I’ve been reading Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won and loving it.

Steven D. Levitt, the co-author of Freakonomics, said this book is “”The closest thing to Freakonomics I’ve seen since the original” and that’s dead, solid, perfect.

It would not shock me if Scorecasting went on to be one of the best books of 2011, period, as well as being one of the best sports books of this year. This book is intelligently written and yet extremely entertaining at the same time. Scorecasting is just as enlightening as…well…again… Freakonomics; but, it’s all about sports. I highly recommend checking this one out. Related, below is the description of this book via the publisher as well as some links to reviews for Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won that I thought were right on the money.

(more…)

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For the last ten days or so, I’ve been thumbing through the Graphical Player 2011. From a fantasy baseball player/owner perspective, it has lots of cool stuff, including, but not limited to:

• A mega “Draft Pack” section for draft day assistance
• Four years of career stats for over 1,000 players – including splits and minor-league stats down to Single-A for each player for 2010
• Tables comparing each player to his competition at his position and a unique “mini-browser” showing five players with similar 2011 projections at the same position
• Projected and historical dollar values for single and mixed Roto leagues, as well as tallies for point-based leagues and four years of factors for Scoresheet Baseball
• Profiles of more than 100 top prospects with independent rankings from three experts
• Full player stats by team for 2010
• And, it has all kinds of new stats like Runs Scored % and RBI % for hitters and Lead and Disaster Starts for pitchers – to go along with some funky fantasy league stats like Caught Stealing, Complete Games, Blown Saves, Holds, Quality Starts, etc.

But, even if you’re not a fantasy baseball player, you’ll enjoy going through this one – just for the stats and player commentary.  Now, for some Yankees stuff via Graphical Player 2011:

• A-Rod’s “Hit %” and “Runs Scored %” have gone down each season from his MVP year in 2007
• Rob McQuown’s 2011 projection in the book has Robinson Cano topping out at 20 HR and a .297 BA
• David Robertson’s BB/9 rate has gone from 4.5 in 2008 to 4.7 in 2009 to 4.8 in 2010
• Rob McQuown’s 2011 projection in the book has A.J. Burnett winning 11 games with an ERA of 4.74

If you play fantasy baseball, you’ll want to have Graphical Player 2011 at your side on draft day and during the season. And, if you don’t play fantasy baseball, you’ll still enjoy this one, like I did, thumbing through it – feeding a baseball fix – waiting for the 2011 season to start.

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By now, you’ve probably seen the reviews on Jane Leavy’s “The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood.”  (And, if not, click here and here for a few samples of what’s been said on this one to date.)

In any event, since I’ve just finished reading this one, I thought I would add my opinion to the party – albeit seven weeks later than most of the other reviews of “The Last Boy.”

Without question, Jane Leavy’s book on Mickey Mantle is one of the best baseball biographies that I have read in the last 35 years. You can go back as far as Al Stump’s Cobb or as recent as James Hirsch’s Willie Mays and “The Last Boy” ranks right up there with them.

Now, I’ve read books on Mantle in the past – and there have been a lot of them. And, many of us know his story – as a player and after. But, Leavy offers such a robust picture of the man and performs some incredible sleuthing in this effort that you’re bound to be impressed with her book.

Me? Until reading this book, I never appreciated, fully, what it was like when Mickey Mantle first made the Yankees. Picture a player who had the speed of Carl Crawford or Ichiro Suzuki combined with the tape-measure power of a batter like Adam Dunn or Darryl Strawberry playing in the major leagues at the age of nineteen and put on a team that’s in the media capital of the world and who just won three of the last four World Series. What would that be like today in terms of hype? A-Rod circa 1995-96? Or, Bryce Harper, say, a year from now? Maybe…but…probably not. Remember, we’re talking about the New York Yankees here. Plus, in many ways, Mantle was being pegged as the successor to Joe DiMaggio too, at the time. Need a little more pressure?

I cannot imagine what that would be like for a player today. And, perhaps, Mantle was blessed to have this happen in the 1950′s? What would his career been like, today, if he was 19-years old in 2010 with all this talent? Now, there’s food for thought.

Usually, when I read a baseball book this good, and it involves the Yankees, I suggest that it’s something that may interest baseball fans and that it’s something that all Yankees fans should check out. But, Leavy’s book is better than that. “The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood” is a must read for all baseball fans. And, if you haven’t read it, get it on your holiday wish list. (Just one caveat, if you’re buying this one for someone else this holiday season, it’s a “PG-13″ book, without question, so, use good judgement if you’re giving it to a youngster.)

Please feel free to use the comments section of this entry to discuss what you’ve heard on this book, or your thoughts on it, or to just discuss “Mick” in general.

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For the past few days, I’ve been going through The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2011.

As usual, it’s full of good stuff.

This edition contains all the advanced metrics and performance data that a sabermetric fan wants to see in an annual. And, this includes all the granular stuff which is the latest craze. But, it also has some very entertaining essays that any baseball fan can enjoy – such as Anna McDonald’s “A Perfect Summer Dream” and Craig Wright’s “A Gentleman Remembered.”

Oh, and, if you’re into fielding stats, it has an entire section on “The Future of Fielding” with everything that you need to know about FIELDf/x.

Heck, you can even get little morsels of information within the essays that jump out at you. For example, in Chris Jaffe’s “The Best and Worst Benches of All Time,” we see that the Yankees bench in 2005 was the 5th worst in baseball history. And, in “The Leaders of 2011,” we see that “Oliver” (which is The Hardball Times projection system) predicts that Alex Rodriguez will not hit 29 homeruns in 2011.

