30 for 30 Shorts: The Schedule Makers

[ASTROBURN]

[video]http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9897968[/video]

Each year, everyone from front-office executives to sports-radio callers ridicules the logic of the MLB schedule. Complaints aside, putting this together is a daunting task: 30 teams, 162 games a year, cross-country flights, night games, day games … you name it. So, who manages all of this? For almost a quarter-century it was the husband-and-wife duo of Henry and Holly Stephenson, two math and computer whizzes who did it all with nothing but a pencil and a piece of paper. This film is the story of how the Stephensons landed their first MLB contract and became The Schedule Makers.

 

[padremurph]

I'll have to watch this later, sounds very interesting.

 

[Exposfan]

Watched it. One of the few things I will say ESPN did well.

 

[r2d2]

Really liked it. Had no idea how the schedule was made. Amazing that it was done by hand in to the early 2000s

 

[stricklcp]

Amazing. You don't have to be a sports fan to appreciate people of that caliber! Thx for sharing!

 

[predatorkj]

Bookmarking...

 

[Topnotchsy]

Really cool but why did a couple of computer whizzes do it all by hand lol.

 

[Krom]

Really cool but why did a couple of computer whizzes do it all by hand lol.

Cause they said they could not get a program to meet the needs of all of the teams for a 162 game schedule, hence how Mariano's last game was in Houston - he might have retired in NY if they were still doing it by hand.

 

[Topnotchsy]

Cause they said they could not get a program to meet the needs of all of the teams for a 162 game schedule, hence how Mariano's last game was in Houston - he might have retired in NY if they were still doing it by hand.

I hear that, just thought it was funny.

 

[rsmath]

Mariano's last game was in Houston - he might have retired in NY if they were still doing it by hand.

doubt it as the 2013 schedules were likely released to the public before Mariano made his retirement announcement.

If Mariano wanted to announce his retirement effective after the 2013 season in August 2012, then there might have been the opportunity for a schedule tweak.

EDIT: I suppose in early march right after Mariano's announcement, the Yankees could have paid some cash to the Astros to swap venues on one of their in-season series (Yanks going to Houston instead of Houston to Yankee Stadium earlier in the season and Houston to New York to end the season) and that would have been enough time to reprint ticket packs, pocket skeds, online schedules, etc. just so people are aware of the new dates and venues.

 

[ASTROBURN]

Finally got around to watching it. Very interesting indeed!

 

[MaineMule]

Awesome- thanks for posting this. Those binders need a place in the Hall of Fame!!