Brian Mills
@bmmillsy.bsky.social
Language broad enough that I guess I could get canned for “LeBron or Jordan” day.
The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents unanimously approved a rule requiring its universities to ensure students can graduate without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects,” despite warnings it could leave them less prepared for the real world.
University of Texas regents OK limits on controversial subjects
Opponents warned the policy’s vagueness could push professors to self-censor and leave students less prepared for the workplace.
www.texastribune.org
February 20, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Language broad enough that I guess I could get canned for “LeBron or Jordan” day.
As of next year, apparently UT Austin will not have a Department of Statistics (it will be rolled into a single unit with Comp Sci and Information...not a college with 3 departments...a single academic unit)...
February 19, 2026 at 9:01 PM
As of next year, apparently UT Austin will not have a Department of Statistics (it will be rolled into a single unit with Comp Sci and Information...not a college with 3 departments...a single academic unit)...
As someone who loves pitch data, teaches sports analytics, and understands why teams are doing this, I think it sucks.
One of the most enjoyable things about pitching is being the one to make decisions and go one-on-one with the the other team.
If you don't want that, just put robots on the field.
One of the most enjoyable things about pitching is being the one to make decisions and go one-on-one with the the other team.
If you don't want that, just put robots on the field.
The Marlins are going to have coaches call every pitch of 2026 from the dugout. The Giants, Rockies and others might soon join them.
Today’s Bandwagon asks: What does it mean when the baseball’s fundamental in-game decision moves off screen? bandwagon.substack.com/p/the-call-i...
Today’s Bandwagon asks: What does it mean when the baseball’s fundamental in-game decision moves off screen? bandwagon.substack.com/p/the-call-i...
The call is coming from inside the dugout
On a potentially revolutionary strategy shift. Plus: An announcement about the newsletter
bandwagon.substack.com
February 19, 2026 at 5:42 PM
As someone who loves pitch data, teaches sports analytics, and understands why teams are doing this, I think it sucks.
One of the most enjoyable things about pitching is being the one to make decisions and go one-on-one with the the other team.
If you don't want that, just put robots on the field.
One of the most enjoyable things about pitching is being the one to make decisions and go one-on-one with the the other team.
If you don't want that, just put robots on the field.
Reposted by Brian Mills
Happy Kevin wants economists to be disciplined by their bosses for contradicting the regime's understanding of The Truth.
Hassett: "The basic theory of President Trump's tariffs is sure, we're importing stuff from China, but we've got producers in US who make stuff, maybe at alightly higher place. If we bring stuff home, create demand, then that will hurt China & drive up wages & American consumers will be better off."
February 18, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Happy Kevin wants economists to be disciplined by their bosses for contradicting the regime's understanding of The Truth.
David Brooks out here uttering some of the most incoherent drivel I've ever heard. The faux intellectualism of this guy is incredibly grating. "Trump has made it acceptable for progressives to think that character is important, and we should think more about it."
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
David Brooks: ‘We’re Part of the Problem’
The “New York Times” columnist on the sins of the educated class, what Trump gets right, and why he’s leaving the newspaper to take a new job at Yale University.
www.chronicle.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:57 PM
David Brooks out here uttering some of the most incoherent drivel I've ever heard. The faux intellectualism of this guy is incredibly grating. "Trump has made it acceptable for progressives to think that character is important, and we should think more about it."
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
www.chronicle.com/article/were...
First and only pack of Topps 2026 today. Not bad for a single pack rip! @sabrbbcards.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 12:15 AM
First and only pack of Topps 2026 today. Not bad for a single pack rip! @sabrbbcards.bsky.social
Reposted by Brian Mills
Come work as an empirical researcher at Berkeley Law!
We are taking applications now, with a deadline of 11:59pm on March 1.
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05264
We are taking applications now, with a deadline of 11:59pm on March 1.
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05264
February 13, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Come work as an empirical researcher at Berkeley Law!
We are taking applications now, with a deadline of 11:59pm on March 1.
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05264
We are taking applications now, with a deadline of 11:59pm on March 1.
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05264
Everyone feigning anger over the Dodgers, but have you even seen the U.S. team for the WBC? 👀
Splashing Down in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic blogs.fangraphs.com/splashing-do...
Splashing Down in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic
With less than a month to go before the start of the WBC, it’s time to overanalyze all 20 rosters. This post covers the five in Pool B.
blogs.fangraphs.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Everyone feigning anger over the Dodgers, but have you even seen the U.S. team for the WBC? 👀
Excellent interview here. Dr. Das Acevedo clearly explaining a wide range of important characteristics of tenure and political interest in removing it.
www.chronicle.com/podcast/coll...
www.chronicle.com/podcast/coll...
