All umpires have some built-in error. Every umpire will have an average range of areas they could have perceived a pitch actually being (If a pitch is PERFECTLY in the center of the strike zone every time, there's going to be an area around that center point where the umpire actually thinks he sees the balls crossing the plate).
Not a big deal, unless you're looking at pitches on the edges of the strike zone. At the edge of the strike zone, some "true" strikes will be mistakenly called balls (false negatives) and some "true" balls will be accidentally called strikes (false positives).
So, the idea is...by enlarging the strike zone for pitchers who are known for being very accurate...you'll decrease false negatives more than increase false positives....and your total pitch calling accuracy will improve. (The vice versa would also be true...stricter strike zone for less accurate pitchers would actually make your total more accurate).
Of course...it's all completely worthless because this is only true when the pitchers are trying to throw a strike every single time and never try to throw a pitch just outside of the strike zone...not to mention that accurate pitchers would be more able to take advantage of the increased area for "false positives".
Foster Kamer promoted this comment
1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes was starred
1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes was unstarred
@1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes: Gilliam's good, but his films are fucking cursed. If Todd Phillips wanted to get serious for an Oscar, maybe. This is a tough one. We need a cross between Phillips and Ron Shelton.
12/10/09
Small sample size.
It wins every other statistical argument.
12/09/09
All umpires have some built-in error. Every umpire will have an average range of areas they could have perceived a pitch actually being (If a pitch is PERFECTLY in the center of the strike zone every time, there's going to be an area around that center point where the umpire actually thinks he sees the balls crossing the plate).
Not a big deal, unless you're looking at pitches on the edges of the strike zone. At the edge of the strike zone, some "true" strikes will be mistakenly called balls (false negatives) and some "true" balls will be accidentally called strikes (false positives).
So, the idea is...by enlarging the strike zone for pitchers who are known for being very accurate...you'll decrease false negatives more than increase false positives....and your total pitch calling accuracy will improve. (The vice versa would also be true...stricter strike zone for less accurate pitchers would actually make your total more accurate).
Of course...it's all completely worthless because this is only true when the pitchers are trying to throw a strike every single time and never try to throw a pitch just outside of the strike zone...not to mention that accurate pitchers would be more able to take advantage of the increased area for "false positives".
12/09/09
12/05/09
Also, I suspect that much of the story will be told in flashbacks.
12/05/09
12/05/09
I eagerly await my free subscription to Deadspin, in addition to the Young Manhattanites 2010-11 desk calendar.
Cheers!
12/05/09
12/05/09
Perfect. I want that on my headstone.
12/05/09
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11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
That's the second creepiest Mitt I've ever seen
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09