The MVP Machine : How Baseball's New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players

Move over, Moneyball -- a cutting-edge look at major league baseball's next revolution: the high-tech quest to build better players. As bestselling authors Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal in The MVP Machine, the Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter teams no longer have a huge advantage in valuing past performance.Lindbergh and Sawchik's behind-the-scenes reporting reveals:How the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox used cutting-edge technology to win the World SeriesHow undersized afterthoughts José Altuve and Mookie Betts became big sluggers and MVPsHow polarizing pitcher Trevor Bauer made himself a Cy Young contenderHow new analytical tools have overturned traditional pitching and hitting techniquesHow a wave of young talent is making MLB both better than ever and arguably worse to watchInstead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading their rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out-developing opponents, gaining greater edges than ever by perfecting prospects and eking extra runs out of older athletes who were once written off. Lindbergh and Sawchik take us inside the transformation of former fringe hitters into home-run kings, show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces, and document how coaching and scouting are being turned upside down. The MVP Machine charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson that goes beyond baseball: Success stems not from focusing on finished products, but from making the most of untapped potential. [t]he Moneyball Era Is Over. Fifteen Years After Michael Lewis Brought The Oakland Athletics' Groundbreaking Team-building Strategies To Light, Every Front Office Takes A Data-driven Approach To Evaluating Players, And The League's Smarter Teams No Longer Have A Huge Advantage In Valuing Past Performance. Lindbergh And Sawchik's Behind-the-scenes Reporting Reveals: How The 2017 Astros And 2018 Red Sox Used Cutting-edge Technology To Win The World Series ; How Undersized Afterthoughts José Altuve And Mookie Betts Became Big Sluggers And Mvps ; How Polarizing Pitcher Trevor Bauer Made Himself A Cy Young Contender ; How New Analytical Tools Have Overturned Traditional Pitching And Hitting Techniques ; How A Wave Of Young Talent Is Making Mlb Both Better Than Ever And Arguably Worse To Watch. Instead Of Out-drafting, Out-signing, And Out-trading Their Rivals, Baseball's Best Minds Have Turned To Out-developing Opponents, Gaining Greater Edges Than Ever By Perfecting Prospects And Eking Extra Runs Out Of Older Athletes Who Were Once Written Off. Lindbergh And Sawchik Take Us Inside The Transformation Of Former Fringe Hitters Into Home-run Kings, Show How Washed-up Pitchers Have Emerged As Aces, And Document How Coaching And Scouting Are Being Turned Upside Down. The Mvp Machine Charts The Future Of A Sport And Offers A Lesson That Goes Beyond Baseball: Success Stems Not From Focusing On Finished Products, But From Making The Most Of Untapped Potential. -- Saviormetrics -- A Natural Maniac, An Unnatural Athlete -- Making Mules Into Racehorses -- First Principles -- A Bottom-up Revolution -- The 10,000-pitch Rule -- The Conduit -- Perfect Pitch -- We're All Astronauts -- Spingate -- Amateur Ball -- The All-star Player-coach -- Performance-enhancing Data -- Just Be Better -- Soft Factors -- If You Build Them, They Will Come -- No Ceiling. Ben Lindbergh & Travis Sawchik. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 355-360) And Index. Move over, Moneyball -- a cutting-edge look at major league baseball's next revolution: the high-tech quest to build better players. As bestselling authors Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal in The MVP Machine , the Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter teams no longer have a huge advantage in valuing past performance. Lindbergh and Sawchik's behind-the-scenes reporting reveals: How the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox used cutting-edge technology to win the World Series How undersized afterthoughts Jos Altuve and Mookie Betts became big sluggers and MVPs How polarizing pitcher Trevor Bauer made himself a Cy Young contender How new analytical tools have overturned traditional pitching and hitting techniques How a wave of young talent is making MLB both better than ever and arguably worse to watch Instead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading their rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out- developing opponents, gaining greater edges than ever by perfecting prospects and eking extra runs out of older athletes who were once written off. Lindbergh and Sawchik take us inside the transformation of former fringe hitters into home-run kings, show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces, and document how coaching and scouting are being turned upside down. The MVP Machine charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson that goes beyond baseball: Success stems not from focusing on finished products, but from making the most of untapped potential. Move over, Moneyball — this New York Times bestseller examines major league baseball's next cutting-edge revolution: the high-tech quest to build better players. As bestselling authors Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal in The MVP Machine , the Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter teams no longer have a huge advantage in valuing past performance. Lindbergh and Sawchik's behind-the-scenes reporting reveals: How undersized afterthoughts José Altuve and Mookie Betts became big sluggers and MVPs How polarizing pitcher Trevor Bauer made himself a Cy Young contender How new analytical tools have overturned traditional pitching and hitting techniques How a wave of young talent is making MLB both better than ever and arguably worse to watch Instead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading their rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out- developing opponents, gaining greater edges than ever by perfecting prospects and eking extra runs out of older athletes who were once written off. Lindbergh and Sawchik take us inside the transformation of former fringe hitters into home-run kings, show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces, and document how coaching and scouting are being turned upside down. The MVP Machine charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson that goes beyond baseball: Success stems not from focusing on finished products, but from making the most of untapped potential. "[T]he Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter teams no longer have a huge advantage in valuing past performance. Lindbergh and Sawchik's behind-the-scenes reporting reveals: How the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox used cutting-edge technology to win the World Series ; How undersized afterthoughts José Altuve and Mookie Betts became big sluggers and MVPs ; How polarizing pitcher Trevor Bauer made himself a Cy Young contender ; How new analytical tools have overturned traditional pitching and hitting techniques ; How a wave of young talent is making MLB both better than ever and arguably worse to watch. Instead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading their rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out-developing opponents, gaining greater edges than ever by perfecting prospects and eking extra runs out of older athletes who were once written off. Lindbergh and Sawchik take us inside the transformation of former fringe hitters into home-run kings, show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces, and document how coaching and scouting are being turned upside down. The MVP Machine charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson that goes beyond baseball: Success stems not from focusing on finished products, but from making the most of untapped potential." -- Provided by publisher "...The Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter teams no longer have a huge advantage in valuing past performance. [The authors'] behind-the-scenes reporting reveals: How the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox used cutting-edge technology to win the World Series; How undersized afterthoughts Jos? Altuve and Mookie Betts became big sluggers and MVPs; How polarizing pitcher Trevor Bauer made himself a Cy Young contender; How new analytical tools have overturned traditional pitching and hitting techniques; How a wave of young talent is making MLB both better than ever and arguably worse to watch. Instead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading their rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out-developing opponents, gaining greater edges than ever by perfecting prospects and eking extra runs out of older athletes who were once written off. [The authors] take us inside the transformation of former fringe hitters into home-run kings, show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces, and document how coaching and scouting are being turned upside down. [This book] charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson that goes beyond baseball: Success stems not from focusing on finished products, but from making the most of untapped potential."--Provided by publisher Moneyball revealed how to use data to build a better team. The MVP Machine brings to light the next revolution in baseball: the data-driven quest to build better players Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland A's' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light in Moneyball , every team takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter front offices no longer have an edge. As Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal in The MVP Machine, instead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out- developing opponents, eking extra runs out of athletes who were seen as finished products. Lindbergh and Sawchik take us inside the transformation of former role players into home-run kings, and show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces. The MVP Machine charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson for any business: success comes...