Baseball Analytics Books: Moneyball 201

If you like Moneyball, here are seven additional books that fall into a similar genre. They’re focused on analytics for baseball scouting and player development. I’ve listed them starting with my favorites.

• Future Value by Eric Logenhagen: You have to read this book if you want to understand scouting and the draft. It delves into the intricacies of player evaluation, development, and the art of forecasting a player’s future worth with a focus on player statistics, advanced metrics, and the ever-growing influence of technology in shaping the future of baseball. The author sheds light on the various factors that contribute to a player’s “future value,” examining how decisions made in the early stages of a player’s career can have lasting implications.
• MVP Machine by Ben Lindbergh: In a similar vein, MVP Machine provides a comprehensive examination of the transformative changes in baseball player development. The book explores the impact of technology and analytics on the game, focusing on innovative training methods and data-driven insights. It looks at the adoption of biomechanics and the application of machine learning, offering a fact-based analysis of how these advancements are reshaping player potential and team strategies.
• Smart, Wrong and Lucky by Rob Neyer: The book offers a unique perspective on the unpredictable and often unconventional nature of baseball decision-making. It looks at the decisions made by teams, managers, and players in the sport. The author explores instances where baseball wisdom, statistical analysis, and sheer luck intersect, shaping the outcomes of games and seasons.
• Power Ball by Rob Neyer: Another book by Neyer, he chronicles a game pitch-by-pitch and inning-by-inning from the lens of analytics.
• The Book: Playing The Percentages In Baseball by Tom Tango: This is a comprehensive exploration of baseball statistics and their application in strategic decision-making. Beware that it might be too much for the average fan because it’s more about the analytics than the narrative story. The book opens up the world of sabermetrics, offering a detailed analysis of how percentages and statistical insights can influence on-field and front-office decisions. From player evaluations to in-game tactics, the authors break down complex statistical concepts providing a valuable resource for those interested in the quantitative side of baseball.
• Big Data Baseball by Travis Sawchik: Explore the transformative impact of data analytics on the game of baseball. Sawchik describes how the Pirates used analytics to identify undervalued players and gain a competitive edge. The book highlights the shift from traditional scouting methods to a more data-centric approach and how this revolutionized player evaluation and team strategies.
• The Only Rule is that It Has to Work by Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller: The premise of this book is interesting and it was ahead of its time in many ways, but it drags out a bit for my attention span. The authors embark on a unique experiment managing the Sonoma Stompers, an independent league baseball team, purely by analytics. The book documents their unconventional approach to applying advanced statistics, sabermetrics, and innovative strategies in real-world baseball scenarios. The authors/managers challenge traditional baseball norms and provide an account of their experiences, successes, and setbacks as they navigate the complexities of managing a team and putting their theories into practice.

To wrap up the list, for Astros fans, Astroball explores how the team built their championships based on numbers. I didn’t put it on the list because not everyone loves the Astros given their tainted history.