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eldiente's review
4.0
Audio version The vast majority of this book I listened to while jogging in the early mornings on the deck of a cruise ship while sailing in the Carribean. The setting in which I listened and the activity I was engaged in heightened my enjoyment of the book.
I particularly enjoyed the discussion of "value" as applied to the NFL football draft, and the attribution of the Chicago Cubs baseball team mediocrity to the indifference of the local fans.
I would recommend this to anyone with an intellectual interest in sports as a cultural and human phenomenom.
I particularly enjoyed the discussion of "value" as applied to the NFL football draft, and the attribution of the Chicago Cubs baseball team mediocrity to the indifference of the local fans.
I would recommend this to anyone with an intellectual interest in sports as a cultural and human phenomenom.
fdterritory's review against another edition
3.0
I am a pretty hardcore sports fan. I know the numbers, I understand a lot about advanced statistics, and, on top of that, I'm a math nerd. My wife, on the other hand, is a casual fan. She knows the games and enjoys them, but doesn't really think about it beyond the actual watching of the event.
Moskowitz has produced a sports book that would be really interesting to her, but not really to me. For me, much of the "new information" in here really isn't all that new. It's explained in a palatable way, but it's not really new or revelatory. But it IS information that the average fan hasn't really considered. So anyone calling this "the next Freakonomics" is really overstating the case.
Of course, the one lasting problem is that my wife probably wouldn't read a book like this. So I guess I wish the author good luck. It's a short, bite-sized read, but I think it might have trouble finding an audience.
Moskowitz has produced a sports book that would be really interesting to her, but not really to me. For me, much of the "new information" in here really isn't all that new. It's explained in a palatable way, but it's not really new or revelatory. But it IS information that the average fan hasn't really considered. So anyone calling this "the next Freakonomics" is really overstating the case.
Of course, the one lasting problem is that my wife probably wouldn't read a book like this. So I guess I wish the author good luck. It's a short, bite-sized read, but I think it might have trouble finding an audience.
rwarner's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating. Digs into several sports-related cliches and provides the facts behind them to disprove, bolster, or explain the truth. I've heard it called Freakonomics for Sports, and that description is apt. The amount of number-crunching and analysis performed to arrive at this book boggles the mind. A must-read for that intersection of geeks and sports enthusiasts.
robinbsmith's review against another edition
4.0
Statistical analysis and behavioral psychology dispel common sports myths.
annabella82's review
4.0
I found this to be an interesting read; it definitely opens your eyes to looking at sports in a different light which I appreciate.
Do I agree with everything presented? No. However, it does raise some very interesting questions and views.
I think this is a must read for sport fans...
Do I agree with everything presented? No. However, it does raise some very interesting questions and views.
I think this is a must read for sport fans...
thomcat's review
4.0
A wide variety of topics with two things in common - sports and statistical analysis. Kind of surprised these cubs fans don't know why an umpire is likely to call a 3-0 pitch a strike if at all possible, but conversely I was surprised how many close 0-2 pitches are not called strikes. Enjoyed the debunking of hot streaks, momentum and others, and greatly enjoyed the breakdown of the cubs for the last chapter. A good read!
bethanymiller415's review
3.0
The subtitle of Scorecasting- the hidden influences behind how sports are played and games are won – sums up accurately what the book is all about. The authors, one a sports writer and the other a professor of finance, examine various aspects of sports from an economics perspective. They use research and statistical analysis to debunk conventional sports wisdom. In one chapter, they make the case that football coaches should always go for it on fourth down. In another, they show that the idea of the “hot hand” or momentum in sports is mostly a myth. They also set out to answer some seemingly unanswerable questions such as are the Chicago Cubs really cursed? Throughout the book, they show how their findings with regard to sports can also be applied to other aspects of life.
This book has been compared to Fereakonomics by many people (including the author of Freakonomics according to the cover of the book), and the comparisons are definitely warranted. The focus on sports, however, makes Scorecasting unique and will definitely extend its appeal to readers who enjoy sports writing. Readers who are not “numbers people” may occasionally feel a bit overwhelmed by the data and statistics, but for the most part it is very readable and will hold the attention of those who are interested in looking at sports in a whole new way.
This book has been compared to Fereakonomics by many people (including the author of Freakonomics according to the cover of the book), and the comparisons are definitely warranted. The focus on sports, however, makes Scorecasting unique and will definitely extend its appeal to readers who enjoy sports writing. Readers who are not “numbers people” may occasionally feel a bit overwhelmed by the data and statistics, but for the most part it is very readable and will hold the attention of those who are interested in looking at sports in a whole new way.