[Rob]

Hi Ed,

I think this is very interesting, but I have a question. Please let me start by saying that I have a general idea how the math for this works, but I am not overly mathematically inclined so the details elude me.

My thought is that since the set of data that a teams performance is being calculated from comes from single events (each event having a set of teams), that the results of that data are best used to compare to other teams at the same event.

To properly compare one team from the midwest against a team from southern California, those teams would have had to compete at the same event.

Am I totally off base here of is there some validity to my assumption?

For example, if the MI state event had all great teams, could that not adversely impact the performance numbers of the top teams. Good teams score on you more (you get worse DPR) and are harder to score on (you get lower OPR).

I am not trying to invalidate your data, I think it is an amazing tool. I just have a hunch that it is most useful for comparing teams at the same events together. To compare teams globally they would have to be at the same events together (I think)

Now the top teams should still have good performance numbers no matter where they compete, but I think the numbers can only tell so much.

Sorry for the lengthy post, and thanks for making this data available, it does help quite a bit even if my understanding of it is limited!