Moneyball - Michael Lewis

I just finished Michael Lewis' latest book. It was a quick and interesting read which will surely make a good movie, but I don't see much beyond that. I enjoyed the way Lewis skewered Conventional Wisdom, baseball style. The Oakland A's approach to baseball under the guidance of general manager Billy Beane went counter to the rest of baseball, yet managed to produce more wins (BEFORE PLAYOFFS) than any other team save the Yankees.

Billy Beane did it with the league's smallest payroll and smartest approach. He discounts the conventional wisdom that applauds sacrifice bunts, stolen bases, high averages, and bodies built like Mickey Mantle and trades that all for patience at the plate, high on-base percentages, walks, and long balls. The statistical studies that he became devoted to proved the good old boy ethos of professional baseball was flat wrong about its approach to the game.

It is fun for a revolutionary type to read about conventional wisdom getting turned on its ear. It is also fun to read Lewis' great prose and fascinating anecdotes about baseball stars present, past, and future.

I am, on the other hand, glad to be done with the book so I can go on to other things more compelling.