Carrie Cabral

Carrie has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember, and has always been open to reading anything put in front of her. She wrote her first short story at the age of six, about a lost dog who meets animal friends on his journey home. Surprisingly, it was never picked up by any major publishers, but did spark her passion for books. Carrie worked in book publishing for several years before getting an MFA in Creative Writing. She especially loves literary fiction, historical fiction, and social, cultural, and historical nonfiction that gets into the weeds of daily life.

The Runs Created Formula: Does It Really Work?

What is the runs created formula? How does the runs created formula work? The runs created formula is a mathematical equation developed to analyze the ability of a team to produce runs and wins. The formula’s creator, Bill James, argues that the most important measurement of predicting wins is not traditional statistics like batting average and RBI, but a new metric called the runs created formula, with a runs created calculator that helped them determine player value.

Bill Smith & Osage Terror (Killers of the Flower Moon)

Who was Bill Smith in Killers of the Flower Moon? What did he have to do with the Osage murders? Bill Smith was a white man married to an Osage woman, and he was a victim in the murder conspiracy that led to the deaths of many Osage. Keep reading to learn more about Bill Smith.

Bill James: How Sabermetrics Changed Baseball

Who is Bill James in Moneyball? How did Bill James’s Moneyball strategy lead to a successful season for the Oakland A’s? Bill James was an employee at a pork and beans factory when he began writing about baseball metrics. Eventually, Bill James’s Moneyball strategies were adopted by an important baseball manager searching for a solution: Billy Beane.

Jeremy Brown: Moneyball’s Best Value Draft Pick

Who is Jeremy Brown in Moneyball? Why does Billy Beane decide to draft Jeremy Brown? Jeremy Brown in Moneyball is a catcher that is overlooked by scouts and other teams. But Billy Beane exploits this thinking and picks Jeremy Brown for the A’s, beginning Jeremy Brown’s MLB career.

John Ramsey, Murderer for Hire (Killers of the Flower Moon)

Who was John Ramsey in Killers of the Flower Moon? Did he participate in the Osage murders, and was he convicted? John Ramsey was an associate of the bootlegger Henry Grammer, and he was identified as the murderer of Henry Roan. After a long and difficult case, Ramsey was convicted. Continue reading to learn more about John Ramsey.

Joe Morgan: Moneyball’s Chief Opponent Gets a Win

Who is Joe Morgan in Moneyball? What did Joe Morgan do, and how did he influence how the baseball world viewed Sabermetrics? While Joe Morgan wasn’t involved in forming the strategies in Moneyball, he has a role as a strong, doubting voice of Sabermetrics and the Oakland A’s new strategy. Joe Morgan, a powerful and influential baseball insider, is a notable character in the book for his push-back against the A’s data-driven technology.

Understanding Sabermetrics: Finding MLB Wins in Data

What are MLB sabermetrics? What are the steps to understanding sabermetrics and what kind of statistics are used? Understanding sabermetrics is complicated. Sabermetrics are a fairly new concept pioneered by Bill James. MLB sabermetrics were made famous by their adoption by Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane, and the book Moneyball that chronicled the A’s first season of using and understanding sabermetrics.

Martha Vaughan on the Osage Murders (Killers of Flower Moon)

Who was Martha Vaughan? What’s her role in Killers of the Flower Moon? Though Martha Vaughan was not alive during the Osage Reign of Terror, she helped author David Grann gain perspective on the events and cases. Vaughan pointed out that the Osage Reign of Terror was even bigger than the events Grann wrote about in the book. Read more to learn about Martha Vaughan and the difference she made.

Billy Beane’s Red Sox Offer + the Future of Sabermetrics

What was Billy Beane’s Red Sox offer? Was this Moneyball Red Sox offer hard to turn down? Billy Beane’s Red Sox offer would have made him the highest paid GM of all time in baseball. Billy Beane’s Red Sox offer helped Sabermetrics get recognition in the baseball community.

How Moneyball’s Paul DePodesta Changed the Game

Who is Paul DePodesta in Moneyball? What did Paul DePodesta do in Moneyball, and what was his role in the Oakland Athletics organization? Paul DePodesta in Moneyball was the Assistant GM to Billy Bean during the famed Oakland A’s 2002 season. DePodesta was instrumental in developing Sabermetrics for the A’s.