How Analytics Changed Baseball’s Strategy, Storytelling, and Fan Experience
Episode Description
ABOUT THE EPISODE In this Wharton Moneyball episode, the hosts talk with acclaimed baseball author Jane Leavy about how analytics have reshaped the game, from strategy to storytelling. They discuss her new book Make Me Commissioner, exploring whether data-driven decisions have made baseball less exciting and what changes could restore its charm. Leavy shares her thoughts on pitching, fan engagement, and how the sport might find balance between tradition and technology.
ABOUT THE PODCAST Sports is a game of numbers. Wharton experts Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, Cade Massey, and Adi Wyner team up to tackle the world of sports, from current events to longstanding issues such as: What sports streaks are the most impressive? How do you rank the best players? Can athletes be compared across sports? The Moneyball podcast explains how decision-makers in the game can avoid the common mistakes and embrace the data. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School.
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Brief Summary
Jane Levy discusses how analytics have negatively impacted baseball and suggests changes to improve the game.
Key points
- Welcome to Wharton Moneyball. The show introduces its focus on analytics and sports.
- Interview with Jane Levy. The hosts welcome baseball writer Jane Levy to discuss her latest book.
- Analytics in Baseball. Jane Levy argues that analytics have changed the narratives of baseball.
- The State of Pitching. Discussion on how analytics have impacted pitching strategies in baseball.
- Reconfiguring Pitching Staffs. Jane Levy proposes changes to how pitching staffs are structured in baseball.
- Analytics and Baseball's Future. A discussion on how analytics have changed baseball for the worse compared to other sports.
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Episode highlights
- Interview with Jane LevyThe hosts welcome baseball writer Jane Levy to discuss her latest book.0:32Oct 23, 2025
- Analytics in BaseballJane Levy argues that analytics have changed the narratives of baseball.“They’ve destroyed the narratives that baseball used to be able to tell.”2:17Oct 23, 2025
- The State of PitchingDiscussion on how analytics have impacted pitching strategies in baseball.“The 100 mph max heave style of pitching is dangerous.”6:31Oct 23, 2025
- Reconfiguring Pitching StaffsJane Levy proposes changes to how pitching staffs are structured in baseball.“They need more arms.”10:28Oct 23, 2025
- Analytics and Baseball's FutureA discussion on how analytics have changed baseball for the worse compared to other sports.“Analytics has worked to the benefit of football and basketball.”27:24Oct 23, 2025
- The Importance of Batting PracticeA nostalgic look at how changes in access to batting practice have affected fan engagement.“They’ve taken that from us. And that has nothing to do with analytics.”28:58Oct 23, 2025
- Making Baseball AccessibleSuggestions on how to make baseball more family-friendly and accessible to fans.“Kids under the age of 10 should get in free with an adult.”32:14Oct 23, 2025
- Make Me CommissionerJane Levy discusses her book on fixing baseball, offering innovative suggestions.“She certainly has lots of ideas.”43:01Oct 23, 2025