Unfashionable and Under Fire, Tenure Needs a New Defense
Critics aren’t moved by the idea that tenure is essential for academic freedom. They may not even like academic freedom.
www.chronicle.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Excellent interview here. Dr. Das Acevedo clearly explaining a wide range of important characteristics of tenure and political interest in removing it.
www.chronicle.com/podcast/coll...
www.chronicle.com/podcast/coll...
Headline starts out with a bang, but the story is that for-profit colleges (see: lots of fraud and scams) made up 88% of the decline.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Colleges Cut Ad Spending by More Than Half in Last Decade
Universities are spending more than 50 percent less on advertising than they were 10 years ago. According to data compiled by the Postsecondary Education and Economics Research Center at American Univ...
www.insidehighered.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Headline starts out with a bang, but the story is that for-profit colleges (see: lots of fraud and scams) made up 88% of the decline.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
As media continues to clutch pearls about baseball salaries and proposes caps, I would like to remind everyone that the unstoppable Dodgers (who nobody can ever beat!) had the 5th most wins in baseball last year.
That's 83rd percentile, lower than the average UT Austin admit on the SAT.
That's 83rd percentile, lower than the average UT Austin admit on the SAT.
February 12, 2026 at 3:35 PM
As media continues to clutch pearls about baseball salaries and proposes caps, I would like to remind everyone that the unstoppable Dodgers (who nobody can ever beat!) had the 5th most wins in baseball last year.
That's 83rd percentile, lower than the average UT Austin admit on the SAT.
That's 83rd percentile, lower than the average UT Austin admit on the SAT.
Reposted by Brian Mills
I love being a labor economist, where null is interesting if your model is still convincing.
Anytime a student tells me they are worried they didn't find statistically significant results, I remind them of David Card. Two Nobel winning papers had null results (NJ/PA minimum wage and Mariel Boatlift)
Anytime a student tells me they are worried they didn't find statistically significant results, I remind them of David Card. Two Nobel winning papers had null results (NJ/PA minimum wage and Mariel Boatlift)
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
February 12, 2026 at 1:13 PM
I love being a labor economist, where null is interesting if your model is still convincing.
Anytime a student tells me they are worried they didn't find statistically significant results, I remind them of David Card. Two Nobel winning papers had null results (NJ/PA minimum wage and Mariel Boatlift)
Anytime a student tells me they are worried they didn't find statistically significant results, I remind them of David Card. Two Nobel winning papers had null results (NJ/PA minimum wage and Mariel Boatlift)
I have strongly advocated for MLB banning all injuries for many years now. They have yet to take me up on this proposal. ☹️
Just made an unprintable sound seeing the Corbin Carroll news
ban hamates
ban hamates
February 11, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I have strongly advocated for MLB banning all injuries for many years now. They have yet to take me up on this proposal. ☹️
Thanks, Canvas, for ruining my first day of R Lab.
It turns out that if students download a .csv data file from a preview of on Canvas, it downloads it as a PDF no matter what the file type is. Really super fantastic stuff. Amazing software. Beautiful.
It turns out that if students download a .csv data file from a preview of on Canvas, it downloads it as a PDF no matter what the file type is. Really super fantastic stuff. Amazing software. Beautiful.
a close up of a cartoon character with a very angry face and a tie .
ALT: a close up of a cartoon character with a very angry face and a tie .
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Thanks, Canvas, for ruining my first day of R Lab.
It turns out that if students download a .csv data file from a preview of on Canvas, it downloads it as a PDF no matter what the file type is. Really super fantastic stuff. Amazing software. Beautiful.
It turns out that if students download a .csv data file from a preview of on Canvas, it downloads it as a PDF no matter what the file type is. Really super fantastic stuff. Amazing software. Beautiful.
Rereading a paper of mine and was reminded I got to include a dig on Pepsi in a footnote:
"Mileage varies on the substitutability of Coke with such an inferior tasting product like Pepsi, but we will make simple assumptions about this soda market for exhibition purposes."
"Mileage varies on the substitutability of Coke with such an inferior tasting product like Pepsi, but we will make simple assumptions about this soda market for exhibition purposes."
February 10, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Rereading a paper of mine and was reminded I got to include a dig on Pepsi in a footnote:
"Mileage varies on the substitutability of Coke with such an inferior tasting product like Pepsi, but we will make simple assumptions about this soda market for exhibition purposes."
"Mileage varies on the substitutability of Coke with such an inferior tasting product like Pepsi, but we will make simple assumptions about this soda market for exhibition purposes."
Academic reading discussion today in grad Sports Economics. Main points for today’s coverage.
