Reviews for Moneyball
Review - Moneyball
Why I read the book: I asked my friends and family to give me the name of a book and promised I’d read it. Jeff gave me a list, so I picked the one I thought I would be mostly likely to enjoy. This was it. I was aware of it, but never excited enough about it to go get it.
What the book was about: Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, and how he built a winning team for a franchise that didn’t have much money to spend. In short, Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta figured out that the most important offensive statistic in baseball was on-base percentage. They filled the team with guys who excelled in this category but were undervalued by other teams who looked at flashier statistics.
Lewis gives Beane’s biography, explains some of the statistics Beane looks for and tells the story of some of the players nobody else wanted. He also talks about Bill James and some other guys who like to look at statistics in new ways.
What I liked about the book: Jim Matheson got me reading Bill James years ago. I found him fascinating even though the math behind the statistics were way beyond me. I’ve read several of James’ abstracts and both his historical abstracts. So I loved the chapters in Moneyball on statistics. I also appreciated the way the book backed up two of my opinions that I’ve had for years — that bunting is stupid and that Joe Morgan is an idiot.
What I didn’t like about the book: The chapters on Beane growing up and making deals were just dull. He sounds like a jerk and isn’t really the story here anyway. In addition, his profanity-filled quotes were very annoying. The chapters on various players were better, but not great.
Recommendation: I gave it a 7. If you like baseball, and particularly if you like baseball statistics, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you like baseball for the personalities, you’ll find Beane irritating.
Further Comments: If you do read this and enjoy it, try The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, by Bill James. You’ll enjoy that a lot more. (I gave it a 9).
What the book was about: Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, and how he built a winning team for a franchise that didn’t have much money to spend. In short, Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta figured out that the most important offensive statistic in baseball was on-base percentage. They filled the team with guys who excelled in this category but were undervalued by other teams who looked at flashier statistics.
Lewis gives Beane’s biography, explains some of the statistics Beane looks for and tells the story of some of the players nobody else wanted. He also talks about Bill James and some other guys who like to look at statistics in new ways.
What I liked about the book: Jim Matheson got me reading Bill James years ago. I found him fascinating even though the math behind the statistics were way beyond me. I’ve read several of James’ abstracts and both his historical abstracts. So I loved the chapters in Moneyball on statistics. I also appreciated the way the book backed up two of my opinions that I’ve had for years — that bunting is stupid and that Joe Morgan is an idiot.
What I didn’t like about the book: The chapters on Beane growing up and making deals were just dull. He sounds like a jerk and isn’t really the story here anyway. In addition, his profanity-filled quotes were very annoying. The chapters on various players were better, but not great.
Recommendation: I gave it a 7. If you like baseball, and particularly if you like baseball statistics, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you like baseball for the personalities, you’ll find Beane irritating.
Further Comments: If you do read this and enjoy it, try The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, by Bill James. You’ll enjoy that a lot more. (I gave it a 9).
Reviewed by Roger on 2006-07-26 14:09:35