Wharton Moneyball

Eric Bradlow and Adi Wyner examine surprising NBA and NFL performance patterns while highlighting the innovative sports analytics research conducted by students—including advancements in expected-goals modeling, rugby decision analytics, and tennis serve evaluation—showcasing how data science and AI are reshaping modern sports analysis.

Neil Payne, freelance data journalist, analyst, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to discuss current debates in baseball WAR, surprising developments in the NBA, the evolution of quantitative storytelling, and how emerging stars like Connor Bedard and innovative teams such as the Los Angeles Rams illustrate shifting dynamics across major sports.

Eric Bradlow, Cade Massey, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner explore how advanced analytics are influencing modern sports—from reshaping baseball’s Gold Glove selections to refining NFL power rankings and playoff projections—while dissecting how the new 12-team College Football Playoff format heightens uncertainty and reshapes championship probabilities.

Dean Oliver, ESPN sports analyst, joins Adi Wyner, Shane Jensen, and Cade Massey to explore Victor Wembanyama’s game-changing impact on defense, the development curve of elite rookies, and how analytics are influencing strategy across the NBA—from the Spurs’ ceiling to the Lakers’ evolving dynamics and the rise of data-driven player evaluation. Cade, Adi, and Shane also unpack the analytics behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s World Series dominance, the Carolina Panthers’ surprising success, and NFL trade logic.

Bill Connelly, ESPN staff writer and author, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen to discuss his innovative “Chaos Superfecta” approach, the growing role of uncertainty in college football analytics, and how factors like NIL, transfers, and conference realignment are transforming the game’s competitive balance. Plus, Eric and Shane analyze one of the longest World Series games in history, discuss Shohei Ohtani’s extraordinary two-way performance and his place among baseball’s all-time greats, and reflect on how today’s game and analytics are redefining greatness across sports.

Jane Leavy, known for her bestselling biographies of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Sandy Koufax, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to discuss her latest book Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It, sharing her insights on how analytics have altered the sport’s rhythm, storytelling, and fan experience—and what reforms could restore baseball’s enduring appeal.