Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game Book Review

In today’s society, the value of the individual is controversial. Michael Lewis’s “The Jeremy Brown Blue Plate Special” is a chapter of the book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, which explores the Oakland A’s temporary success in Major League Baseball and argues that conventional wisdom in the 20th century is outdated. Lewis begins by introducing the reader to the argument in “The Curse of Talent”, where the traditional system was preferable due to its attraction for fans. The main character’s failure as a baseball player influences his adaptation of Bill James’ sabermetrics: the use of mathematics and statistics to analyze baseball records and played in-game performance. In chapter 5 of his inspiring, non-fiction book, Moneyball, Micheal Lewis articulates and emotionally persuades his audience through the use of figurative language, comparison, and tone to explain the value of the individual and the corrupt methods of the traditional system. 

At first glance, baseball fans might think that Moneyball is mainly about the evolution of Major League Baseball, however, Michael Lewis applies a logical use of comparison to incorporate much bigger concepts in his writing. Comparison is a rhetorical strategy that evaluates two or more things to reveal their similarities or differences, for instance, when the author says, “Anti-intellectual resentment is common in all of American life and it has many diverse expressions. Refusing to draft college players might have been one of them” (Lewis 99). For this example, Lewis compares anti-intellectualism, a philosophy based on the hostility and mistrust of intellectuals, with the refusal of drafting college players to illuminate an unexpected similarity. The author uses this strategy to captivate the reader on the importance of statistics and rationality and persuade them to agree with the corrupt ways of the current drafting system. Without using comparison, the reader would only be able to understand the surface of criticism that the new, revolutionary movement had. However, by using this device, the audience feels considerate, due to the gravity of the situation, and convinced of the central message.

 Generally, the significance of a player in the baseball community is based on their highlighted moments. As a result, a majority of “prospects” turn out to be average athletes. By using an evident form of figurative language, the author utilizes pathos and attaches the reader to the central message by saying the following words: “The pieces of paper don't particularly care what you think of their intrinsic value. A revaluation in the market for baseball players resonates in the lives of young men. It was as if a signal had radiated out from the Oakland A’s draft room and sought, laserlike, those guys who for their whole career had seen their accomplishments understood with an asterisk” (Lewis 117). Figurative language is used to appeal to the audiences’ senses. Similarly, Michael Lewis chooses to organize the structure of text to appeal to the reader’s imagination and invoke sympathy. The first form of figurative language Lewis uses to convey this appeal is personified by saying how “The pieces of paper don’t particularly care what you think of their intrinsic value” (Lewis 117). This stylistic strategy is an attribution of personal qualities and is often used to make something clear. Likewise, by giving the pieces of paper emotion, Lewis gives off a brief, declarative message saying how Billy Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta agree that the current system evaluating pro-ball players is deceptive. This literary device is effective towards statisticians as it appeals to their logic. Through the successful 2002 Oakland A career, the author reassures the reader that the Moneyball system is achievable and successful. Furthermore, supporters of statistical analysis are convinced of the central message as they are compelled towards reason. On the other hand, the second literary device the American author uses is none other than a simile to convey a mental image of the draft announcement. By evoking the previous dispute of sabermetrics vs traditional, Lewis is helping the reader now visualize realistically how the present recruiting process prevented promising, professional players from reaching their maximum potential. This strategy, unlike personification, is used to recall and emphasize a certain experience. Being as the book is non-fiction, the reader obtains an even closer relationship with the author, as he allows the baseball community to share this important moment with him. For this reason, the audience then feels welcomed and gains a sense of justice on the author’s leading argument. 

As the climax of the draft reaches its final closure, Billy Beane is looking forward to drafting Jeremy Brown, an overweight catcher, to the Oakland A’s. While Brown is not a popular player, he is exceptionally skilled at getting walks. Even though Billy Beane successfully drafts Jeremy Brown, he knows that “He’ll never go anywhere because he doesn't look like a big-league ballplayer” (Lewis 117). Although the author’s usual apathetic and blunt tone emanates an indicative mood for the reader: as it supports its formal format, Lewis uses a pessimistic tone, in this instance, to emit a depressing mood for the reader. Despite Brown’s practical attributes, the author chooses to write the previous sentence to exemplify, once again, the misconduct of the baseball administration. Due to this, the reader feels a sense of irritability as they cannot alter the course of action. 

When you think of intellectuals impacting conservative human affairs, you wouldn’t think of baseball. In “The Jeremy Brown Blue Plate Special”, a section of the book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, Micheal Lewis uses comparison, figurative language, and tone to make his readers believe that the Moneyball system is possible, despite the difficulty. The chapter affected the audience by appealing to a sense of concern, logic, and frustration. Along with this, the rhetorical devices the author uses to convey the central message and persuade the audience are formed through exerting importance, retaining information, and personal demonstration. Although the Oakland A’s go on to win the 2002 American League West title, they, unfortunately, lose their last game against the Minnesota Twins. However, the club's use of sabermetrics was recognized and finally accepted as the future program that would shape Major League Baseball forever.