The Freakonomics Radio Book Club 16. Did Michael Lewis Just Get Lucky with “Moneyball”?
Nov 24, 2022
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The Genesis of Moneyball
- Michael Lewis wrote Moneyball after falling in love with the story of the Oakland A's.
- The team achieved success with undervalued players and a revolutionary approach.
The A's Data-Driven Approach
- The A's questioned which player characteristics truly correlated with winning.
- They targeted undervalued players with these qualities, often overlooked by traditional scouting.
Strategic Use of the Closer
- The A's strategically used their third-best pitcher as a closer, accumulating saves in less crucial situations.
- They would then trade this pitcher for a higher value than he was inherently worth.