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Title: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis, Michael M. Lewis ISBN: 0-393-32481-8 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: April, 2004 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.46 (183 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Changing the way we look at baseball
Comment: Moneyball is one of the most intriguing and insightful baseball novels we have ever read. The Oakland A's uncharacteristic approach to baseball is shown by the scouting and statisticians who have helped change the way the game is played. By drafting players who weren't seen fit to be picked in the first few rounds, the A's were able to sign them to a weaker contract than the normal players that got paid millions more for being a spot a head or behind in the draft.
In the novel, Billy Beane and Paul DePodesta use the statistical analysis to predict what the team would need to win for the A's to make it to the playoffs. With mind-boggling formulas, they where able to break down every action on the field into a point system and from there they were able to determine what exactly the team would need in runs to win.
In our opinion, it is the duty of every general manager and owner in baseball to pick up this book and learn about the genius that is Billy Beane. Any time a small market organization can turn into consistent powerhouse, the league and world should learn from their accomplishments.
Rating: 5
Summary: A terrific read
Comment: Michael Lewis has written a wonderful, insightful, warm book about using guile and teamwork to beat the big bully. For the past ten years, David has been consistently thwacked by Goliath. The low payroll MLB teams have always fared poorly against the mega-payers, i.e., the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, etc.
Not any more, thanks to GM Billy Beane of the Oakland A's.
By carefully drafting and trading for players who were not wanted by other clubs and forcing those players to play a team game where, for example, on-base-percentage is Gospel and attempting to steal is heresy, he has managed to create a ballclub at bargain basement prices that has the A's knocking on the door to baseball's penthouses, a province heretofore occupied by teams with payrolls three and four times larger than that of the A's.
But what I found most interesting is the way Beane got these players to play his game, a "team" game, where working a pitcher to an eight pitch groundout is thought of as a team effort, an act that will draw dividends later in the game as the pitcher tires. Baseball, more so than football or basketball, is thought to be a game of individual achievement masquerading as a team effort. Beane's theories of playing the game changes all the rules in that what you do in your turn at bat and on the bases has a much greater impact on runs scored than previously thought and puts a premium on team play rather than individual glory. And wouldn't that be refreshing...thinking that players are really interested in the team and not just themselves.
If only one team has won more regular season games than yours for the past three years, and at a much higher payroll, (Atlanta's Braves) and if your team leads all other MLB teams in second-half,(post July 31st trading deadline) victories, it must be recognized that you are doing something extraordinarily right. The only logical conclusion is that you have recognized talent, acquired it, and are maximizing those skills to the utmost and in a fashion that is making the big spenders look foolish.
Kudos to Mr. Lewis. This is the baseball book I've been waiting for and my only disappointment is that, as with all great books,it seems to end all too soon.
Rating: 5
Summary: best baseball book that I have ever read
Comment: Unbelievably compelling story about how the Oakland A's do more with less. Even if you like statistics and strategy and don't like baseball, it's an amazing read. To see how this book has effected MLB, simply look at what the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have done over the last few years with regard to their rosters.
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Title: The Teammates by David Halberstam ISBN: 140130057X Publisher: Hyperion Press Pub. Date: 14 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown ISBN: 0385504209 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 18 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich ISBN: 0743249992 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 09 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street by Michael Lewis ISBN: 0140143459 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: October, 1990 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups : A Complete Guide to the Best, Worst, and Most Memorable Players to Ever Grace the Major Leagues by Rob Neyer ISBN: 0743241746 Publisher: Fireside Pub. Date: 02 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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