In the early 2000s, the Oakland A’s became synonymous with using data to create a competitive advantage when “Moneyball” gave baseball fans a glimpse behind the curtain of the A’s statistical-minded front office. A quarter century later, a new team in Oakland will be pushing the use of data in baseball to a whole new level when the Oakland Ballers of the independent Pioneer League play an entire game managed by artificial intelligence.
On Saturday, Ballers manager Aaron Miles will cede his decision-making duties to an AI. It is believed to be the first time a professional sports team will be managed by an AI in a regular-season game.
The AI will determine most of the regular in-game decisions a typical manager would make. It isn’t choosing the starting pitcher since the Ballers are on a set rotation, but the AI will create the starting lineup, decide when pitchers need to be replaced and when to use pinch hitters, and position the infielders and outfielders. The Ballers will not be using the AI for base-running decisions, as it would be too difficult to relay in signs for a stolen base attempt or a runner attempting to score on a base hit in real time.
Saturday’s game is part of the Ballers’ Fan Appreciation Day. Last year, the Ballers allowed their fans to control the in-game decision-making on Fan Appreciation Day via an app that gave fans the chance to decide lineup changes and other in-game moves. The Ballers lost that game, so now the team is giving the machines a chance to see if they can successfully take the wheel.
