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Is Batting Last an Advantage?

Author

Listed:
  • Theodore L. Turocy

    (Texas A&M University)

Abstract

This paper applies the theory of zero-sum stochastic games to assess the validity of baseball's ancient wisdom that batting last confers a strategic advantage. Results from numerical calculation of Markov perfect equilibrium suggest that the team that bats last will have an advantage if in fact the offense has, in some sense, more useful strategic actions available than the defense. An example is provided where the advantage depends on details of the teams playing. Regardless of which team has the advantage, all calculations indicate the advantage is negligible in magnitude.

Suggested Citation

  • Theodore L. Turocy, 2003. "Is Batting Last an Advantage?," Game Theory and Information 0309002, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpga:0309002
    Note: Type of Document - TeXmacs; prepared on Linux; to print on PostScript; pages: 24 ; figures: none
    as

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    File URL: https://econwpa.ub.uni-muenchen.de/econ-wp/game/papers/0309/0309002.pdf
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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Extra innings start with a runner on second base
      by Tyler Cowen in Marginal Revolution on 2017-02-09 20:40:47

    More about this item

    Keywords

    zero-sum games; Markov perfect equilibrium; baseball;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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