APPLYING MATCHING EQUATION TO PITCH SELECTION IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

This study applied the generalized matching equation (GME) to pitch selection in MLB during the 2016 regular season. The GME was used to evaluate the pitch selection of 21 groups of pitchers as well as 144 individual pitchers. The GME described pitch selection well for four of the 21 pitching groups and 32 of the 144 individual pitchers. Of the remaining groups and individual pitchers, behavior may be explained by rule following behavior or be impacted by distant reinforcers such as salary. All 21 groups demonstrated a bias for fastballs as well as 119 of the 144 individual pitchers. The results extend the use of the GME to natural contexts and suggest an alternative view to evaluating pitchers.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Dragone, David

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hantula, Donald A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Fisher, Amanda Guld
• Tincani, Matt

• Education
• Baseball
• General matching equation
• General matching theory
• Reinforcement
• Sports

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/1136

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/1136