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The MVP Machine: How Baseball's New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players Hardcover – June 4, 2019

by Ben Lindbergh (Author), Travis Sawchik (Author)

4.7 756 ratings

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Move over, Moneyball -- this New York Times bestseller examines major league baseball's next cutting-edge revolution: the high-tech quest to build better players.

As bestselling authors Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik reveal in The MVP Machine, the Moneyball era is over. Fifteen years after Michael Lewis brought the Oakland Athletics' groundbreaking team-building strategies to light, every front office takes a data-driven approach to evaluating players, and the league's smarter teams no longer have a huge advantage in valuing past performance.

Lindbergh and Sawchik's behind-the-scenes reporting reveals:

How undersized afterthoughts José Altuve and Mookie Betts became big sluggers and MVPs
How polarizing pitcher Trevor Bauer made himself a Cy Young contender
How new analytical tools have overturned traditional pitching and hitting techniques
How a wave of young talent is making MLB both better than ever and arguably worse to watch

Instead of out-drafting, out-signing, and out-trading their rivals, baseball's best minds have turned to out-developing opponents, gaining greater edges than ever by perfecting prospects and eking extra runs out of older athletes who were once written off. Lindbergh and Sawchik take us inside the transformation of former fringe hitters into home-run kings, show how washed-up pitchers have emerged as aces, and document how coaching and scouting are being turned upside down. The MVP Machine charts the future of a sport and offers a lesson that goes beyond baseball: Success stems not from focusing on finished products, but from making the most of untapped potential.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In The MVP Machine, Lindbergh and Sawchik make a convincing, and faith-restoring, case that genuine, unadulterated miracles can happen in baseball."―WashingtonPost

"Even MBAs who don't know what an ERA ... will grasp the book's essential message: next-generation technologies and analytics radically transform top-tier talent development and technique."―HarvardBusiness Review

"The MVP Machine is an eye-opening dispatch from the leading edge of the sport."―TheAtlantic

"The MVP Machine (Basic Books), out now, tells how a series of new tools, advanced statistics and technology are changing the game of baseball, led by innovators"―NewYork Post

"For too long, stat geeks like me ignored the 'development' side of 'scouting and development.' The MVP Machine is the book that's going to change that. Travis Sawchik and Ben Lindbergh persuasively and entertainingly demonstrate that a baseball player's success is less about God-given talent and more about innovation, hard work, and the willingness to take a more scientific approach to the game. Read it, and you won't think about baseball in quite the same way again."―Nate Silver, founder and editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight

"I wish this book spent more time on the Red Sox winning four times as many titles as the Yankees this century, but The MVP Machine is a great and informative deep dive on the challenges of unlocking talent and building winning teams in the age of analytics."―Bill Simmons, founder and CEO, The Ringer

"High-speed cameras and radar-tracking devices have revolutionized training and are now giving baseball pitchers accurate, detailed and actionable feedback during practice. This captivating book details step-by-step how merely good major league pitchers have recently been able to transform themselves into great ones and reach previously unattainable levels of mastery by purposeful and deliberate practice."―K. Anders Ericsson, Conradi Eminent Scholar of Psychology, Florida State University, and author of Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

"In today's game, players and teams are doing more than ever behind the scenes to change and improve. The work they do is absolutely critical to success but nearly invisible to the public -- until now. Any fan seeking a fresh look at how teams win in modern baseball should read this book."―Chaim Bloom, Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations, Tampa Bay Rays

"The MVP Machine isn't just the purest distillation yet of baseball's information era and how it came to be. It's a seminal road map for the game today and treasure map to find -- and understand -- the gems baseball soon will offer."―Jeff Passan, MLB insider, ESPN

"This is the book baseball needed, the definitive document on how the best players in the world are using new ideas to become even better. Until now, no one had delivered an authoritative, comprehensive look at the revolution that is transforming the sport and offering lessons that extend even beyond the field. If you want to understand the inner workings of the modern game, you must read The MVP Machine."―Ken Rosenthal, baseball reporter for The Athletic, Fox Sports, and MLB Network

"Travis Sawchik and Ben Lindbergh brilliantly capture the next frontier of major-league teams' 'evolve or die' mindset: the league-wide movement of using data, technology, and science to revolutionize the way players are developed. Baseball has seen a rapid influx of high-curiosity, growth-mindset players and coaches, creating the perfect environment for innovation and rethinking convention. The MVP Machine provides tremendous insight into baseball's latest transformation."―Billy Eppler, General Manager, Los Angeles Angels

