March 29, 2013

32 Predictions Contest

2013 Edition

by Sky Kalkman

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This is the fifth year I’ve run this contest, but the first here at Baseball Prospectus. I stole the format from an old differential equations professor of mine, Doug Drinen of Pro-Football-Reference, and heck, I might as well steal his directions, too (translated into baseball-speak):

Below you will find 32 pairs of numbers. In each case, you tell me which number will be bigger. One point for each correct answer. Most points wins.

Ties—and there is a solid chance of ties occurring—go to the side that had fewer votes. For example, here is a pair of numbers:

Wins by the Yankees
Wins by the Red Sox

Let’s say 41 people take the Yankees and 54 take the Red Sox. If the Yankees and Red Sox end up with the same number of wins, then each Yankee-backer will get a point and each Red Sox-backer will not.

To enter, fill out the Google survey below. (If you don't see it, refresh.) The grand prize is Fame and Glory, with Bragging Rights going to everyone who finishes with at least a .500 record. (Last year the average score was 16.3 out of 32. Ouch.) Correlation is not causation, but Mike Fast is a previous winner, and look where he is now…

Ballots are due Monday, April 1 at midnight Pacific. In case of an overall tie, the winner is the person who entered first. Please help spread the word.

Update (March 30, 2013): The grand prize has been upgraded from bragging rights to a free one-year premium subscription to Baseball Prospectus!

Update (April 11, 2013): A summary of all the responses is available here.

Sky Kalkman is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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