by Mean Dean » Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:26 am
[quote:afdbd76a90]The normalization that I uncovered happened at a certain point in the season, where the system essentially was programmed to say - from this point on, turn rolls x, y, and z from HRs to other hits, and from other hits to out. That normalization occurred not only for HRs, but averages as well. It was programmed that over the course of the season, the player would not significantly exceed his card (prorated out to 162 games). [/quote:afdbd76a90]It is very important to note that this was only being done to homeruns by players who were on pace after a certain point to hit 61+ HR, or to hits by players who were on pace after a certain point to hit .400+. As such, it was only occurring in an extremely small percentage of player-seasons. (The -- very misguided -- theory was that it was simulating the "pressure of the record chase.") And naturally, it didn't apply to teams.
The theory currently being proffered would be far more wide-ranging, as the normalization is apparently being done on every stat by every player or team in every league that doesn't sound right to nevdully.