When Tony La Russa managed the A's two decades ago, he would not let the team publicist share Mark McGwire's batting averages against left-handers and right-handers. What was then considered proprietary information is now available to all, just a click away.
For a substantial number of fans, "Moneyball" validated the concept that baseball insiders did not hold a monopoly on the ability to build a contender. By using a raft of new and refined statistics, anyone with an Internet connection could offer sophisticated evaluation of a trade or signing — or a front office.
