Moneyball Final
What does Bill James say about Voros McCracken?
"I feel stupid for not having realized it thirty years ago."
What was the Oakland's cost per victory over the three year period that Lewis studied them?
$500,000
Who is Sandy Alderson? What is his background? What is his capacity in baseball today?
He is the general manager for the Oakland A's. He went to law school, and he was a Marine Corps. officer. He created a new baseball corporate culture centered around on-base percentage
What happens to Jeremy Giambi? The A's?
He is traded for John Mabry, and the A's begin to win
What does Bill James mean that "baseball stats...have the power of language"? Think of your own example.
He means that they can be written into books and they tell a story. another example of this is world records
What is unique about Chad Bradford's pitching style? About his background?
He wasn't a versatile pitcher, but he was able to mislead hitters and shut them out beacuse he was a submarine pitcher. He throws this way because his father couldn't lift his arm over this shoulder, so this is how he taught Chad to throw.
Why was Hatteburg's style at odds with the Red Sox?
He wasn't aggressive enough, and he didn't swing at the first pitch
Lewis says that the treatment of amateur players is "the most glaring of the many violations of the gree market principles in MLB." How so?
A team that drafts and signs a player holds the rights to his first 7 years in the minor leagues, and his first 6 years in the major leagues. The team can also pay him far less than he is worth.
What was the Enlightenment time period in history? Why is this chapter called this?
A time period that introduced new ideas. It is called this because new ideas are put in place in baseball
Who was Billy Bean's assistant GM?
Paul DePodesta
Why was Scott Hatteburg let go by the Red Sox? Why does Billy want him?
He can't throw because of damage in his arm, because he could always get on base
How does Billy Bean's playing career end? What new career did he start?
He didn't want to play anymore, because he had no self-worth for baseball. He quit as a player and became an advance scout
Who is Voros McCracken? What did he discover? How does his discovery fit into this story?
He is one of Paul's secret fans, and he discovered that once a ball was in play, pitchers had no control over wheather a ball fell for a hit. Voros sent his findings to Bill James.
What was the average OBP thay had to replace? With what players did they attempt to replace him with?
.364, Jeremy, Scott Hatteburg, and David Justice
Summarize Billy's 5 simple rules
1. Know, in dollars, what each player is worth 2. Always upgrade and change 3. Never buy a player at the wrong price 4. Know what you want 5. Ignore the media
What was the name of Bill James statistical book?
1977 Baseball Abstract: Featuring 18 Categories of Statistical Information That You Just Can't find anywhere Else
What number to scouts give to a future big leaguer?
55
According to the A's front office statistics what is the best offense in baseball?
9 Scott Hatteburg's
What was "Operation Shutdown"? What two parties did it involve?
A plan that was made to prevent Billy Beane from going to see a possible player named Swisher. This is because if he did, Swisher's stock would rise and Oakland wouldn't be able to afford him. This plan involved Billy and the scouts.
What is a 5-tool player?
A player that is able to run, throw, field, hit, hit with power, and do them all well.
What reason does Billy Beane give for drafting college players over high shool?
College players' statistics are more accurate, because they've played more games against bigger competition.
In baseball what is a hose?
An arm/ someone who can throw well
Who was the A's manager?
Art Howe
Who is the Oakland's general manager
Billy Beane
Who is the largest critic of the Oakland A's play? Why?
Billy Beane because he is emotionally invested in his team's success.
What 2 GM's does Beane try to enlist in a trade war? Over what player?
Brian Sabion of the Giants and Steve Philips of the Mets. Over Ricardo Rincon
By the A's statistics who is the best pitcher in the league?
Chad Bradford
What player was selected first in the 1980 draft?
Darryl Strawberry
Hatteburg is a nightmare in the field, but with the tutelage of Ron Washington, he becomes a "picking machine" at what position?
First baseman
What do the analysts/critics say is the main reason for the season ending the way it did?
In baseball there is a lot of uncertainty.
Why does the chapter begin with that particular quote from Billy Beane?
It is an example of bad management
Who was the 2001 MVP who signs with the New York Yankees? What was his OBP that season?
Jason Giambi, .477
What Red Sox player does Beane attempt to pry away?
Kevin Youkilis
Who is Lenny Dykstra and why is he more equipped to play baseball then Billy?
Lenny is a roomate and teamate of Billy's. He is more equipped because he had no concept of failure, so he didn't let his mind mess with him
What team has the highest payroll in baseball during the season this book was written? In 2019?
New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox
Did you like this book? Do you think that Moneyball is still relevant today? Why or why not?
No, because I'm not really into baseball. Yes, because it gives insight on baseball and can be helpful.
What was the compensation for losing Oakland's top 3 players?
Oakland was granted the first-round draft picks of the three teams that their player had gone to, as well as three compensation picks at the end of the first round.
What do the older scouts call what Billy and Paul do?
Performance scouting. It's looking for player based upon what they have done, instead of what they could become.
How did the phrase "put a Milo on it" come about, and what did it mean?
Phil Milo used to work as one of Billy Bean's assistants, and he personified many personality disorders. When a possible player has something wrong with him that can't be fixed, a tiny pocture of Milo is put on their name.
What two parts of baseball does Bill James originally ignore?
Pitching and defense
What college did Billy Beane wish to attend?
Stanford University
What team does Bill James currently consult for?
The Boston Red Sox
What team drafted Billy Beane out of High School?
The New York Mets
Who consistently has the highest payroll in baseball?
The New York Yankees
What team pursues Billy Beane to be their next GM? Who do they get instead?
The Red Sox, Theo Epstein
What do the letter SABR stand for? Have you heard the term SABR used today?
The Society for American Baseball Research. No
What is the greatest indicator of future big league success? What stat bears this out?
The ability to control the strike zone. An indicator is how many walks they drew.
What is the main piont/thesis of this book?
The key to a good baseball team isn't money, it's how you use that money.
What does it mean to be the "Forrest Gump of baseball"? Who is referred to as this?
The person who is always ther when someone accomplishes something or something important happens. Billy Beane
Why do the A's bring in David Justice?
They believe you have control of the stike zone at the end of your career
What advantage to small teams hold over rich teams?
They have fewer game days
How does the 2003 season end for the Oakland A's?
They lose against the Minnesota Twins, a far worse team, beacuse they don't play small ball.
What do the writers and baseball people think of the book Moneyball?
They think that the book gives new theories of baseball that no one has thought of.
What Red Sox great's style was most similar to Hatteburg?
Wade Boggs
