Michael Lewis, the author of 'Moneyball', joins baseball historian Bill James, former NBA champion Shane Battier, and Daryl Morey, an analytics pioneer in basketball. They discuss the transformative power of data in sports over the last two decades. The conversation delves into how analytics changed player evaluations and team strategies in baseball and basketball. Personal anecdotes illustrate the emotional narratives of overlooked talent, while leaders reflect on the importance of balancing metrics with team dynamics and inspiring players.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Moneyball's Initial Hesitation
Michael Lewis's editor initially hesitated about "Moneyball" since it deviated from his usual finance themes.
Lewis insisted, arguing the book explored universal themes of human value, using baseball as a lens.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Humble Beginnings
Bill James worked as a night watchman at the Stokely Van Camp Pork and Beans factory while writing his first Baseball Abstract.
His wife also worked there, and he sold limited copies initially.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Inspiration
Daryl Morey read Bill James' Baseball Abstract at a young age, inspired by video games like Strat-O-Matic and Earl Weaver Baseball.
He realized the concepts in these games applied to real-world team management and player selection.
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The book tells the story of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, where General Manager Billy Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta used advanced statistical analysis, known as sabermetrics, to assemble a competitive team despite a limited budget. The approach, pioneered by Bill James, focused on metrics such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage rather than traditional measures like batting average and runs batted in. This data-driven strategy allowed the Athletics to compete with teams having much larger payrolls, like the New York Yankees, and achieve significant success, including a 20-game winning streak and a playoff appearance[2][3][5].
Liar's poker
Michael Lewis
Liar's Poker is a non-fiction, semi-autobiographical book that details Michael Lewis's three-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street's premier investment firms in the 1980s. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of bond traders, highlighting the frat-boy camaraderie, killer instincts, and high-stakes games of bluffing and deception. Lewis describes the creation and use of mortgage bonds, the excessive bonuses, and the ruthless competition among traders. The narrative also touches on the author's disillusionment with the industry, leading to his resignation and transition into financial journalism.
Bill James - Former Senior Baseball Operations Advisor Boston Red Sox
Michael Lewis - Author & Journalist
Shane Battier - Former Vice President, Analytics and Basketball Development, Miami Heat; 2012 & 2013 NBA Champion, Miami Heat
Daryl Morey - President of Basketball Operations, Philadelphia 76ers
Jackie MacMullan (moderator) - Retired Senior Writer
When Moneyball was published in 2003, no one could have predicted its monumental impact across business, sports, culture, and beyond. Now, twenty years later, the book, and later the blockbuster movie, sparked a renaissance that has totally changed how organizations think about and use data. Jackie MacMullen will lead a discussion with Michael Lewis, Bill James, and Shane Battier as the group reflects on the impact and legacy of Moneyball - and analytics driven thinking - over the last two decades.
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