Wharton Moneyball

Jane Leavy, an acclaimed baseball biographer known for her works on legends like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, shares fascinating insights on how analytics have reshaped baseball. She argues that data-driven decisions have stripped the game of its traditional narratives and fan connection. Leavy proposes reforms, such as allowing longer pitching starts and improving marketing strategies to re-engage younger fans. She also discusses the impact of technology on game pace and player access, offering bold ideas to revitalize the sport.

Dan Szymborski, Senior Writer at FanGraphs and the mastermind behind the ZiPS projection system, dives into the art of forecasting player performance and team dynamics. He compares his projections to weather forecasting, explaining the inherent uncertainties in predicting outcomes. The discussion also touches on unexpected playoff team performances and the nuances of measuring forecast accuracy. Additionally, the conversation shifts to sports analytics in tennis, highlighting a surprising victory by 204th-ranked Valentin Vacherot against elite competitors.

Daniel Beringer, Global Head of Technology and Innovation at SAP, partners with Chris Foster, VP of Digital Business Development at the NHL. They delve into the NHL's tech evolution, including the Coaching Insights app for real-time data across teams. Hear about player and puck tracking challenges and how teams use metrics for instant coaching decisions. They also discuss the NHL Venue Metrics System aimed at reducing sustainability footprints. AI applications and player fatigue measurement round out this tech-savvy conversation, revolutionizing hockey.

James Smoliga, Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Director of Research for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Tufts University School of Medicine, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to discuss the quest for a women’s sub-four-minute mile, the influence of super shoes and other technologies, and how marketing, science, and athletic performance intersect on the world stage. Cade, Eric, Shane, and Adi also dive into the evolving playoff structures in Major League Baseball, the statistical weight of home-field advantage, and current storylines in the NFL and college football, blending analytics with real-time sports narratives. Plus, in an overtime interview, Cade and Eric speak with Joseph LaMagna, analyst at Fried Egg Golf, about the Ryder Cup, including the role of pairings, course setup, crowd behavior, and the contrasting approaches of Team USA and Team Europe in leveraging data and preparation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ananya Raghavan, a sports trends analyst at Google, discusses how search data reveals fan engagement trends, particularly in the WNBA, highlighting spikes tied to playoffs and players' cultural moments. Dave Dassey from Goldman Sachs elaborates on sports as an investable asset class, covering team financing and the rise of institutional capital. They delve into how analytics and modern strategies influence sports valuation, while also touching on new trends in monetization and fan engagement strategies.

Kevin Cole, creator of Unexpected Points and former PFF analyst, joins Cade Massey, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to share insights on how advanced models reveal hidden truths about NFL teams, quarterbacks, and coaching decisions, offering a sharper perspective on what early-season performance really means. Cade, Shane, and Adi also discuss how predictive models sometimes miss unique advantages like the Eagles’ “tush push,” why metrics such as EPA per play may misrepresent team value, and how player evaluation in baseball—including Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh—challenges conventional measures of MVP worth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Burke, Sports Data Scientist at ESPN, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen to share insights on building advanced football power ranking systems, the role of Bayesian models in balancing priors and new data, and how analytics informs game-day decisions like fourth-down calls and playoff predictions. Cade, Eric, and Shane also analyze standout performances and key narratives from NFL Week One, preview pivotal college football games, examine the growing dominance of Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner in men’s tennis, and highlight major offensive trends across Major League Baseball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Godfrey, columnist at The Washington Post and cohost of multiple college football podcasts, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Adi Wyner to discuss the growing role of analytics in shaping how fans, coaches, and media interpret the sport, offering insights into decision-making, fan culture, and the changing landscape of college football. Cade, Eric, and Adi also explore under-the-radar college football matchups, the evolving storylines of the US Open including Naomi Osaka’s return, rare achievements in Major League Baseball, and the start of the NFL season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeff Sackmann, founder of Tennis Abstract and expert in tennis analytics, joins the conversation with insights into the power of data in sports. He discusses his predictive models for the U.S. Open and highlights the impressive performances of rising stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Jeff explains how tennis analytics is revolutionizing strategies, including serve variability and real-time match adjustments. The talk also touches on trends in golf and MLB, intertwining the impact of statistics across various sports.

Rick Peterson, longtime MLB pitching coach and author of Crunch Time, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Adi Wyner to reflect on his career coaching elite players like Hall of Famer Billy Wagner, share insights on performance under pressure, and discuss how velocity, biomechanics, and training have reshaped the game of baseball. Cade, Eric, and Adi also explore statistical approaches to understanding clubhouse effects in baseball, discuss standout performances in professional golf, and analyze the volatility of college football rankings, blending probability theory, data insights, and real-world sports narratives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.