{
  "id": 4308654,
  "title": "Independent Oakland Ballers minor league club uses metrics, finds winning fan to manage finale",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/independent-oakland-ballers-minor-league-club-uses-metrics-finds",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-30T00:02:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/independent-oakland-ballers-minor-league-000243278.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oakland Ballers minor league baseball club has found a unique way to involve their fans in the game – by using analytics to measure their impact on the team's success. Colt Rosensweig, a professional dog walker with two service dogs, has been singled out for this honor after consistently showing up to games. Based on metrics, Rosensweig has earned the chance to manage the team for a day, alongside regular manager Aaron Miles. The Ballers use a version of \"WAR,\" or Wins Above Replacement, to determine player value, and Rosensweig's \"fan value\" is the highest among the supporters. Eligible fans have attended five or more games and signed up for a \"BallerMetrics\" profile, which uses ticketing data to gauge their impact on the team's performance. The Ballers are currently 27-10 when Rosensweig is in attendance, including a 13-game winning streak and four walkoff wins. Rosensweig, who suffers from fibromyalgia, cherishes her opportunity to be involved in a personal way and appreciates the Ballers' efforts to revitalize the Oakland baseball community.",
  "summary": "Colt Rosensweig and her two Doberman service dogs, Caris and Curtis, have been in attendance for so much winning at the Oakland Ballers games she has all the other fans beat. The Ballers are taking metrics from the diamond and transferring those numbers up into the stands and their fan base – with co-founder Paul Freedman developing their unique version of “WAR,” or Wins Above Replacement, which…",
  "key_points": [
    "Oakland Ballers use analytics to measure fan impact",
    "Colt Rosensweig, fan with fibromyalgia, manages team for a day",
    "Ballers 27-10 record when Rosensweig is present"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Oakland Ballers' use of metrics to empower a fan as a manager for a day sets a new standard for fan engagement in professional sports, blurring the line between spectators and participants.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Independent Oakland Ballers minor league club uses metrics, finds winning fan to manage finale",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/independent-oakland-ballers-minor-league-club-uses-metrics-finds-4311315",
        "published": "2026-08-30T00:04:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}