'93 Phils more disciplined than ‘Moneyball' team

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Speaking at a Villanova Law School symposium last Friday, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane of Moneyball fame revealed that the key concept of his cost-conscious strategy to acquire cheap, valuable talent was partially derived from the 1993 Phillies.

Really? John Kruk paved the way for Scott Hattebergs shift to first base? Jim Eisenreich and Pete Incaviglia were the early versions of Jeremy Giambi and an aging David Justice?

"I was right here in Philadelphia watching the World Series, Beane told the Philadelphia Inquirer at Fridays panel on Moneyballs Impact on Business and Sports." "Those '93 Phillies took a ton of pitches, walked a ton, and scored a ton of runs. Thats when it hit me."

Plate discipline was an underrated aspect of the '93 Phils, a team remembered more for its grit and personality than the unsexy nature with which it won baseball games.

Those Phillies led the National League by walking in 10.2 percent of their plate appearances. The teams aggregate .351 on-base percentage also led the NL.

Of the 11 Phillies to compile 300 or more plate appearances in 93, six had OBPs of .360 or higher. Four players -- Kruk, Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra and Kevin Stocker -- were above .390.

The 2001 Athleticsthe team depicted in Michael Lewiss Moneyball and later in Bennett Millers filmhad four regulars record .360-plus on-base percentages. Only two were above .390, brothers Jason and Jeremy Giambi. Oaklands .345 team mark that year was six points lower than the OBP of the Phillies.

Both teams spent little relative to the rest of the league. Jim Fregosi's pennant-winning squad had the seventh-lowest payroll of any non-expansion team. Art Howe's 102-win A's had the second-lowest.

In many ways, the 93 Phils out-Moneyballed the Moneyballers.

For more statistical musingsfrom Corey Seidman, visit BrotherlyGlove and PhilliesNation.

E-mail Corey Seidman at cseidman@comcastsportsnet.com.

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