Scorecasting

The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won

By: Tobias Moskowitz, L. Jon Wertheim

Narrated by: Zach McLarty

In Scorecasting, University of Chicago behavioral economist Tobias Moskowitz teams up with veteran Sports Illustrated writer L. Jon Wertheim to overturn some of the most cherished truisms of sports, and reveal the hidden forces that shape how basketball, baseball, football, and hockey games are played, won and lost.

Drawing from Moskowitz's original research, as well as studies from fellow economists such as bestselling author Richard Thaler, the authors look at: the influence home-field advantage has on the outcomes of games in all sports and why it exists; the surprising truth about the universally accepted axiom that defense wins championships; the subtle biases that umpires exhibit in calling balls and strikes in key situations; the unintended consequences of referees' tendencies in every sport to "swallow the whistle," and more.

Among the insights that Scorecasting reveals:

• Why Tiger Woods is prone to the same mistake in high-pressure putting situations that you and I are
• Why professional teams routinely overvalue draft picks
• The myth of momentum or the "hot hand" in sports, and why so many fans, coaches, and broadcasters fervently subscribe to it
• Why NFL coaches rarely go for a first down on fourth-down situations--even when their reluctance to do so reduces their chances of winning.

In an engaging narrative that takes us from the putting greens of Augusta to the grid iron of a small parochial high school in Arkansas, Scorecasting will forever change how you view the game, whatever your favorite sport might be.

Critic reviews

"The closest thing to Freakonomics I've seen since the original. A rare combination of terrific storytelling and unconventional thinking. I love this book..."
—Steven D. Levitt, Alvin H. Baum Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, and co-author of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics

"I love this book. If I told you why, the NBA would fine me again."
—Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks

“Scorecasting is both scholarly and entertaining, a rare double. It gets beyond the cliched narratives and tried-but-not-necessarily-true assumptions to reveal significant and fascinating truths about sports.”
—Bob Costas

"A counterintuitive, innovative, unexpected handbook for sports fans interested in the truths that underpin our favorite games. With their lively minds and prose, Moskowitz and Wertheim will change the way you think about and watch sports. Not just for stats nerds, Scorecasting enlightens and entertains. I wish I had thought of it!"
—Jeremy Schaap, ESPN reporter, Author of Cinderella Man.

"(Sports + numbers) x great writing = winning formula. A must read for all couch analysts."
—Richard Thaler, Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics, best-selling author of Nudge.

“Scorecasting will change the way you watch sports, but don’t start reading it during a game; you’re liable to get lost in it and miss the action. I’m not giving anything away because you’ll want to read exactly how they arrived at their conclusions."
—Allen Barra, NJ Star Ledger

“Like Moneyball and Soccernomics before it, Scorecasting crunches the numbers to challenge notions that have been codified into conventional sports wisdom.”
—Wired Magazine

“Freakonomics meets Moneyball”
—The Wall Street Journal

Awesome book

One of my favorite books. If you like sports, economics, statistics or just seeing examples of people doing stupid things, this book is for you.

Thorough and and engaging sports stats analysis

It's a really eye-opening view on the sports world, statistic by statistic, with analysis and inference which really make you think.

First narrator I’ve disliked

This narrator makes me want to clear my throat every 30 seconds. Very throaty and annoying. It gets worse about halfway through.

What really goes on during the game!

Great insight into the hidden world of sports! I would recommend if you like sports!

Statistical Nirvana

What did you love best about Scorecasting?

I love sports and statistics this was a perfect storm!

What did you like best about this story?

The way the book goes to the true value of particular trends in a range of sports

Have you listened to any of Zach McLarty’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A good read

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Moneyball

Any additional comments?

Book was strong on Baseball and NFL but struggled a little when it went into other sports. Got a little dry after a while.