Moneyball - Reviews By NDF Members

cubfan33 · 03-20-2003, 08:18 AM

It's available for pre-order at Amazon, but this is going to be THE baseball book of 2003. Michael Lewis was given amazing access to the A's organization and showed how intelligence and near-guerilla tactics keep the A's competitive with teams outspending them by a factor of three. This book disproves large and small market theories and proves that smart teams win, period. GREAT GREAT book.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...etshrinecom-20

SmedIndy · 03-20-2003, 08:37 AM

You think Bud Selig and George Will will read it?

Max Power · 03-20-2003, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cubfan33
It's available for pre-order at Amazon, but this is going to be THE baseball book of 2003. Michael Lewis was given amazing access to the A's organization and showed how intelligence and near-guerilla tactics keep the A's competitive with teams outspending them by a factor of three. This book disproves large and small market theories and proves that smart teams win, period. GREAT GREAT book.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...etshrinecom-20

FYI - Link was changed to include the NetShrine referral!

cubfan33 · 03-20-2003, 09:28 PM

Didn't even think of that, Steve! Thanks!

Craig S. · 03-20-2003, 10:18 PM

No surprise to me if this turns out to be as good as Will says. This is, after all, the same guy who wrote the classic Liar's Poker, a book that should be required reading for anyone interested in Wall Street.

I love the finance and front office part of the game, so I can't wait for this one.

nyy26wc · 05-07-2003, 11:36 PM

I just got my copy today and devoured it one sitting, minus an hour out for the West Wing.

Excellent book!!!!!!!!

GGC · 05-08-2003, 09:47 AM

I bought this last night. Haven't read the whole thing yet; I started at 11 and read for an hour or so. But I didn't want to put it down. Beane was with the Twins, IIRC, on the last page that I read.

So far, Beane isn't always portrayed in the reverential light that the sabremetric community sometimes shows him in.

BTW, about Michael Lewis's wife Tabitha Soren: Is she the NPR reporter from about 10 years ago?

GGC · 05-08-2003, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GGC
So far, Beane isn't always portrayed in the reverential light that the sabremetric community sometimes shows him in.

I should clarify this part of my post. Moneyball shows a side of Beane that you don't see in Baseball Prospectus or from Rob Neyer's columns.

Craig S. · 05-08-2003, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GGC
BTW, about Michael Lewis's wife Tabitha Soren: Is she the NPR reporter from about 10 years ago?

I never heard her on NPR, but she worked for MTV News in the '90s. She's also done work for other news organizations.

Rajah · 05-14-2003, 01:29 PM

I got the book yesterday. I'm already halfway through. Can't put it down. Its a stellar read.
Its really good. One of the chapters is devoted to the history of sabermetrics, primarily, I would guess, to indoctrinate the average reader who picks up the book, so they have some idea whats going on.
The interesting thing is, 2002 is when Billy started putting his stamp on the organization as a whole. The focus on walks was already there before he arrived (Sandy Alderson's doing). Billy certainly had put his mark on the organization here and there, by placing a premium on collegians and with his trades, but he changed everything in 2002. Watching the results of the A's 2002 draft over the next few seasons is all the more interesting now.

cubfan33 · 05-16-2003, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GGC
I should clarify this part of my post. Moneyball shows a side of Beane that you don't see in Baseball Prospectus or from Rob Neyer's columns.

And exactly what does THAT mean? I expect that sort of snide aside on some other websites/wastelands, but not here.

sweaver · 05-17-2003, 08:49 AM

Doesn't sound snide to me. Sounds like an appreciation of the longer, book-length format allowing for a complete portrait. It's tough to give the full picture in a few thousand words in a daily column.

cubfan33 · 05-17-2003, 09:15 AM

That's plausible, Sweavey ... I hope GGC clarifies, or better, emails me.

Wolf Hopper · 05-17-2003, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sweaver
Doesn't sound snide to me. Sounds like an appreciation of the longer, book-length format allowing for a complete portrait. It's tough to give the full picture in a few thousand words in a daily column.

Agreed.
Will - ever hear that story where Billy Martin told Mickey Mantle that he was going to beat up the guy at the end of the bar? Mickey asked why. Billy said "I just heard him give me the finger."
Dude, I think you're looking for something that's not there. Let's all be friends.

GGC · 05-17-2003, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cubfan33
That's plausible, Sweavey ... I hope GGC clarifies, or better, emails me.

Sweaver pretty much hit the nail on the head there. I apologize if I came off as snide. I'll send you an e-mail shortly, Will.

03-20-2003, 08:18 AM	#1
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	Moneyball It's available for pre-order at Amazon, but this is going to be THE baseball book of 2003. Michael Lewis was given amazing access to the A's organization and showed how intelligence and near-guerilla tactics keep the A's competitive with teams outspending them by a factor of three. This book disproves large and small market theories and proves that smart teams win, period. GREAT GREAT book. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...etshrinecom-20 __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

03-20-2003, 09:28 PM	#4
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	D'oh! Didn't even think of that, Steve! Thanks! __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

05-07-2003, 11:36 PM	#6
nyy26wc NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 14,584	Moneyball I just got my copy today and devoured it one sitting, minus an hour out for the West Wing. Excellent book!!!!!!!! __________________ Lee Creator, Complete Baseball Encyclopedia. It's powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting and stat display options. The CBE has many features that are not available in online and printed sources. Has 2006 stats and daily update service for 2007.

05-08-2003, 09:47 AM	#7
GGC NetShrine MVP Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 299	I bought this last night. Haven't read the whole thing yet; I started at 11 and read for an hour or so. But I didn't want to put it down. Beane was with the Twins, IIRC, on the last page that I read. So far, Beane isn't always portrayed in the reverential light that the sabremetric community sometimes shows him in. BTW, about Michael Lewis's wife Tabitha Soren: Is she the NPR reporter from about 10 years ago? __________________ Gary Geiger Counter 796.357 GV 862 Baseball History

05-14-2003, 01:29 PM	#10
Rajah NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,177	I got the book yesterday. I'm already halfway through. Can't put it down. Its a stellar read. Its really good. One of the chapters is devoted to the history of sabermetrics, primarily, I would guess, to indoctrinate the average reader who picks up the book, so they have some idea whats going on. The interesting thing is, 2002 is when Billy started putting his stamp on the organization as a whole. The focus on walks was already there before he arrived (Sandy Alderson's doing). Billy certainly had put his mark on the organization here and there, by placing a premium on collegians and with his trades, but he changed everything in 2002. Watching the results of the A's 2002 draft over the next few seasons is all the more interesting now. __________________ Why does Aubrey Huff looked so mad in his picture? Oh wait...

03-20-2003, 08:37 AM	#2
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	You think Bud Selig and George Will will read it?

03-20-2003, 10:18 PM	#5
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	No surprise to me if this turns out to be as good as Will says. This is, after all, the same guy who wrote the classic Liar's Poker, a book that should be required reading for anyone interested in Wall Street. I love the finance and front office part of the game, so I can't wait for this one.

05-17-2003, 08:49 AM	#12
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Doesn't sound snide to me. Sounds like an appreciation of the longer, book-length format allowing for a complete portrait. It's tough to give the full picture in a few thousand words in a daily column.

05-17-2003, 09:15 AM	#13
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	Snide That's plausible, Sweavey ... I hope GGC clarifies, or better, emails me. __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

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