Our analysis has consistently shown us that home teams perform better against non-divisional rivals but we have always lumped Interleague teams into this category. There is reason to believe that Interleague home teams have a larger advantage.
It makes sense for home teams to perform better in Interleague play for a variety of reasons. AL teams have an advantage at home and a disadvantage on the road because of the DH. When allowed to use the DH, AL teams are able to use a vastly superior #9 hitter than the NL teams are used to. If AL teams are not allowed to use the DH, this will often cause the AL team to either drop their DH, who is generally one of their best hitters or move him into a position for the Interleague games. Since the DH is not used to playing the position, he becomes susceptible to committing errors.
There is also an issue with familiarity. Road teams in Interleague games are often not familiar with the stadium they are playing in and as a result cannot use it to their advantage. The classic example would be at Fenway Park where banging balls up against the Green Monster leads to a lot of doubles. The Padres had a losing home record last season and much of their complaints had to do with the fact that their hitters were not familiar enough with the stadium to take advantage.
Familiarity can also be extended to pitcher / hitter scouting reports. With both teams lacking the extensive scouting reports they normally would have in normal games, the home field advantage will likely weigh more.
Our analysis shows us that home teams during Interleague play have won 56.2% of the time versus 53.2% during non-Interleague play. A 3.0% difference is significant here, especially in a sport where home field advantage is perceived not to exist.
Home Favorites in Interleague play over the past 3 seasons have gone 331-191 (63.4%) +53 units. If our team is motivated off a loss to the very same team it is facing, our team’s win percentage jumps up to 65.1% and the spread is off by about 15 points on average.
As you can see, since Interleague games represent such a small minority of the total number of games played, the home field advantage in such games is not readily known.
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By Proloy Bhattacharyya
NFLSystems.com
proloy@nflsystems.com
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November 3rd, 2008
Board Games and Management Skills
Imagine you are screening candidates for a senior executive position. The job demands strategic thinking abilities and complex decision-making skills. You’ve narrowed the search down to 3 candidates, all of whom have impressive educational background, relevant experience and the right personality for the job. You take another look at their resumes and notice an interesting fact about one of the prospective managers - apparently her hobby is playing various board games including Chess, Bridge, and Go (an ancient and complex Japanese game). Will this fact affect who you ultimately choose for the position of manager?
Apparently, characteristics and skills that are required for playing board games are especially relevant for managers of all levels. Quite a few senior managers say that the skills and habits they acquired in playing games give them an extra edge in business and in management. This includes handling fast changes, taking calculated risks, self-discipline, improved memory, “coolness” under pressure, and determination to carry-through the right strategy - even if it leads to short-term loss.
According to different managers, each game has a distinct focus on skills that stem from the nature of the game. Thus, for instance, Backgammon increases the ability to quickly and intuitively calculate odds and risks in situations of uncertainty; The game of cards - Bridge - develops social interaction and communication based on partial information; Chess requires strategic thinking and system vision, as well as experience in exploiting tactical patterns and opportunities.
The skills needed for playing games are not only cognitive. The basic setting of games requires the ability to operate while involved in intense competitive social interaction, with alternating moments of cooperation and confrontation. Obviously, similar skills are needed in the daily functions of people in general and of managers in particular. Improving these skills is a great part of the learning and training managers need to undertake.
Managers Play to Train and Learn
With the abovementioned similarity of the skills required in board games and those required of managers, it is almost natural that board games have indeed become a powerful management training tool. The subjects that may be addressed with this type of learning are diverse, and include effective decision-making, problem-solving techniques, development of creative thinking, improved personal communication, synergetic teamwork, work under pressure, and more.
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different board games, their patterns of thinking and action, as well as the results of those actions, are brought to the surface. This makes it possible to analyze these habits and point out group tendencies as well. Thus, for instance, a tendency to make decisions based on partial information and without dialogue may lead to grave result in the game, teaching the manager that he needs to improve his communication skills in the game and in life.
B. Real-time Feedback
The link between action and its results in games is almost instant. This makes it possible to examine in real-time the results of using thinking tools and structured patterns of action and behavior, A team that has to solve a game problem quickly and effectively, can learn to use problem-solving techniques and see their immediate effect. In addition, team members may evaluate the personal qualities each of them brings into problem-solving situations, and train in using those abilities in game and life processes.
C. Personal, Team & Group Learning
Training managers through board games simultaneously works on personal skills, small team and large group interaction. Game situations may be planned and built so that learning is focused on personal learning (even through one-on-one coaching), team interaction (two pairs playing against one another, and required to make unanimous decisions), or group aspects (presenting a game position on a screen and holding a discussion on the recommended course of action). This kind of flexibility lets us achieve a variety of learning goals on all levels.
D. Powerful Emotional Learning
Most of the subjects learned through board can certainly be presented in other, more conventional, ways. An added advantage of using board games is the strong emotional involvement of the participants. The cognitive challenges, the state of competition, the hands-on approach all contribute to greater awareness, openness to change and to fun and interest in the learning process.
Plato summarized these principles of learning in the following quote:
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play
than in a year of conversation”
Continue to part 2 of the article:
See examples of Management Training Games and their uses.
Amir Elion is a management and innovation consultant and facilitator. He was a part of a group that developed a unique method for training diverse skills through the use of board games. He has a degree in Philosophy and General studies and an MA in organizational behavior. He maintains and updates the best100ideas.com website on creative ideas for business, workplace and personal uses
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October 31st, 2008
The 1st birthday for a child is a very special event for the parents. 1st birthday parties tend to have lots of adults and kids of different ages. Parents and children both need to be entertained at the party. Every event needs a party theme even if it’s a 1st birthday party.
A theme helps to create a festive flowing atmosphere at your party. For any event including a 1st birthday party, decorating to a theme presents a special feeling. Some party theme ideas include luau, western, black light, Hawaiian, Mardi Gras, cartoon or movie characters, Mexican fiesta, sports, 50’s, roaring 20’s, disco 80’s, hippie 60’s, crazy hats, and patriotic. Create your own theme by combining two themes. Like have Mardi Gras theme using red, white nd blue. The party theme should be followed throughout each aspect of the event including the invitations, food, decorations, and music. The invitations should not only show the them but they also set the tone of the party as to whether it will be casual or formal.
Party games and activities add excitement to any event. Always have a couple planned even if you are not really going to use them. They make great backup activities for events that might get boring or need a new direction. Some party ideas for party games and activities include: physical games, crafts, and brain games. Always have an extra game or activity to fill a possible lull at the party. Party Games Etc (party-games-etc.com) has TONS of FREE party game ideas for birthdays parties. Free printable games and activites are available online.
Party music, prizes and party favors are great party ideas to make a finishing touch to ensure an awesome time by all. Set up the party music to your party theme a few days before the event. Test the music player. Don’t wait till the day before! Party centerpieces can be doubled as party prizes. Everyone loves to win a prize. For events that have assigned seating, a picture frame can be used as place-card holders which can be also used as party favors. Gift baskets or flowers make lovely centerpieces and can also be used for party prizes.
Have fun at your party and so will the guests!
Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Here are some adorable
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October 30th, 2008