1) What was the “Moneyball”approach that Billy Beane and Peter Brandt applied to the Oakland Athletics 2002 season? Was it an “art” or a “science”? What single statistic did they boil their value consideration down to? (In class research/discussion)

      They wanted to find the best value for players. By replacing their best players using OBP. They boiled the entire statistic down to OBP, because it takes runs to wins, and to win you need bass runners. The approach is more scientific because it uses statistics.

2) What is the equation used to calculate OBP? (In class research/discussion)formula:

3) What is design? (In class research/discussion)

    Design is coming up with the best possible solution and forming it to the needs of what you are performing.

4) Describe 3 situations where movie characters (intentionally or not) applied a step from the PLTW 12 Step Design Process. Explain both the (a) situation as well as (b) how the step is relevant:1 - When Billy Beane traded away Jeramey Giambi. He did this because the process was not working and he believed it would benefit the team.

2 - When Billy Beane hired Peter Brandt to help form the team. This is relevant because he helped put everything together and tell Billy who was needed.

3 - When putting the team together he got rid of Pena so that his design would help better the team. He had a plan to help the team win. So he got rid of something the was preventing that.


5) What is “Leadership”? (In class research/discussion)1 - Direction- Giving clear vision of the groups goals.
2 - Alignment- Keeping everyone in line, and putting the team together.
3 - Committment - Committing yourself to the plan and sticking to it, so no one doubts you.

6) Describe 3 circumstances from the story where a character exercised effective leadership:
1 - After the A's lost a game. And Jermey Giambi was partying Billy got rid of him because he was bringing the team down.

2 - Bought Peter Brandt to help the team get better.

3 - Billy had Peter Brandt fire Pena because he need to learn to grow-up and help the team.



7) According to the movie, what was the A’s record at the start of their winning streak? 68: 51

8) What does this ratio simplify to (roughly)? .000013 : 1

9) How long was the A’s record setting winning streak? 20  games won.

10) Given the A’s win/loss ratio at the start of the streak (listed two questions above), what are the odds of winning 20 games in a row? Run the numbers. (In class research/discussion)

.000013 chance of winning 20 games in a row.

11) Based on your calculation, do you think the A’s got lucky or was there something to the Moneyball approach?Luck always has something to do with winning that many games in a row. Although the statics did help and having the right team can always help too.

12) Did Billy Beane strictly apply the “science” of Moneyball to his management approach? Was there an “art” to his efforts as well? Describe a circumstance where he broke from the Moneyball approach to make a positive change for the team.

I feel it was mainly science. Although he did depend on it he went against it when he traded away Jermey Griambi. He had his own approach modified to what was going to work.