Wharton Moneyball

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner debate Bill Belichick’s legacy in the post-Brady era, explore how analytics have reshaped baseball strategy, and speak with Dan Szymborski—Senior Writer at FanGraphs and creator of the ZiPS projection system—about forecasting player performance and team success in today’s evolving sports landscape. They also analyze the remarkable victory of 204th-ranked tennis player Valentin Vacherot in a Masters 1000 tournament, using insights from sports analytics and probability theory to uncover what his unexpected win reveals about talent, randomness, and ranking systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Beringer, Global Head of Technology and Innovation and Global Sponsorships at SAP, and Chris Foster, Vice President of Digital Business Development at the NHL, join Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to discuss how their decade-long partnership leverages analytics, AI, and real-time data to enhance coaching decisions, streamline front-office management, and advance sustainability initiatives across the league. Plus, Cade, Eric, Shane, and Adi break down an eventful week in sports—from a penalty-filled Panthers-Lightning preseason game to unpredictable MLB playoff outcomes and the emergence of young NFL quarterbacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Smoliga, Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Director of Research for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Tufts University School of Medicine, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to discuss the quest for a women’s sub-four-minute mile, the influence of super shoes and other technologies, and how marketing, science, and athletic performance intersect on the world stage. Cade, Eric, Shane, and Adi also dive into the evolving playoff structures in Major League Baseball, the statistical weight of home-field advantage, and current storylines in the NFL and college football, blending analytics with real-time sports narratives. Plus, in an overtime interview, Cade and Eric speak with Joseph LaMagna, analyst at Fried Egg Golf, about the Ryder Cup, including the role of pairings, course setup, crowd behavior, and the contrasting approaches of Team USA and Team Europe in leveraging data and preparation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annanya Raghavan, Sports Trends Fanalyst on the Google Trends team, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen to share how search data is used to understand and highlight fan engagement, with a particular focus on the WNBA’s growing popularity and the broader role of analytics in capturing cultural moments in sports. David Dase, Head of the Southeast Region and Global Co-Head of the Sports Franchise in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, joins the show to discuss how the firm is shaping the future of sports as an asset class, from financing teams and arenas to investing in sports-adjacent businesses, highlighting market growth, institutional capital trends, and the increasing importance of brand and fan engagement. Then Cade, Eric and Shane examine the upcoming introduction of automated strike zone challenges in baseball, the game theory behind late-game NFL decisions, and Andrew Percival’s data-driven college football rankings, offering a wide-ranging conversation on how analytics and strategy are reshaping modern sports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Cole, creator of Unexpected Points and former PFF analyst, joins Cade Massey, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner to share insights on how advanced models reveal hidden truths about NFL teams, quarterbacks, and coaching decisions, offering a sharper perspective on what early-season performance really means. Cade, Shane, and Adi also discuss how predictive models sometimes miss unique advantages like the Eagles’ “tush push,” why metrics such as EPA per play may misrepresent team value, and how player evaluation in baseball—including Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh—challenges conventional measures of MVP worth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Burke, Sports Data Scientist at ESPN, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen to share insights on building advanced football power ranking systems, the role of Bayesian models in balancing priors and new data, and how analytics informs game-day decisions like fourth-down calls and playoff predictions. Cade, Eric, and Shane also analyze standout performances and key narratives from NFL Week One, preview pivotal college football games, examine the growing dominance of Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner in men’s tennis, and highlight major offensive trends across Major League Baseball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Godfrey, columnist at The Washington Post and cohost of multiple college football podcasts, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Adi Wyner to discuss the growing role of analytics in shaping how fans, coaches, and media interpret the sport, offering insights into decision-making, fan culture, and the changing landscape of college football. Cade, Eric, and Adi also explore under-the-radar college football matchups, the evolving storylines of the US Open including Naomi Osaka’s return, rare achievements in Major League Baseball, and the start of the NFL season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeff Sackmann, founder of Tennis Abstract, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Adi Wyner to discuss his data-driven forecasts for the U.S. Open, the statistical dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and how tennis analytics is reshaping the way we understand player performance and strategy. Cade, Eric & Adi also discuss Tommy Fleetwood’s long-awaited PGA victory, the statistical challenges of measuring golf performance, rising MLB fastball velocities, and the excitement surrounding one of the strongest opening weekends in college football history. In a bonus overtime interview, Cade speaks with Ralph Russo, national college football writer at The Athletic, about how data-driven insights are shaping the narratives around college football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick Peterson, longtime MLB pitching coach and author of Crunch Time, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Adi Wyner to reflect on his career coaching elite players like Hall of Famer Billy Wagner, share insights on performance under pressure, and discuss how velocity, biomechanics, and training have reshaped the game of baseball. Cade, Eric, and Adi also explore statistical approaches to understanding clubhouse effects in baseball, discuss standout performances in professional golf, and analyze the volatility of college football rankings, blending probability theory, data insights, and real-world sports narratives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ESPN staff writer Bill Connelly joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow and Shane Jensen to share his take on the men’s and women’s tennis tours, the emerging Sinner–Alcaraz rivalry, and the depth of talent in women’s tennis. Bill also dissects the 2025 college football landscape, sharing insights on conference strength, playoff expansion, coaching trajectories, and which teams have the best shot at this season’s national championship. Cade, Eric and Shane keep the conversation going, discussing recent golf highlights, including Justin Rose’s win and Ryder Cup implications, as well as emerging MLB storylines such as the Milwaukee Brewers’ dominance, surging offensive stats, and surprising betting odds for perennial favorites like the Dodgers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow and Adi Wyner are joined by Brandon Copeland, NFL veteran and founder of Athletes.org, to discuss his unlikely rise from Ivy League football to a decade-long pro career and his current work empowering college athletes with advocacy, legal support, and financial literacy in a rapidly evolving NCAA landscape. Plus, they explore the analytical dilemmas behind lineup decisions for the Yankees, Hall of Fame projections, and how rest versus readiness affects elite athletes like Novak Djokovic, while also examining NBA and NFL betting odds through a data-driven lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey and Eric Bradlow are joined by Aaron Schatz, Chief Analytics Officer at FTN Fantasy, to discuss how his models forecast the 2025 NFL season—from rising teams like the Ravens and Commanders to quarterback outlooks and evolving coaching impacts. Plus Cade & Eric discuss the MLB Hall of Fame the WNBA’s upcoming free agency shakeup. and the WNBA's rising viewership metrics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen speak with Craig O'Shannessy, Director of Brain Game Tennis and tennis strategy advisor, about Novak Djokovic’s narrowing window, Rafael Nadal’s head-to-head dominance in majors, and why Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz may define the next era of tennis through consistency, rivalry, and advanced analytics. They also discuss Scottie Scheffler winning The Open Championship, home run hitters, MLB divisional races, MLB Hall of Fame, and NFL Training Camp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Adi Wyner, and Shane Jensen speak with Alan Nathan, Professor Emeritus of Physics at University of Illinois about baseball bat construction and the physical factors that impacted the Home Run Derby. They also discuss the possibility of juicing baseballs for the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, Cal Raleigh's batting, MLB expectations post-All Star, and Wimbledon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A highlight of Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner's conversation with Seth Partnow—Data Science Manager for the NBA at PENN Interactive, former Director of Basketball Research for the Milwaukee Bucks, and author of The Midrange Theory—discussing what NBA work at PENN Interactive entails, expectations for draft picks and predicting player performance, and how talent distribution across NBA teams is changing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow and Shane Jensen speak with Seth Partnow, Data Science Manager - NBA for PENN Interactive, Former Director of Basketball Research for the Milwaukee Bucks and Author of the Midrange Theory, about what NBA for PENN Interactive does, expectations for NBA draft picks and predicting player performance, and the change in talent distribution on NBA teams. They also discuss Alcaraz's play at Wimbledon, the impressive career Clayton Kershaw has had, age curves in the NHL, and NBA free agency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey and Adi Wyner speak with Travis Sawchik, author of The MVP Machine and Big Data Baseball, about the change in dynamics in baseball data collection and analysis, pitchers implementing the sweeper pitch, modern use of pitchers and the pitch count, and how batters are improving their training to keep up with more skilled pitchers. They also discuss Oklahoma City winning the NBA Finals, the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup, Elo Ratings, and LSU winning the Men's College World Series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen speak with Dan Rapaport, golf writer and journalist, about golf shot accuracy, the US Open, expectations for the Ryder Cup, and the landscape of sports media. They also discuss NFL teams with uncertain QB situations, the value of learning vs winning, and Brad Marchand's play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner speak with Ben Alamar, author of Sports Analytics: A Guide for Managers, Coaches, and Other Decision Makers, about the Oklahoma City Thunder's domination in the NBA Finals, shot quality in the NBA, and the role of clutch play. They also discuss the NHL Finals, pitching speed vs. velocity in the MLB, the struggling Colorado Rockies, expectations for Aaron Judge's batting, and the French Open. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen discuss the statistical improbability and athletic significance of a potential Novak Djokovic win at the 2024 French Open as well as what data tells us about recovery and performance over the course of elite tournaments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner speak with Dean Oliver, author of Basketball Beyond Paper, about the NBA Playoffs, the importance of turnovers, tracking help defense, and motion tracking data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner speak with Ron Yurko, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Stats & Data Science at Carnegie Mellon University, and Director of the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center, about Scottie Scheffler's PGA win, golf analytics and modeling, and assessing long-term performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Adi Wyner speak with Blake Lawrence, co-founder of Opendorse, about college sports and the future of NIL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen and Adi Wyner speak with Seth Partnow, NBA Data Science Manager at theScore, about the NBA Playoffs, a surprising win probability, and the factors that can impact a team's success in the playoffs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen and Adi Wyner speak with Kevin Cole, sports analyst with Unexpected Points, about the NFL draft, draft and trade strategy, the importance of mock drafts, and team investment strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner speak with MLB Hall of Fame pitcher, John Smoltz, about pitching mechanics, modifying the pitching qualifications for pitchers to get into the Hall of Fame, injury prevention, and the future of major league pitching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow and Shane Jensen speak with Ethan Strauss, founder of sports podcast House of Strauss, about the globalization of sports, the impact of politics and international players on American sports, and the idea of banning the corner three-point shot in basketball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey & Eric Bradlow speak with Charlie Ebersol, founder and CEO of Infinite Athlete, about the integration of tech into sports and sports analytics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey and Shane Jensen speak with Dan Szymborski, Senior Writer at FanGraphs, about the start of the new MLB season, the Yankees "torpedo bats," and the impact of Spring Training on the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner speak with Nate Duncan, NBA analyst and host of the Dunc'd On Podcast, about dark horse teams to watch, and how matchups play a role in the analysis of a team's success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey & Shane Jensen speak with Todd Golden, Head Coach of the #1 ranked Florida Gators men's basketball team, about the upcoming March Madness tournament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Wharton's Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner speak with Micah McCurdy, Mathematician and freelance data visualization with focus on NHL, about assessing player progression over time, shots-on-goal data, modifying the NHL point system, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton's Cade Massey & Shane Jensen speak with Kevin Cole, former PFF data scientist, and creator of the Unexpected Points podcast, about evaluating college players, the value of the NFL combine, and what to expect from rookies in the coming NFL season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.