Examining the art of evaluating. Rob Neyer interviews Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball.

...[O]nly a fool would buy a baseball team and hire to run it some baseball insider who disdains or misunderstands the Oakland model. Fools sometimes do get their hands on enough money to buy baseball teams, but the odds are against it. And if you step back from American society and ask "What kind of people are getting rich these days?" the answer is increasingly "People like John Henry." That is, people on the nerdly end of the spectrum, who have a comfort with both statistical analysis and decision-making in an uncertain environment. And these people, increasingly, will demand that their teams be run along rational lines. The price they will pay for this is that the pleasure of owning a team will be somewhat reduced, as there will be a lesser role for their whim, and they will be compelled to cede much of the decision-making to professional management.

(ESPN.com)

Bi-Weekly Review: N.L. Central. "If Sammy [Sosa] returns to form and the Cubs get something closer to their previous norms from Moises Alou and Mark Bellhorn, I think they are still the most likely candidate to pull away from this division, with their front-line starting pitching." (Baseball Primer)

Rob Neyer: "Bottom line, it's easy to look at the Braves' record and think they're the same old Braves, here comes yet another division title, etc. But these are not your big brother's Braves, and they haven't won anything yet. So let's wait another month or two before we start printing the playoff tickets, OK?" (ESPN.com)

Reed pushes Twins closer to first with shutout of Royals. KC's lead is down to 1 1/2 games. (ESPN.com)

Ballpark Visits: Metrodome. Where to stay, where to park, what to do before and after the game, where to sit, what to eat, and more - a complete consumer guide. (BallParkWatch)

Prospectus Triple Play: Braves, Twins, Devil Rays. "Before the season began and the club started filling the fewest seats in the majors, Devil Rays' management made noise about boosting their miniscule payroll next year. Should they follow through on that threat, they might want to throw some money [Aubrey] Huff's way. At age 26, he has a few All-Star games in his future." (Baseball Prospectus)

Crowded Cincinnati outfield has Guillen talking trade. Ken Griffey Jr. is back, and Jose Guillen is the odd man out. (ESPN.com)

Aaron Gleeman: "As for the Reds trading Guillen so he can 'go somewhere else where [he] can play every day' - I am pretty sure that place doesn't exist, at least not on the planet he and I both live on." Not even Detroit, Aaron? (Aaron's Baseball Blog)

Mike and Yikes! II. Will Mike Maroth be the first 20-game loser in over 20 years? (Mike's Baseball Rants)

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