The purpose of this project was to determine if there was a relationship between the amount of revenue a minor league team makes and the size of the target market in which the team is located. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the inQsit program, an Internet-based testing program developed at Ball State University, as a means of gathering and analyzing data. Only minor league baseball teams that could be reached via e-mail addresses were involved in this study. Subjects (n=149) were e-mailed a cover letter with an embedded URL which took them to the inQsit web site. While a higher return rate was anticipated using this electronic media, the 11% participation rate should give an accurate picture of minor league baseball teams, the amount of revenue they earned in a year, the types of revenue they earned in a year, and the size of the market in which they are located. However, based on the information collected from the minor league teams, the sample size was not large enough to produce statistically significant results, although some trends were identified, suggesting that target market size may have a positive affect on minor league baseball revenue. / School of Physical Education

This paper uses data acquired from five Baseball statistics websites from the 2006-2010 Major League Baseball seasons to test the effect of increasing information in the Trade Market. Specifically, to test how increasing information affects teams’ preferences in the Trade Market. Player age and service time were used as predictors of team preferences, and an interaction variable between team winning percentage and week of season was used as a predictor of increasing team information. This paper finds that—with significance—the effect of a team’s winning percentage in relation to week in the season a given trade takes place has a negative effect on an acquired player’s tenure and a positive effect on an acquired player’s age. This relationship is likely due to the fact that more successful clubs are looking for established veteran players who can provide immediate help to their Major League team. Conversely, poorly performing clubs are likely looking for younger players who will contribute to their Major League team in future seasons.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Syracuse University, 2007. / "Publication number: AAT 3295542."

Thesis (M.A.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 12, 2010). Research paper (M.A.), 3 hrs. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-60).

No description available.

Research has shown that motor skill performance can be improved with the use of a dynamic visual model that helps to create a cognitive representation and serve as a standard for learning. The purpose of this project is to produce a demonstration videotape that thoroughly analyzes the basic actions involved with pitching a softball for strikes.

No description available.

This study analyzed the relationships present between grip strength, wrist flexion, arm length, partial and total, and throwing velocity. Thirty-one subjects were tested to obtain the data on these variables. A multiple linear regression equation produced a significant F ratio for the relationship between grip strength and throwing velocity. Neither wrist flexion nor arm length obtained a significant F ratio to throwing velocity. A stepwise multiple regression equation again displayed a significant F ratio for grip strength and throwing velocity. Wrist flexion and arm length did not produce a significant F ratio for their relationships to throwing velocity. This study concludes that of the variables tested, only grip strength displayed a significant relationship to throwing velocity. This study indicates that throwing velocity can be predicted at a moderate level from the measurement of grip strength.

The purpose of this study was to provide a longitudinal profile of pitching performance in a cohort of pitchers over two collegiate seasons and a summer league. Thus, this study utilized a longitudinal design to evaluate the impact of summer league participation on subsequent collegiate regular season pitching performance. Specifically, the performance of a cohort of Division 1 collegiate baseball pitchers during the 2018 Spring collegiate season, 2018 Summer League season, and the 2019 Spring collegiate season was evaluated and stratified by pitcher designation, arm dominance, and academic status. Analyses of variance were used to identify main and interaction effects on pitching outcomes. The level of statistical significance was set at p < .05 for all analyses. Data were publicly accessed from thirty-seven Division I collegiate baseball pitchers who participated in a summer baseball league. Collectively, all pitchers significantly improved earned run average (p = .024), number of strikeouts (p = .011), and strikeout efficiency (p = .034) from 2018 to 2019 collegiate seasons. Whereas, starting pitchers (n = 15) yielded fewer earned runs (p = .039) and enhanced hit efficiency (p = .012) from 2018 to 2019 collegiate seasons. Relief pitchers (n = 16) produced significantly more strikeouts from 2018 to 2019 collegiate seasons (p = .012). Finally, there were no differences in pitching outcomes for closers (n = 6) over time (p > .05). Regarding arm dominance, right-handed pitchers (n = 23) improved win average (p = .001), strikeouts (p = .008) and strikeout efficiency (p = .031) from 2018 to 2019 collegiate seasons. Left-handed pitchers (n = 14) significantly improved earned run average (p = .015), earned runs (p = .048), and hit efficiency (p = .014). Regarding academic stratification, the freshman to sophomore cohort (n = 15) significantly improved number of pitches (p = .018), innings pitched (p = .019), hits (p = .029), and strikeouts (p = .003). Whereas, the sophomore to junior cohort (n = 21) significantly improved losses (p = .042) and hit efficiency (p =.028). The findings from this study indicate that participation in a summer baseball league may have improved several critical pitching metrics with implications to enhance team performance.

The problem of this study was to determine the relative contribution of the strength of shoulder internal rotators among various muscle groups to ball speed in the fastball pitch as exhibited by college pitchers. An objective of the study was to explain at least 40% of the contribution of ball speed. The literature appears to be somewhat inconclusive as to the quantification of component contributors of muscle groups m the upper extremity to ball speed. It appears in the literature that variables other than upper extremity strength account for approximately 50% of ball speed. Some research has indicated that strength of the shoulder internal rotators is a major contributor while most research of this type has either been inconclusive or qualitative m nature. Eighteen college pitchers were tested for upper extremity peak torque production on the Cybex II Isokinetic Dynamometer at speeds of 90 and 240 degrees/second. Fastball speed was measured with a hand held radar gun. Results of regression analyses performed on the data indicate a strong correlation between the internal rotators of the upper extremity and fastball speed. A regression equation using a hierarchical strategy to maximize R2 accounted for 40% of contribution to ball speed using independent variables of shoulder internal rotation at 90° /sec. (X1) and elbow flexion at 240°/sec. (X2); ie, Speed=62.861+245X1 +.39X2. The standardized beta weights for this equation indicate that the greater contributor to ball speed was Sho/Int/Rot-90 when the effects of Elb/Fl-240 are controlled. When elbow extension at 90° /sec. was added to the equation as X3 approximately 59% of ball speed is explained; ie, Speed=68.605 + 268X1 + 807 X2 - .430X3.