THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Friday, May 27, 2011

Institutionalizing Irrationality

Hawerchuk:

Could you imagine modern football players wearing only punter facemasks - or no facemasks at all - and then pulling their helmets off and fighting on the field?  The same thing is defended as part of the game of hockey.

Could you imagine hockey players constantly diving whenever an opposing player even touches them in the offensive zone and having sportscasters describe “selling” a dive as an important skill?  But this “is” soccer.

How about getting in your opponent’s face, yelling and screaming and beating your chest after you score?  You’d get a penalty in football, and start a fight in hockey or baseball.  In basketball, we see it all the time.

I’d quote his whole article…