The New York Mets should expect to win about 90 games in 2007 and the Yankees a whopping 110 games to lead their divisions, said Bruce Bukiet, PhD, an associate professor of mathematical sciences at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Bukiet, who is also an associate dean of NJIT’s College of Science and Liberal Arts offers the expectations for the number of games each major league baseball team should win based on his mathematical model, developed in 2000.
The other division winners should be the Cleveland Indians in the American League (AL) Central Division, and Los Angeles Angels in the West. In the National League (NL), the San Diego Padres should win in the West, while the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals will compete for the Central Division title in a very close race. The wildcard teams in the NL should be the Phillies, while in the AL, the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Twins will vie for that title.
The expected wins for each team are:
- AL East: Yankees – 110; Blue Jays – 87; Red Sox – 87; Orioles – 75; Devil Rays 55;
- AL Central: Indians – 92; Twins – 88; Tigers – 84; White Sox – 82; Royals 58;
- AL West: Angels – 94; A’s – 80; Rangers – 77; Mariners – 74;
- NL East: Mets – 90; Phillies – 88; Braves – 81; Marlins – 77; Nationals – 73;
- NL Central: Astros – 87; Cardinals – 86; Cubs – 82; Braves – 81; Reds – 71; Pirates – 66;
- NL West: Padres – 90; Dodgers – 85; Diamondbacks – 78; Giants – 78; Rockies - 76;
"These results offer a guide as to how teams ought to perform during the season. But unknowns continue to exist, especially those dealing with trades, injuries and rookies’ performances,” said Bukiet, who worked with NJIT Mathematical Sciences undergraduate William Michael Hourican on these computations.
Operations Research published Bukiet’s mathematical model on which his predictions are based. His model computes the probability of a team winning a game against another team with given hitters, bench, starting pitcher, relievers and home field advantage. Bukiet has appeared on CNN Headline News, the Jerusalem Post and Fox Radio’s Roger Hedgecock Show, KOGO, San Diego and others. Interview Bukiet in person at 501 Cullimore Hall, by telephone (973-596-8392) or email bukiet@m.njit.edu.
Bukiet, an avid Mets fan, has used this mathematical model to determine whether it is worthwhile to wager on games during the baseball season. His picks are posted (for academic purposes only) on his website (www.egrandslam.com). These picks have produced positive results for five of the six years he has posted them.
Bukiet’s main areas of research have involved mathematical modeling of physical phenomena, including detonation waves, healing of wounds, and dynamics of human balance. He has also applied mathematical modeling to sports and gambling, in particular for understanding baseball and cricket. He is currently working on National Science Foundation projects to train math and science teachers for high-need schools and to bring computational research projects into Newark High Schools. Bukiet received the NJIT Excellence in Teaching Award in 2006 for Outstanding Work. Bukiet received his PhD in mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University.
NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, enrolls more than 8,000 students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 92 degree programs offered by six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey School of Architecture, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, Albert Dorman Honors College and College of Computing Sciences. NJIT is renowned for expertise in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and eLearning. In 2006, Princeton Review named NJIT among the nation’s top 25 campuses for technology and top 150 for best value. U.S. News & World Report’s 2007 Annual Guide to America’s Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities.