Power Ball

Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game

By: Rob Neyer

Narrated by: Rob Neyer

The former ESPN columnist and analytics pioneer dramatically recreates an action-packed 2017 game between the Oakland A’s and eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros to reveal the myriad ways in which Major League Baseball has changed over the last few decades.

On September 8, 2017, the Oakland A’s faced off against the Houston Astros in a game that would signal the passing of the Moneyball mantle. Though this was only one regular season game, the match-up of these two teams demonstrated how Major League Baseball has changed since the early days of Athletics general manager Billy Beane and the publication of Michael Lewis’ classic book.

Over the past twenty years, power and analytics have taken over the game, driving carefully calibrated teams like the Astros to victory. Seemingly every pitcher now throws mid-90s heat and studiously compares their mechanics against the ideal. Every batter in the lineup can crack homers and knows their launch angles. Teams are relying on unorthodox strategies, including using power-losing—purposely tanking a few seasons to get the best players in the draft.

As he chronicles each inning and the unfolding drama as these two teams continually trade the lead—culminating in a 9-8 Oakland victory in the bottom of the ninth—Neyer considers the players and managers, the front office machinations, the role of sabermetrics, and the current thinking about what it takes to build a great team, to answer the most pressing questions fans have about the sport today.

Premise got tiring

Constantly illustrating changes in the game of baseball through a game between Houston and Oakland didn’t really work

Baseball Forever

Great book about the current state of baseball and how metrics have changed the game. I like how the book interleaves the calling of a single game with modern baseball topics. It makes for a great story and a brain tickling book for any baseball fan.

Highly recommended.

Though a bit dated insofar as the new rules are concerned, it’s still a treat for real baseball fans…plumbs the depths of the game.

great analysis

I really enjoyed the structure of the book, using events in a game to expound upon the issues affecting the sport and what could change in the future. it makes for smarter and informed fans.

Great Book

Rob Neyer’s done it again. He’s so astute and brings in so many angles to the game it’s truly a pleasure. Well done Mr.Neyer!