That’s why they play the games

One of Baseball Prospectus’s signature projects is its annual PECOTA (Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm) analysis, which evaluates players and forecasts team success through a formula that includes past performance in major statistical categories.

Although PECOTA (named after former major league infielder Bill Pecota) has become a staple in the baseball community, it doesn’t mean BP gets it right all the time — not by a long shot. 

Take, for instance, BP’s White Sox projections since 2005. As you see in the chart below, the projection has gotten it wrong and short-changed the Sox in six of the eight seasons, including twice by double digits (in the ’05 world championship season and in 2008 when the Sox won the thrilling tiebreaker to win the A.L. Central). In all, BP shorted the Sox an average of seven-plus wins, including the ’08 tiebreaker victory.

So, how about the upcoming season? Baseball Prospectus predicts the White Sox will finish 77-85 and third in the A.L. Central behind the Tigers and Indians. Based on BP’s past evaluations, it’s logical to assume that Sox fans can expect good things to happen on the South Side in 2013.

Year              Prediction           Actual            Difference in Wins

2005                80-82                99-63                    +19

2006                82-80                90-72                     + 8

2007                73-89                72-90                      - 1

2008                77-85               *89-74                    +12

2009                73-89                79-83                     + 6

2010                79-83                88-74                     + 9

2011                82-80                79-83                     -  3

2012                78-84                85-77                     + 7

*actual 2008 record includes the tiebreaker game