A1399
Title: To swing or not to swing: Reference point and professional baseball players
Authors: Koji Yashiki - Yokohama City University (Japan) [presenting]
Abstract: Does a batting average influence the decision of whether or not to swing? We examine if the decision whether to swing is influenced by a batting average by Japanese professional baseball players using the pitch-by-pitch data. We show that when the batting average is just 0.300, the probability to swing becomes significantly lower than when it is well above or below .300. The result suggests that a .300 batting average is considered as a reference point for professional baseball players and influences their attitudes toward risk.