"As the game of baseball, and more specifically the teaching methods within, continue to evolve, The MVP Machine paints a real-time portrait of player development. Players and coaches are in a constant search for advantages that will push their personal limits on the field in order to maximize their abilities. Ben and Travis provide fascinating details of how individual players pushed the boundaries of innovative coaching, self-reflection, and a willingness to make even the smallest of adjustments in order to reach new heights as players. This book is a very accurate portrayal of modern-day player development and the ongoing pursuit of individual greatness."―Mike Hazen, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Arizona Diamondbacks

"A lot of books have claimed to be Moneyball 2.0, but this book actually delivers. It chronicles the changes that are transforming the game of baseball at a fundamental level and shifting power back into the hands of players and coaches."―Mike Fast, Special Assistant to the General Manager, Atlanta Braves and former Director of Research and Development, Houston Astros

"Travis Sawchik and Ben Lindbergh are always at the forefront of the analytics revolution. The MVP Machine brings us the newly emerging competitive advantage whereby players are joining the intellectual advancement of the game and utilizing the new tools available to build a better Major League Player. Make no mistake, this is how games, divisions, and World Series titles are now being won."―Brian Kenny, MLB Network

About the Author

Ben Lindbergh is a staff writer for The Ringer. He also hosts the Effectively Wild podcast for FanGraphs and regularly appears on MLB Network. He is a former staff writer for FiveThirtyEight and Grantland, a former editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus, and the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team. He lives in New York City.

Travis Sawchik is a staff writer for FiveThirtyEight and regularly contributes to The Athletic Cleveland. He previously covered the Pirates for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Travis is the author of the New York Times bestseller Big Data Baseball: Math, Miracles, and the End of a 20-Year Losing Streak. Sawchik has won national Associated Press Sports Editor awards, and his work been featured or referenced on ESPN, Grantland, and MLB Network. Sawchik lives in Bay Village, OH.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (June 4, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541698940
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541698949
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #631,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #144 in Baseball Coaching (Books)
- #435 in Baseball Biographies (Books)
- #1,056 in Baseball (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 756 ratings

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Travis Sawchik
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Travis Sawchik is the author of New York Times bestseller 'Big Data Baseball.' He covers Major League Baseball for FiveThirtyEight. He's previously written for FanGraphs, The Athletic, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier.
He has won national Associated Press Sports Editor awards for enterprise writing and numerous state-level awards. Sawchik's work has been featured or referenced on ESPN and the MLB Network.
Travis lives in Bay Village, OH with his wife and son.
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Ben Lindbergh
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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and easy to understand. They describe it as a compelling read for baseball fans of all levels. The book provides insights into player development and analytics, making them accessible to fans of all levels. It offers an interesting look at how technology is being used to improve baseball. Customers consider it a must-have for modern baseball fans and a great addition to any baseball book collection.

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Writing quality Readability Player development Analytics Look Book content Ease of understanding

51 customers mention "Writing quality"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to understand. They appreciate the deep research and narratives about real baseball players. The book is interesting and enjoyable, with excellent reporting.

"...Their writing is clear and entertaining and is easy to follow. I found it so engaging that I finished the book in two days despite a busy life style...." Read more

"...top of their game, driven by their passion and curiosity, write the best baseball book and one of the best sports-related books I've ever read...." Read more

"...A wonderful read!" Read more

"I really enjoyed Ben and Travis’s book...." Read more

48 customers mention "Readability"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking for baseball fans. They say it's an essential read for understanding the game. The writing is clear and easy to follow, providing a professional yet fun perspective on baseball analysis.

"A thought provoking book that could have far reaching implications when/if these techniques are applied to other sports...." Read more

"...Their writing is clear and entertaining and is easy to follow. I found it so engaging that I finished the book in two days despite a busy life style...." Read more

"...It's not only for baseball fans, actually, it's very inspiring and makes you realise what the some ball throwers and horn blowers do to become the..." Read more

"...This book will capture the interest of anyone who loves the game with insights into the way that player development has finally obtained the status..." Read more

25 customers mention "Player development"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and helpful for understanding modern baseball. They appreciate the author's work breaking down current trends and tracing the history of player development. The book provides great stories of success for players and interviews with players and revolutionary coaches. It helps readers learn about how modern baseball works and how the best teams are using Player Development programs to help players become better.