February 9, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Academic reading discussion today in grad Sports Economics. Main points for today’s coverage.
First few paragraphs here should be required reading for anyone writing about college sports finance.
Another example: operating+non-operating revenue at UT Austin, which has probably the largest athletics dept at $332 million in revenues is ~$5.6 billion.
That's just 5-6% of what goes on here.
Another example: operating+non-operating revenue at UT Austin, which has probably the largest athletics dept at $332 million in revenues is ~$5.6 billion.
That's just 5-6% of what goes on here.
The University of Utah (a non-profit institution) wants to work directly with a for-profit private equity firm in college sports.
I explain at @theslingutah.bsky.social why it seems both the university and the firm don't truly understand the college business.
www.thesling.org/can-private-...
I explain at @theslingutah.bsky.social why it seems both the university and the firm don't truly understand the college business.
www.thesling.org/can-private-...
Can Private Equity Save Athletics at the University of Utah? - The Sling
In December, Dennis Romboy and Art Raymond of Deseret News reported that the University of Utah’s board of trustees approved a first-of-its-kind private equity deal between the school and Otro Capital...
www.thesling.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
First few paragraphs here should be required reading for anyone writing about college sports finance.
Another example: operating+non-operating revenue at UT Austin, which has probably the largest athletics dept at $332 million in revenues is ~$5.6 billion.
That's just 5-6% of what goes on here.
Another example: operating+non-operating revenue at UT Austin, which has probably the largest athletics dept at $332 million in revenues is ~$5.6 billion.
That's just 5-6% of what goes on here.
*paper ready to start submission*
*reads journal requirements*
*all papers must use metric units*
*reads journal requirements*
*all papers must use metric units*
a man in a plaid shirt is crying while looking at a cell phone
ALT: a man in a plaid shirt is crying while looking at a cell phone
media.tenor.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:08 PM
*paper ready to start submission*
*reads journal requirements*
*all papers must use metric units*
*reads journal requirements*
*all papers must use metric units*
Reposted by Brian Mills
I always started my sports Econ class with the Q: What is a sport? If I was still teaching, this piece would make a fun motivator.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
Between the sheets at the college Excel championships
One of the most unusual — and fun — events in college sports is a high-stakes spreadsheeting competition in Las Vegas.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I always started my sports Econ class with the Q: What is a sport? If I was still teaching, this piece would make a fun motivator.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
It is Friday after 4:00 pm and I can tell you quite assuredly I do not need whatever this shit is
January 30, 2026 at 11:04 PM
It is Friday after 4:00 pm and I can tell you quite assuredly I do not need whatever this shit is
Stupid and irrelevant statistic fantasy of the day:
If you took Aaron Judge's career HR per 162 G rate and applied it to the number of games Pete Rose played, Judge would have 1,145 career home runs.
If you took Aaron Judge's career HR per 162 G rate and applied it to the number of games Pete Rose played, Judge would have 1,145 career home runs.
January 30, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Stupid and irrelevant statistic fantasy of the day:
If you took Aaron Judge's career HR per 162 G rate and applied it to the number of games Pete Rose played, Judge would have 1,145 career home runs.
If you took Aaron Judge's career HR per 162 G rate and applied it to the number of games Pete Rose played, Judge would have 1,145 career home runs.
Reposted by Brian Mills
InstaGraphs: Job Posting: New York Yankees – Full-Stack Software Engineer blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/...
Job Posting: New York Yankees - Full-Stack Software Engineer
The New York Yankees are hiring.
blogs.fangraphs.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:25 PM
InstaGraphs: Job Posting: New York Yankees – Full-Stack Software Engineer blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/...
Reposted by Brian Mills
one of the least-appreciated own-goals happening right now is the deliberate sabotage of our knowledge/research sector www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Texas Halts Hiring of H-1B Workers at State Colleges, Agencies
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies and public universities to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions, curtailing a program that has also been overhauled by President Donald Trump.
www.bloomberg.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:06 PM
one of the least-appreciated own-goals happening right now is the deliberate sabotage of our knowledge/research sector www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
I’m a big supporter of tenure but being an obvious charlatan hack really should be on a list of Things That Lose You Tenure Immediately.
In response to announcement that he will be a new CBS contributor, Andrew Huberman tweeted “I’ve always gone issue-by-issue on health & science, spoken to experts w/a range of takes & presented where I see the center of (data) mass pointed. I’ll do the same with @CBSNews”. In Sept he posted this:
January 28, 2026 at 3:22 AM
I’m a big supporter of tenure but being an obvious charlatan hack really should be on a list of Things That Lose You Tenure Immediately.
