Moneyball and Beyond
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Moneyball and Beyond
This course is part of Sports Performance Analytics Specialization
Instructor: Stefan Szymanski
4,986 already enrolled
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What you'll learn
Program data using Python to test the claims that lie behind the Moneyball story.
Use statistics to conduct your own team and player analyses.
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
15 assignments
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There are 5 modules in this course
The book Moneyball triggered a revolution in the analysis of performance statistics in professional sports, by showing that data analytics could be used to increase team winning percentage. This course shows how to program data using Python to test the claims that lie behind the Moneyball story, and to examine the evolution of Moneyball statistics since the book was published. The learner is led through the process of calculating baseball performance statistics from publicly available datasets. The course progresses from the analysis of on base percentage and slugging percentage to more advanced measures derived using the run expectancy matrix, such as wins above replacement (WAR). By the end of this course the learner will be able to use these statistics to conduct their own team and player analyses.
In this module we introduce the Moneyball story and explore the method used to test that story. We begin the process of replicating the moneyball test by establishing the relationship between team winning and and two performance statistics - on base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG).
What's included
5 videos10 readings3 assignments2 ungraded labs
5 videos•Total 61 minutes
- Introduction to Moneyball•7 minutes
- Reproducing Table 1 of Hakes and Sauer - Part 1•19 minutes
- Reproducing Table 1 of Hakes and Sauer - Part 2•13 minutes
- Reproducing Table 1 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 3•13 minutes
- Reproducing Table 1 of Hakes and Sauer - Part 4•10 minutes
10 readings•Total 95 minutes
- Course Syllabus•10 minutes
- Help Us Learn More About You•5 minutes
- Week 1 - Assignment Overview•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 1•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 1•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 2•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 2•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Full Sample•10 minutes
- Week 1 R Content•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Week 1 - Quiz 1•30 minutes
- Week 1 - Quiz 2•30 minutes
- Week 1 - Quiz 3•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
- Lecture - H&S Table•60 minutes
- Assignment 1 Workspace•60 minutes
In this module we estimate the relationship between MLB player salaries and their performance statistics, OBP (on base percentage) and SLG (slugging). The results appear to confirm the Moneyball story - OBP was undervalued relative to SLG prior to the publication of Moneyball, while after publication the relative significance is reversed.
What's included
6 videos8 readings3 assignments2 ungraded labs
6 videos•Total 57 minutes
- Reproducing Table 3 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 1•9 minutes
- Reproducing Table 3 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 2•6 minutes
- Reproducing Table 3 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 3•10 minutes
- Reproducing Table 3 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 4•11 minutes
- Reproducing Table 3 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 5•10 minutes
- Reproducing Table 3 of Hakes and Sauer- Part 6•11 minutes
8 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Moneyball Week 2 - Assignment Overview•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 1•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 1•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 2•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 2•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Full Sample•10 minutes
- Week 2 R Content•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Week 2 - Quiz 1•30 minutes
- Week 2 - Quiz 2•30 minutes
- Week 2 - Quiz 3•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
- Lecture - Moneyball Table 3•60 minutes
- Assignment 2 Workspace•60 minutes
This module updates the analysis of Hakes & Sauer and estimates the rewards to OBP and SLG over the period 1994 -2015. In addition it shows how rewards can be related to individual components of SLG: walks, singles, doubles, triples, and home runs.
What's included
6 videos9 readings3 assignments2 ungraded labs
6 videos•Total 55 minutes
- Moneyball update Part 1•5 minutes
- Moneyball update Part 2•7 minutes
- Moneyball Update Part 3•9 minutes
- Moneyball Update Part 4•12 minutes
- Moneyball Update Part 5•8 minutes
- Moneyball Update Part 6•13 minutes
9 readings•Total 90 minutes
- Moneyball Week 3 - Assignment Overview•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 1•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 1•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 2•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 2•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook in R•10 minutes
- Week 3 R Content•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 66 minutes
- Week 3 - Quiz 1•30 minutes
- Week 3 - Quiz 2•6 minutes
- Week 3 - Quiz 3•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
- Lecture - Moneyball Update•60 minutes
- Assignment 3 Workspace•60 minutes
This module introduces the concept of run expectancy, shows how to derive the run expectancy matrix and the calculation of run values based on an MLB dataset of all events in the 2018 season. Run values are calculated by event type (walks, singles, doubles, etc.) and by player.
What's included
4 videos9 readings3 assignments2 ungraded labs
4 videos•Total 44 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run expectancy Part 1•11 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run Expectancy Part 2•12 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run expectancy Part 3•12 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run expectancy Part 4•9 minutes
9 readings•Total 90 minutes
- Moneyball Week 4 - Assignment Overview•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 1•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 1•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 2•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 2•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook in R•10 minutes
- Week 4 R Content•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Week 4 - Quiz 1•30 minutes
- Week 4 - Quiz 2•30 minutes
- Week 4 - Quiz 3•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
- Lecture - Run Expectancy•60 minutes
- Assignment 4 Workspace•60 minutes
This module examines the concept of Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and shows how to calculate WAR based on batting performance. The relationship between play run values team win percentage and player salaries is then explored. Run values are shown to have a high degree of correlation with winning and with salaries. Run values can to a limited extent predict win percentage.
What's included
4 videos9 readings3 assignments2 ungraded labs
4 videos•Total 39 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run values and WAR Part 1•7 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run values and WAR Part 2•9 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run values and WAR Part 3•12 minutes
- Beyond Moneyball: Run values and WAR Part 4•11 minutes
9 readings•Total 85 minutes
- Moneyball Week 5 - Assignment Overview•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 1•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 1•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 2•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 2•10 minutes
- Assignment - Part 3•10 minutes
- Sample Notebook - Part 3•10 minutes
- Post-Course Survey•5 minutes
- Week 5 R Content•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Week 5 - Quiz 1•30 minutes
- Week 5 - Quiz 2•30 minutes
- Week 5 - Quiz 3•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
- Lecture - From Run Expectancy to WAR•60 minutes
- Assignment 5 Workspace•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Mar 17, 2022
An excellent way to develop Python skills to interesting topics.
Reviewed on Aug 25, 2021
I learned a lot about baseball and the Python language. Thank you for the great course.
Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023
Excellent course, really enjoyed it even as someone who doesn't follow baseball
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