A statistical/cultural comparison and analysis of baseball in Japan and the United States

Schmidt, Paul

Thompson, Jake J

English

University of San Francisco

Slugging or SacrificeA Statistical Comparison of Japanese and American BaseballThe BasicsSabermetrics: the math of baseball● Sabermetrics is the statistical analysis of baseball● The study was birthed in the 1970s and gained national attention with the “Moneyball” Oakland AthleticsBrief History of Strategy in Baseball● In the 150 year history of pro baseball multiple strategies have developed ● These can be whittled down into two theories○ Small ball○ Long ballSmall BallLong BallSmall Ball in Japan● There exists a notion that the baseball played in Japan is predominantly small ball● Our goal is to see if this is true by looking at statistical information that is availableData AnalysisData CollectionProcess● We compared the National League with the Japanese Central League and the American League with the Japanese Pacific League ● Data used was over a five-year span (2018-2013)Process (cont)● We looked at a variety of offensive and defensive stats, which could explain small ball/long ball tendencies● A particularly important statistic is the triple (or quadruple) slash Triple (or Quadruple) Slash ● A set of percentages that shows the overall offensive performance of a team or player:● For Example:.362/.609/.812 (BA/OBP/SLG)● Sometimes OPS is added Analysis Procedures: Hypothesis TestingFindingsFindings (cont.)● There is only marginal difference in BA, OBP, SLG, R/Game● Larger difference in SF and HRsWhat This Means● There is a definite tendency even for players to bunt in Japan, even with teams with a DH● For example, Toronto bunted a total of six times in 2018, least in the AL● Least in the JPL was the Seibu Lions with 48 What This Means (cont.)● Other hallmarks of small ball tactics occured at a differing rate in Japan such as higher rate of Stolen Bases, lower K/9Conclusion ● Certain small ball tactics have lived on in Japan● Statistically speaking not much is different as a whole between the Major Leagues and the NPBParting Note● Baseball is constantly evolving● Currently the Majors is going through a “flyball revolution”, which has reached Japan as wellQuestions?

Slugging or Sacrifice: A Statistical Comparison of Japanese and American Baseball

https://repository.usfca.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1136&amp;context=artsci_stu

Slugging or Sacrifice: A Statistical Comparison of Japanese and American Baseball

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University of San Francisco