Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/moneyball-and-beyond
If you’re a baseball fan or someone interested in data analytics, the ‘Moneyball and Beyond’ course on Coursera is a must-take. This course dives deep into the revolutionary concepts introduced by Michael Lewis in his book ‘Moneyball,’ which changed the way we analyze performance statistics in professional sports.
The course is structured over five weeks, each focusing on different aspects of baseball analytics. In Week 1, you are introduced to the Moneyball story and the foundational statistics of on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). This is where you start to understand how these metrics correlate with team success.
Moving into Week 2, the course takes a fascinating turn as it explores the relationship between MLB player salaries and their performance statistics. The insights gained here are particularly eye-opening, as they confirm the Moneyball narrative that OBP was undervalued before the book’s publication.
Week 3 builds on this by updating previous analyses and breaking down the components of SLG, such as walks and home runs. This week is particularly engaging for those who enjoy digging into the numbers and understanding what drives player performance.
In Week 4, the course introduces the concept of run expectancy, teaching you how to derive a run expectancy matrix from a comprehensive dataset of MLB events from the 2018 season. This practical application of data analytics is where the course shines, as you learn to calculate run values based on various event types.
Finally, Week 5 culminates in an exploration of Wins Above Replacement (WAR), a critical statistic in baseball analytics. You’ll learn how to calculate WAR based on batting performance and how it correlates with team win percentages and player salaries. This week ties everything together, showing the real-world implications of the analytics you’ve learned.
The course is well-structured, with clear explanations and practical programming exercises using Python. It’s perfect for beginners and those with some experience in data analytics, as it gradually builds your skills and understanding.
Overall, ‘Moneyball and Beyond’ is an excellent course that not only teaches you about baseball analytics but also equips you with valuable programming skills. Whether you’re looking to enhance your career in sports analytics or simply want to understand the game better, I highly recommend this course. Get ready to see baseball in a whole new light!
Happy learning!
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/moneyball-and-beyond