The book Moneyball by Michael Lewis has been revolutionary to the game of baseball. You see OBP used commonly, people knowing what VORP stands for, and defense being as important as offense. Of course, the book did more than just introduce that stuff.
It’s taught baseball fans and thinkers to look for value in untraditional sources.
It’s only fitting that it’s moving onto Hollywood – Moneyball The Movie.
Now, I’m really skeptical of this. I don’t see how this book can be transferred into a movie. It’s a book of numbers and games. It’s a book of theories and mechanics.
I also don’t see how Hollywood can market this movie – other than being a Brad Pitt vehicle. Yes, Brad Pitt is playing the role of Billy Beane.
Baseball is not a game that everyone likes; you can get the hard core fans to go, but what about the pre-Moneyball fans? What about people that enjoy just sitting at a game – those people that don’t know the numbers, just the names?
I don’t think the general public will care to see Scott Hatteberg’s transition to first base or Beane throwing a chair when the team drafts Jeremy Bonderman. Also, the general public wants happy endings, so are they going to change the story to the A’s win the World Series? Will they beat a big budget team so Beane is the hero?
It’s almost sounding like this movie will be a trainwreck. Oakland manager at the time Art Howe has signed on to play himself. Hatteberg is also going to play himself, along with Rick Peterson, Grady Fuson, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dystra, and David Justice. None seem like the acting type (at least Justice was married to an actress), so this could end up like a cheap horror flick.
One of the bigger jokes is current Ray Chad Bradford could play himself, since he’s on the DL. He’s expected to be ready next month, when the filming begins, so it’s looking doubtful. If I were the Rays, I’d not let Bradford do the movie. It’s the middle of the season and he should be focused on baseball, not a movie. At least Beane and Paul DePodesta have their heads in the right spot.
I will give the movie a chance (unless the previews are horrible). Steven Soderbergh is directing it, so that’s a plus for the movie. I’m also curious to see how it translates to the screen. I’m just scared that the basis of the book is going to be lost in translation.
