Moneyball Paper
How the Detroit Took Home-Field from the Yanks
Many average fans view baseball as merely a game or another sport. But when you shift from an average fan to a baseball fan that idea changes quickly. Baseball fans, partially because of their obsession with statistics, are often view as more intellectual than their average counterparts. Furthermore, baseball fans are aware of what is happening in the game even if it can’t be seen watching the game on television. Both these traits can be fully derived from insight given in George Will’s Men at Work and Michael Lewis’ Moneyball. These books provide the reader with a detailed look at the inside of the game. By using that insight a baseball fan should be able to understand the various strategies and what events proved critical in any given game. Game 2 of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers is a good example. While any fan would agree that it was a thrilling game it takes knowing the overriding themes of both these authors to understand what were the turning points that led Detroit to victory.
Game 1 of this series did not go as expected. Intense rainstorms forced the game to be played over two days and greatly affected the managerial strategies enacted by both teams. Because rain cancelled the game Friday after only 1 and a half innings, both teams opted to bring in their scheduled Game 2 starters to finish the game when it resumed Saturday. New York ended up winning that game 9-3, and taking a 1-0 series lead. That delay, however, put managers Jim Leyland (Detroit) and Joe Girardi (New York) in a precarious situation. Would they choose to resend out their aces on a day’s rest and risk injury and fatigue or would they rely on their number three starter and face the fact that both team’s ace would pitch only one game this series? Joe Giradi decided on the former by sending Freddy Garcia to the mound, a seasoned veteran enjoying coming off a solid regular season (12 wins, 3.62 ERA). Leyland had
Many average fans view baseball as merely a game or another sport. But when you shift from an average fan to a baseball fan that idea changes quickly. Baseball fans, partially because of their obsession with statistics, are often view as more intellectual than their average counterparts. Furthermore, baseball fans are aware of what is happening in the game even if it can’t be seen watching the game on television. Both these traits can be fully derived from insight given in George Will’s Men at Work and Michael Lewis’ Moneyball. These books provide the reader with a detailed look at the inside of the game. By using that insight a baseball fan should be able to understand the various strategies and what events proved critical in any given game. Game 2 of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers is a good example. While any fan would agree that it was a thrilling game it takes knowing the overriding themes of both these authors to understand what were the turning points that led Detroit to victory.
Game 1 of this series did not go as expected. Intense rainstorms forced the game to be played over two days and greatly affected the managerial strategies enacted by both teams. Because rain cancelled the game Friday after only 1 and a half innings, both teams opted to bring in their scheduled Game 2 starters to finish the game when it resumed Saturday. New York ended up winning that game 9-3, and taking a 1-0 series lead. That delay, however, put managers Jim Leyland (Detroit) and Joe Girardi (New York) in a precarious situation. Would they choose to resend out their aces on a day’s rest and risk injury and fatigue or would they rely on their number three starter and face the fact that both team’s ace would pitch only one game this series? Joe Giradi decided on the former by sending Freddy Garcia to the mound, a seasoned veteran enjoying coming off a solid regular season (12 wins, 3.62 ERA). Leyland had