Question 15.21

21. In the following game of batter-versus-pitcher in baseball, the batter’s batting averages are given in the game matrix. The batter tries to maximize his batting average while the pitcher tries to minimize the batter’s batting average; this is a zero-sum game. The pitcher decides between throwing a fastball and a curveball. When the batter is in the batter’s box, he guesses which pitch is coming (either a fastball or a curveball). If he guesses correctly, then his batting average is higher. For example, it is easier for him to hit a fastball when he correctly guesses that one is coming. However, if he guesses incorrectly, then his batting average goes down.

Pitcher
Fastball Curveball
Batter Fastball 0.350 0.250
Curveball 0.100 0.500
  1. If the pitcher always pitches a fastball, what should the batter do?
  2. If the pitcher always pitches a curveball, what should the batter do?
  3. If the batter always guesses fastball, what should the pitcher do?
  4. If the batter always guesses curveball, what should the pitcher do?

21.

(a) Guess fastball (b) Guess curveball (c) Pitch curveball (d) Pitch fastball