Lewis said that analytics and technology on the field have "drained" MLB's emotional contentGETTY IMAGES
"Moneyball" author Michael Lewis said MLB's analytics movement and on-field technology have "drained" the sport of its "emotional content," according to Daniel Roberts of YAHOO FINANCE. Speaking last week on Yahoo Finance's Sportsbook podcast, Lewis said MLB's perceived lack of marketable stars in '18 is because baseball "used to have big personalities," but it "hasn't accommodated them recently." Lewis: "Baseball has steadily been drained of emotion." When a manager came out of the dugout to argue with umpires, it "used to be a source of great drama." But with the expanded use of instant replay, there is "no point in doing that anymore." Lewis: "It's become much more slickly professional" (FINANCE.YAHOO.com, 10/14).
TAKING CENTER STAGE: In Houston, Brian Smith wrote once Astros 3B Alex Bregman "starts speaking, he doesn't stop." Dubbed "Bregman the Showman," he can "talk and talk and talk." Astros RF Josh Reddick said that Bregman is "simply enjoying the stage" and that his "'antics' also make him one of the best players in the sport." Reddick: "You're told not to express yourself as a rookie in the older days. Times have changed. This game is really quickly turning into a younger player's game and these kids are taking over. ... This guy's hitting homers every other day and he's yelling at the camera" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/13).
