Shut Up & Sit Down Game Recommendations

Finding the perfect gift can be tricky. As minimalist sensibilities have continued to power pop culture (think Marie Kondo, mid-century modern furniture, and experiences over objects) the landscape has become even more daunting. What if I told you, dear readers, that there exists a compact gift that transcends age and...
NHL Draft Pick Probability

NHL Draft Pick Probability

Getting the top pick in the NHL draft is a big deal for NHL teams and fans. Each year the league holds a lottery to determine the order teams receive draft picks. To discourage teams from purposely losing to guarantee the top pick, all 15 teams that didn’t make the...

Insuring the Indians’ Win Streak

ESPN recently ran an article about an Ohio-based window company that guaranteed any of its customers who installed windows (the kind that makes walls transparent, not the PC operating system), siding, or doors in the month of July would have their money returned if the Cleveland Indians had a 15-game...

Rooting for the Favorite

Imagine this hypothetical scenario: The Patriots have advanced to the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs and are waiting to see who will play the Falcons in the NFC Championship game. The Eagles are playing the Packers in the divisional round for the right to play the Falcons in the...

Strategy in Baseball – A Look at Pitch Count

One of the simplest applications of game theory and strategy to sports is pitch selection in baseball. On every single play, the pitcher has dozens of possibilities in his arsenal. For example, Arizona Diamondbacks’ star Zack Greinke has five main pitches: two types of fastballs (four seam and two seam),...