The goal of this project is to examine the public opinion of using technology to automate the MLB strike zone and its possible effects on MLB's run-scoring environment. To examine public opinion, a survey will be administered and an interview with someone inside baseball scheduled for a more nuanced look. To examine the possible effects, data from the 2007-2014 seasons will be analyzed using Markov chains in an attempt to predict the differences between letting umpires call balls and strikes and leaving it to technology. Initial results suggest that automation would increase offense, but that fans are not quite ready to trust the technology.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Flanagan, Joseph Patrick

Subject

• Industry
• Computing
• Culture

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050515-092502

Keyword

• Artificial intelligence
• Computer simulation

Advisor

• Olson, Sarah D

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-05-05

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright