Sports Archives

The Runs Created Formula: Does It Really Work?

What is the runs created formula? How does the runs created formula work? The runs created formula is a mathematical equation developed to analyze the ability of a team to produce runs and wins. The formula’s creator, Bill James, argues that the most important measurement of predicting wins is not traditional statistics like batting average and RBI, but a new metric called the runs created formula, with a runs created calculator that helped them determine player value.

Bill James: How Sabermetrics Changed Baseball

Who is Bill James in Moneyball? How did Bill James’s Moneyball strategy lead to a successful season for the Oakland A’s? Bill James was an employee at a pork and beans factory when he began writing about baseball metrics. Eventually, Bill James’s Moneyball strategies were adopted by an important baseball manager searching for a solution: Billy Beane.

Jeremy Brown: Moneyball’s Best Value Draft Pick

Who is Jeremy Brown in Moneyball? Why does Billy Beane decide to draft Jeremy Brown? Jeremy Brown in Moneyball is a catcher that is overlooked by scouts and other teams. But Billy Beane exploits this thinking and picks Jeremy Brown for the A’s, beginning Jeremy Brown’s MLB career.

Joe Morgan: Moneyball’s Chief Opponent Gets a Win

Who is Joe Morgan in Moneyball? What did Joe Morgan do, and how did he influence how the baseball world viewed Sabermetrics? While Joe Morgan wasn’t involved in forming the strategies in Moneyball, he has a role as a strong, doubting voice of Sabermetrics and the Oakland A’s new strategy. Joe Morgan, a powerful and influential baseball insider, is a notable character in the book for his push-back against the A’s data-driven technology.

Understanding Sabermetrics: Finding MLB Wins in Data

What are MLB sabermetrics? What are the steps to understanding sabermetrics and what kind of statistics are used? Understanding sabermetrics is complicated. Sabermetrics are a fairly new concept pioneered by Bill James. MLB sabermetrics were made famous by their adoption by Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane, and the book Moneyball that chronicled the A’s first season of using and understanding sabermetrics.

Billy Beane’s Red Sox Offer + the Future of Sabermetrics

What was Billy Beane’s Red Sox offer? Was this Moneyball Red Sox offer hard to turn down? Billy Beane’s Red Sox offer would have made him the highest paid GM of all time in baseball. Billy Beane’s Red Sox offer helped Sabermetrics get recognition in the baseball community.

How Moneyball’s Paul DePodesta Changed the Game

Who is Paul DePodesta in Moneyball? What did Paul DePodesta do in Moneyball, and what was his role in the Oakland Athletics organization? Paul DePodesta in Moneyball was the Assistant GM to Billy Bean during the famed Oakland A’s 2002 season. DePodesta was instrumental in developing Sabermetrics for the A’s.

6 Moneyball Characters You Need to Know

Who are the Moneyball characters? What did they do? Between baseball players and front office executives, there are many Moneyball characters who appear throughout the book. Here are 6 Moneyball characters and their contributions to baseball (and the true narrative).

On Base Percentage: The Cornerstone of Moneyball

What is on base percentage, and how does it factor into the strategy in Moneyball? Is on base percentage really the most important statistic? In Moneyball, on base percentage is touted by Sabermetrics enthusiasts as one of the best predictors of player performance. Sabermetrics argues that on base percentage offers the most opportunity to players to create runs, and is most likely to lead to wins.

Moneyball Statistics: The Top 4 Stats for Player Analysis

What are the Moneyball statistics that made 2002 Oakland A’s successful? What Moneyball stats were useful? As documented in the book Moneyball, there are numerous important Moneyball statistics, but most notably, Moneyball stats were not the traditional baseball stats that baseball insiders used. Moneyball statistics focused primarily on the ability to get on base and create the opportunity for runs. These are a few examples of the statistics they used.