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Dodgers "Just Another Ho Hum Game" Simulation, September 29th

I used my simulator to simulate 50000 baseball games between the Dodgers and Padres using what to the best of my knowledge will be close to today's starting lineups.  The simulator outputs a win probability for each team, along with the average total runs scored, a distribution matrix of all the final scores and how often they occurred, and an averaged box score tally of all games combined.  You may find it strange that there are so many one run games listed as the most likely score, and that the home team is always favored to win in the top couple of scores.  This is due to basic math and the way that baseball rules play out of having the home team bat last.  Here is a great article explaining this phenomenon.  For your viewing pleasure I have also listed a few other games of local interest.

Today's Results... (Last simulation ran at 10:00PM)

 

Visitors Home Pitching Matchup Favorite Vegas Win Prob Simulator Win Prob AccuScore
LAN SD C.Billingsley vs C.Ramos LAN 59.68% 60.43% 49%
MIL COL C.Narveson vs J.Marquis COL 62.55% 58.92% 56%
HOU PHI W.Lopez vs J.Happ PHI 73.33% 65.20% 71%
FLA ATL J.Johnson vs T.Hudson ATL 54.13% 47.13% 45%
MIN DET N.Blackburn vs R.Porcello DET 54.75% 56.74% 51%
MIN DET B.Duensing vs J.Verlander DET 60.94%% 61.86% 61%

 Skinny:  Simulator Fun Facts...  The Dodgers just wanted to celebrate the division title in front of their home fans in San Diego, right?  Well, Vegas and my simulator are in pretty good agreement as to the odds of that happening.  Someone, please wake up the AccuScore operators, as they actually have the Padres as favorites to win tonight.  I mean, yeah... anything could happen, but C.Ramos favored over C.Billingsley???  I often look at the games where my simulator is a huge outlier to look for ways to improve my projections, but this blunder by AccuScore is rather embarrassing.  I was worried about my simulator picking the Marlins over the Braves, but then noticed that AccuScore had the Marlins as even bigger favorites to beat the Braves than me.  So, I am not sure what to think about these guys.  Anyways, back to the Dodgers game.  The Dodgers were favored heavier in each of the games against the Pirates and only the game vs the Nationals in which Padilla started were the Dodgers ever a sub 60% favorite to win on this road trip.

 

 

Top 20 Most Likely Scores

1 SD 3-2
2 SD 4-3
3 SD 2-1
4 LAN 3-2
5 LAN 4-3
6 LAN 2-1
7 LAN 3-1
8 LAN 4-2
9 SD 5-4
10 LAN 4-1
11 LAN 5-3
12 LAN 5-4
13 LAN 5-2
14 LAN 5-1
15 LAN 3-0
16 SD 3-1
17 SD 4-2
18 LAN 6-3
19 SD 1-0
20 LAN 2-0

 

Game Pitching Results

Pitcher WHIP FIP
C.Billingsley 1.264 3.17
C.Ramos 1.394 4.35

 


Note: Keep in mind I did this simulation before knowing the actual starting lineups, so some of the players I used may not be starting.   Many of the "Players Most Likely To" stats depend on having the correct lineup.  The lineups  I used are listed below.  Chances are you won't see a big difference in win probability from having the lineup order slightly off.  Picking the correct starters is more important, especially if one of the better players is taking the day off.  But you still won't see a big change in win probability if the starter and backup are interchangeable.

Simulation Lineups
1 R.Furcal T.Gwynn
2 M.Kemp D.Eckstein
3 A.Ethier A.Gonzalez
4 M.Ramirez C.Headley
5 J.Loney W.Venable
6 R.Belliard O.Salazar
7 R.Martin N.Hundley
8 O.Hudson E.Cabrera
9 C.Billingsley C.Ramos

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments

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Just to give the AccuScore operators a little credit, they did recently up the Dodgers chances for winning from 49% to 53%. Still on the low side, but a move in the correct direction. I wonder what the Vegas closing line will be? Probably a lot depends on whether or not Manny starts.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Sep 29, 2009 3:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I wonder if AccuScore weights more than you do on recent performances by the pitcher. Billingsley, for example.

by David Young on Sep 29, 2009 4:00 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I wonder. They would also be weighting a lot more than Vegas and the general public does too. Who really knows though, as AccuScore is a big black box and there appears to be some important details that they don’t even take into consideration. Atleast that was the case last season when I queried them on their message board before they went dark and started charging for their reports.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Sep 29, 2009 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

that would be my guess

what is the D’s record in Bill’s last ten starts?

by stillnotah8er on Sep 29, 2009 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

3-7

But since wins/losses don’t reflect skill very well and since it’s a game simulator we are talking about, AccuScore would be looking at his peripherals not his won/loss record. In this case, his peripherals over the last 10 games are probably not great but they aren’t terrible.

For example, over the past 30 days he has an ERA of 5.70. On the surface that looks pretty bad. When you calculate his FIP over that same time period it is 3.62, with 24Ks, 10BBs and 4HRs in 23.6IPs. The 15ERs are a product of a lot of bad luck. Fangraphs won’t let me filter by last 60 days, otherwise I would’ve posted those numbers.

vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Sep 29, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

I have to give credit where credit is due. AccuScore had a rather nice day.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Sep 29, 2009 10:55 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure accuscore new Bills would have an awesome game

and that our hitter would hit like the Pittsburgh Pirates.

by Dodger Dude on Sep 30, 2009 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, it was most likely the “broken clocK” syndrome, but the fact is they nailed their bold prediction.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Sep 30, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 55 Martin $5,050,000
1B 7 Loney $3,100,000
2B 33 DeWitt $410,000*
3B 23 Blake $6,000,000
SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
LF 99 Manny $7,267,760
CF 27 Kemp $4,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $6,000,000

2B/3B 14 Carroll $1,350,000
2B/3B/1B 3 Belliard $825,000
C 12 Ausmus $850,000
OF 5 Johnson $800,000
SS 60 Hu $405,000*

SP 22 Kershaw $425,000*
SP 58 Billingsley $3,850,000
SP 18 Kuroda $14,100,000
SP 44 Padilla $4,025,000
SP 50 Stults $405,000*

CL 51 Broxton $4,000,000
LHP 52 Sherrill $4,500,000
LHP 56 Kuo $950,000
RHP 67 Troncoso $425,000*
RHP 54 Belisario $425,000*
RHP 31 McDonald $425,000*
RHP 68 Monasterios $460,000*

Pierre $4,000,000
Andruw $3,600,000
Schmidt $2,000,000
Wolf $2,000,000
Hudson $1,440,000
Nomar $1,250,000
Ohman $200,000
Zerpa $35,000
Hoffmann ($50,000)

Others on 40-man roster (total: 39)
RHP 37 Haeger  
RHP 73 Link  
RHP 47 Wade
C 9 Ellis  
C 71 May  
SS 87 DeJesus  
OF 75 Paul
OF 17 Repko $500,000
RHP 64 Guerra**  
RHP 74 Jansen**  
LHP 59 Leach**
RHP 49 Schlichting**  
LHP 57 Elbert**  
OF 62 Robinson**  

Totals $93,522,760
 
Red = arbitration
Asterisk (*) = estimated
** = currently in minor league camp
For more detailed information, click here.

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