In his explosive and must-read “The Smartest Guys in the Clubhouse,” New Republic writer David Roth points out that the Houston Astros are just one of the latest examples of the McKinsey approach to solving problems and giving clients an edge. It should come as no surprise that ex-Mckinsey consultant Jeff Luhnow and the Astros are responsible for the recent MLB plans to cut 42 out of 160 minor league baseball teams. That solves the problem of poor pay and crappy playing conditions in the minor leagues. Nothing is easier than getting rid of the problem. Using buzzwords like “big data,” “machine learning,” and “artificial intelligence” as a cover, McKinsey as made it easy for organizations to do shitty things. For those of you who have short memories, let me remind you of another Houston-based, McKinsey-consultant-led organization: Enron. And if you need a refresher, check out, The Smartest Guys in the Room, a documentary and the book of the same name. You will see so many parallels, including ripping the face off the state of California. (h/t Gruber)