Moneyball
Analytics-era baseball chronicle
Moneyball is a data-driven approach to baseball management that values statistical analysis over traditional scouting intuition—named for the 2003 book about the Oakland Athletics' use of sabermetrics to compete despite a small payroll.
The term now applies broadly to any field where quantitative analysis challenges conventional wisdom: They're taking a Moneyball approach to hiring.
Rate of reaching safely
- sluggingHitting with force
- analyticsSystematic examination of datasets
- WARPlayer worth measure
- statisticsCollected numerical information
data-driven · OPS · WHIP · projection systems · walks
Preliminary version of text
- scoutingObserving to gather information
- farm systemPlayer development organization
- prospectsExpected future outcomes
- player developmentImproving athletes over time
free agency · trades · minor leagues · roster · lineup · payroll · competitive balance
Rating below actual worth
- inefficiencySuboptimal use of resources
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
value investing · outsmarting · competitive advantage · optimization · innovation · paradigm shift
- Oakland AthleticsCalifornia baseball franchise
- bestsellerHigh-volume publication
- nonfictionLiterature about real events
- narrativeAccount of events
2003 · sports writing · journalism · underdog · front office · general manager
- 2011Calendar designation, twenty-tens
- sports dramaAthletic competition narrative genre
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
Jonah Hill · Philip Seymour Hoffman · Aaron Sorkin · Chris Pratt
on-base percentage
Rate of reaching safely
statistics · data-driven · OPS · WHIP · projection systems · walks
draft
Preliminary version of text
- scoutingObserving to gather information
- farm systemPlayer development organization
- prospectsExpected future outcomes
player development · free agency · trades · minor leagues · roster · lineup · payroll · competitive balance
undervaluation
Rating below actual worth
- inefficiencySuboptimal use of resources
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
unconventional · value investing · outsmarting · competitive advantage · optimization · innovation · paradigm shift
Michael Lewis
- Oakland AthleticsCalifornia baseball franchise
- bestsellerHigh-volume publication
- nonfictionLiterature about real events
narrative · 2003 · sports writing · journalism · underdog · front office · general manager
Brad Pitt
- 2011Calendar designation, twenty-tens
- sports dramaAthletic competition narrative genre
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
Jonah Hill · Philip Seymour Hoffman · Aaron Sorkin · Chris Pratt
- Sports FilmsRocky, Rudy, Hoosiers, The Natural, Field of Dreams
- biopicsbiopic, biopics, Lincoln, Gandhi, biographical drama
- Sports Literaturesports fiction, sports memoirs, sports journalism, sportswriting, The Natural
- sports analyticssabermetrics, performance metrics, analytics, WAR, OPS
- Sports MemoirsKareem, Raging Bull, Behind the Mask
- Workplace ComedyThe Office, Office Space, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Moneyballgut instinct
Immediate unreasoned knowing
eye test · character assessment · intangibles · bird-dogging
money, ball, football, baseball, basketball, coinage, volleyball, monetary, monetize