"...since the 1972 World Series, this book not only explains the latest in player development but is written in an engaging manner by Ben Lindbergh and..." Read more

"...about debunking Sabermetrics, it's about how the best teams are using Player Development programs to help players become better. A wonderful read!" Read more

"...It's changing teams' relationships with their players, and players' dependence on their teams for help with their development...." Read more

"...A very good read with some great stories of success for players who otherwise would never have measured up under old conventional methods of player..." Read more

16 customers mention "Analytics"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and accessible for fans of all levels. It combines stories with analytics to explain how today's game is being analyzed. The growth of analytics has changed baseball, but it has also divided many fans. Readers appreciate the deep insights from extensive interviews. They find it an essential summary for anyone who wants to understand why teams are analyzing the game from a scientific standpoint.

"...for baseball fans like me who enjoy analytics and the science behind the sports...." Read more

"...It is an essential summary for anyone who wants to understand why teams behave the way they do or how players are changing...." Read more

"...It showed technology and old school exercises work for many athletes. Well written and easy to understand. I was happy to have picked it up...." Read more

"...the authors left no stone unturned in this area and talked to all of the influential people who are changing the game today. Great read...." Read more

8 customers mention "Look"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and informative. They mention it provides an interesting look at how technology is being used to improve baseball and the future of unlocking star power.

"Lindbergh and Sawchik provide a really interesting look at the science behind player development in baseball...." Read more

"An interesting look at how technology is being used to improve baseball players in terms of batting and pitching...." Read more

"This book offers an amazing inside look at the recent advances in baseball...." Read more

"...The book is made from high quality materials that will look great on your bookshelf. Highly recommended." Read more

6 customers mention "Book content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content engaging and relevant. They describe it as a must-have for baseball fans and an inspiration for the game.

"Baseball is a game of traditions and, yes, change. Great to have a book like the MVP Machine to trace this big change in baseball...." Read more

"A fantastic read. A must have for any baseball book collection and one that will be relevant for years to come." Read more

"One of the best baseball books around. Very insightful baseball training information out there." Read more

"This is the baseball bible. Read it." Read more

4 customers mention "Ease of understanding"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand.

"...Their writing is clear and entertaining and is easy to follow. I found it so engaging that I finished the book in two days despite a busy life style...." Read more

"...it’s written in a very straightforward manner that is easy to digest and understand even if you’re not reading FanGraphs or Baseball Prospectus..." Read more

"...Well written and easy to understand. I was happy to have picked it up. Gave it to my son who wants to play college baseball...." Read more

"...They take difficult topics and make them sound simple, interesting and not threatening. A very worthwhile book." Read more

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abby
Would love to see this for other sports
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
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A thought provoking book that could have far reaching implications when/if these techniques are applied to other sports. I suspect this book is getting an unfair number of negative reviews because one of the main players the author followed turned out to have strong political opinions. If you're interested in learning about how data and ultra slow-motion video is being used to improve athlete performance, get the book.

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Ed Cuneo
A book that explains the next phase of player development in friendly language
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2019
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For those of you who are wondering if this book is worth your hard earned money - yes it is. After reading this book you will not only be ahead of the curve (no pun intended) at the water cooler at work but you will be prepared to answer the latest question by Jeff Luhnow which is,"what is the next best thing in baseball?"
If you're still reading, I'd like to say as a person who has watched, played and studied baseball since the 1972 World Series, this book not only explains the latest in player development but is written in an engaging manner by Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik. I was not intimidated by its size or use of graphic organizers that most Sabermetricians dream about. Since I do not subscribe to the Brian Kenny view of baseball as it currently exists I came to this book having:
a. Enjoyed Ben's first book on baseball;
b. Having read Moneyball for the first time after avoiding it due to the overhype it was given by all of baseball "experts".
Ben and Travis hit it out of ball park by mixing personal stories with the science of player development. Their writing is clear and entertaining and is easy to follow. I found it so engaging that I finished the book in two days despite a busy life style. My only peeve in terms of writing style is that in some instances Ben or Travis will refer to the other by first name when discussing a vignette because they co-wrote book and want to tell the story as if the two them were sitting at your kitchen table telling you what they knew. A small peeve on my part.
As a historian of the game, I was glad they gave Branch Rickey his due as he truly brought player development to the game of baseball. If Rickey were alive today there is no doubt in my mind he'd be employing the technology outlined in this book.
As a fan of the a Orioles I would have liked to seen credit given to Paul Richards, Jim McLaughlin and George Bamberger for their roles developing skilled baseball players but I understand that Ben and Travis wanted to keep the book in the present in order to not make the book run more than the 300 plus pages they wrote.

