the economic gain that could be anticipated at the time of signing of a contract. We forecast the player’s expected future productivity in terms of winning based on recent performance at the time of the contract signing and adjusted for player aging. We translate this expected performance into a stream of expected marginal revenues using estimates of the team-specific value of a marginal win and discount these to present value at the time of signing. The economic cost of the contract to the team is measured by the discounted stream of guaranteed future salaries across the contract horizon. Comparing these benefits and costs indicates that teams overpay on average and more so for longer contracts. Some part of this is likely explained by benefits beyond the effect of games won.

Left-Handedness among Major League Baseball Players

1951 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey C. Lehman ◽  
Frederic E. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Left Handedness ◽  
Major League

scholarly journals Analysis of Non-Game Injuries in Major League Baseball

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 232596711988849
Author(s):  
Amanda Esquivel ◽  
Michael T. Freehill ◽  
Frank C. Curriero ◽  
Kevin L. Rand ◽  
Stan Conte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recent Literature ◽  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Professional Baseball ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Minor League Baseball ◽  
Minor League ◽  
Major League

Background: Numerous studies have investigated injuries and treatments in the baseball athlete. The majority of these studies have focused on the throwing shoulder and elbow. However, more recent literature is reporting injuries to other regions in this cohort, including the knee, head, hip, and hamstring. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of the current study was to determine the number and type of injuries in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players that do not occur during the actual game but are related to baseball participation. Our hypothesis was that there would be a substantial number of injuries that occurred in professional baseball players during non-game situations. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: Deidentified, anonymous data were collected from the 2011 through 2016 seasons from the MLB Health and Injury Tracking System (HITS) medical record database. All injuries that were identified as a primary diagnosis and resulted in at least 1 day out of play from both MLB and MiLB were examined. Injuries were categorized as occurring during the game (“game” injuries) or not during the game. A “non-game” injury was defined as occurring at any time other than during the scheduled game from the first to last pitch. Results: There were 51,548 total injuries in MLB and MiLB players from 2011 to 2016, almost 40% of which were attributed to non–game-related injuries (n = 19,201; 37.2%). The remainder occurred during a game (n = 32,347; 62.8%). A significantly greater percentage of non-game injuries were season ending (10.8%) compared with the percentage of game-related season-ending injuries (8.4%) ( P < .0001). Pitchers had significantly more non–game-related injuries than game-related injuries ( P < .0001). Conclusion: A large number of injuries occur in professional baseball outside of actual games. MiLB players, specifically pitchers, are particularly at risk for these types of injuries. It is feasible that the overall injury rate in professional baseball players could be reduced by analyzing these injuries in more detail to develop prevention strategies.

scholarly journals All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Major League Baseball Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 179 (9) ◽  
pp. 1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vy T. Nguyen ◽  
Ross D. Zafonte ◽  
Kale Z. Kponee-Shovein ◽  
Sabrina Paganoni ◽  
Marc G. Weisskopf
Keyword(s):  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Specific Mortality ◽  
Major League
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