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G. I. Gunnarsson
Everything that it promised to be
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2019
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Two writers at the top of their game, driven by their passion and curiosity, write the best baseball book and one of the best sports-related books I've ever read. This book not only reveals what is going on behind the scenes in player-development, but also gives insight to the mindset and character, elite performers possess. It's not only for baseball fans, actually, it's very inspiring and makes you realise what the some ball throwers and horn blowers do to become the best in their business. But, boy - it sure gets frustrating at times to keep up with all those surnames. A lot of B's. I've never had to use an index so often in my life.

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One person found this helpful

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TBlankley
Post-Sabermetrics Baseball
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2023
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It's not that I don't enjoy the information that Sabermetrics provides because it has changed baseball, sometimes for the better. But the MVP Machine puts the future of baseball back into the hands of the players and the coaches instead of just the Wonks. This book will capture the interest of anyone who loves the game with insights into the way that player development has finally obtained the status it deserves within MLB, with a plethora of anecdotes about how many of today's elite players achieved their status via talent development programs that will change careers and the game going forward. This book isn't about debunking Sabermetrics, it's about how the best teams are using Player Development programs to help players become better. A wonderful read!

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Adam Evans
Interesting book
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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Cool idea for a book

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John J. Franco
If you really want to know why baseball is the way it is right now...
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2019
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Lindbergh and Sawchik provide a really interesting look at the science behind player development in baseball.

Imagine being able to throw a slider, look at images showing exactly how it came off your fingers, and measure its exact break. Then move your finger 1/1000th of an inch, check the break, and repeat the process until you've got just the movement you're looking for.

Imagine being able to hit a pitch from a pitching machine, and know exactly where and how it hit your bat. Imagine being able to adjust your swing ever so slightly to get more loft and spin on your fly balls. It's not science fiction - it's happening.

Data is everywhere. Teams can use it to help their players develop, and players can also use it to help themselves. It's changing teams' relationships with their players, and players' dependence on their teams for help with their development. It's also changing teams' approaches to how they scout and sign players, and impacting how (and which) teams are able to locate and develop the best players.

If Moneyball was really about exploiting unappreciated skills that were already there, then The MVP Machine is about exploiting undeveloped talents that are hiding under the surface. If Moneyball was based on the assumption that talent was fixed and development didn't matter, than The MVP Machine challenges that assumption.

The players and teams that can adjust to this new paradigm will be the ones who win... until the next big thing comes along, anyway.

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Top reviews from other countries

Henny
Great book on the future/current trends in baseball
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2019
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This book is amazing. I’m 150 pages into it and I’m hooked.

The authors write out the journeys of many players and how they reshaped and retransformed their careers with new insights and new ideas.

The book is a combination of stories of how certain players embraced not only the sabermetric revolution, but also the enormous amount of pitch tracking data and hitting data to practice and tweak their approach to improve their performance.

Last but not least the book is really well written and it doesn’t feel like you are reading a textbook. Every baseball fan should read this book.

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P. C. Moorehead
One of the best baseball books I've ever read!
Reviewed in Canada on June 30, 2019
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Great book for anyone who likes to be an educated baseball fan.

Lindberg and Sawchik pull back the curtain on the next frontier in applied baseball analytics: player development. But rather than just giving the reader a collection of stats, "The MVP Machine" is centred around the stories of a number of big leaguers who have used data to make themselves better players. The writing is clear and informative, and also very engaging.

A really great read!

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Julien Bélanger
Must read baseball book
Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2021
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Whether you like the new brand of baseball or not, you will love this book. The authors do an amazing job of detailing how fringe players made themselves into All-Star/MVP type players. Really easy to read. You can take a lot of stuff and translate it into coaching if need be too.

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Nicole
Incredibly interesting.
Reviewed in Canada on June 20, 2019
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This book has exceeded all my expectations. It’s an in depth look into how players are being developed using the latest statistical and technological innovations. I really liked the stories explaining how this has helped current stars. Also Ben’s other book (The Only Rule is It Has To Work) is my favorite book EVER. Check it out!!

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W. K. Burridge
Great Interesting read, couldn't put it down.
Reviewed in Canada on September 6, 2019
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This was an outstanding book, start to finish. I'd recommend it to any baseball fan especially if you're at all interested in how the technology and data are changing how players, coaches, and teams are approaching the game.

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