There are essays in The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2011 by a lot of the names that you know from around the internet. These include, but are not limited to, Geoff Young, John Beamer, Steve Treder, Craig Calcaterra, Dave Studenmund, Richard Barbieri, Brian Borawski, Vince Gennaro, Dave Cameron, John Dewan, Rob Neyer, Jon Daly, Sean Smith, John Walsh, Tom Tango, Greg Rybarczyk and the aforementioned Jaffe and Wright.

On sale now, The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2011 is a great hot stove companion for baseball fans of all levels. It gets your attention, makes you think, and teaches you a thing or two in the process.

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I missed this one when it first aired on PBS back in September. But, I caught some of it tonight. Great video clips and some fun fan interviews. If you’ve missed it too, it’s on again this Sunday at 10:30 pm ET.

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I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m a raving fan of the Bill James Handbook which is produced annually by the good folks at Baseball Info Solutions and Acta Publications. So, naturally, I was thrilled when The Bill James Handbook 2011 arrived in the mail last Monday.

On last year’s edition, I wrote:

As always, the Bill James Handbook 2010 is the perfect off-season companion for the baseball stat junkie. It’s a joy to curl up with a copy of this book and allow yourself to get lost for minutes or hours – immensely enjoying the journey as you cherry-pick on the snapshots of the data therein. Most times, I’m just happy thumbing through the pages and landing, at random, at a player and checking his career stats.

And, that’s no different with this year’s edition.

In fact, I was reading Jane Leavy’s The Last Boy when The Bill James Handbook 2011 arrived – and Leavy’s book, so far, is excellent! – and I stopped reading about Mantle because I can’t put The Bill James Handbook down. (I was reading When the Cheering Stops – which was good in a reminiscing way – when I got Leavy’s book. And, I stopped that one to start the Mantle story. So, actually, The Bill James Handbook 2011 has now pushed Mantle into the on-deck circle and the football Giants into the hole while it’s up at the plate.)

This year’s edition has a new Bill James’ Hall of Fame Monitor and both Plus/Minus and Runs Saved fielding data for every player. Cool new stuff, indeed. And, its got all the neat data that we’ve seen in past editions like the Fielding Bible Awards, Park Indices, Pitcher/Hitter Projections, Manufactured Runs Analysis and career data for every 2010 big leaguer (including select players from Japan).

Granted, sure, many probably are thinking now “I can get a lot of the information in an electronic format.” And, that’s true. But, as Steve Moyer writes in his introduction to The Bill James Handbook 2011, this book is something that you can add to your home bookshelf and touch and turn with your fingers.

It’s Tangible baby, with a capital “T”! (That’s me talking, not Moyer.)

As I mentioned last year and repeated here earlier, in a strong way, having this book is like playing a great baseball fan game. Thumb through the pages and land, at random, at a player and check his career stats. You can get lost for an hour, easy, each day, doing that.

And, the timing of this book is perfect too. Peter Gammons calls it “The prize of our winter hibernation” and he’s spot on with that label. There’s no big league baseball being played now. This book is a safe baseball “fix.” And, it’s the Hot Stove now where players and their worth are debated. What better source to have at your finger tips at this time than The Bill James Handbook 2011?

I highly recommend this book – for any baseball fan. If you like baseball stats, The Bill James Handbook 2011 allows you to ensconce yourself with them. It’s like a sabermetric leaf pile. Just jump in and roll around in the stuff. It’s a great way to lose yourself for a bit, have some fun, and learn some things in the process.

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I finally got to see this one. I know that the early reviews on this were bad. But, I really liked it.

I thought they did a very good job with the old interview clips of Big Stein. And, the footage of the old Stadium and its demolition were beautiful. The bits with the fans were nice as well. When that one guy, who was working on taking down the old Stadium, said that he hopes, in the future, when his kids go to the new Yankee Stadium, that when they look at the old spot, that they will think of him…well..if that doesn’t tug on your heart strings, what will?

I also thought it was a very fair job. And, I especially liked the time given to the critics of the new Stadium and the current powers that be in the Yankees front office. Having seen it now, I totally get why the Yankees were not pleased with this film.

Hal Steinbrenner did come across bad in it. He’s nothing like his old man and probably in over his head right now. Jennifer Steinbrenner-Swindal seems more like her dad and probably would have been a better choice to be in charge. In any event, while Hal was talking about the peace and solitude of flying, it was like listening to Munson back in 1979. The scary part was the picture of Munson over Hal’s right shoulder when he was being interviewed. If I’m Mama Stein, I’m telling Hal to ditch the plane and the wannabe fly-boy routine. Get a new and safer hobby.

If you haven’t seen this one, and have been scared off by the early reviews, I suggest checking it out and giving it a try. Again, the footage of Big Stein and the old Stadium, alone, make it worth viewing, in my opinion.

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The other day Alex Belth mentioned that he would be sending me a review copy of “Lasting Yankee Stadium Memories: Unforgettable Tales From The House That Ruth Built.”

Now, to be totally candid, I’ve sorta/kinda known Alex for about six years now. He’s a super-nice guy. In fact, I’ve never heard anyone, ever, say something about him that’s less than kind. And, I consider him to be a friend. That said, as I waited for his book to arrive, I had this Rocky vs. Thunderlips, let’s move around a little bit, you chase me and I’ll chase you, preconceived notion on how this would go down. He’d send me the book, I’d check out the book, and, regardless of what I thought about it, I’d give it a mention in the blog – because friends should help friends.

So much for the best laid preconceived notions…

Why?

Well, when I received “Lasting Yankee Stadium Memories,” I started reading it, and, immediately, it hit me – “This is really, really, good!”

Yeah, I knew about the project behind this – where Alex was collecting “Lasting Stadium” memories back in 2008 to share on his blog. In fact, I was one of those who contributed towards that effort. So, I should have known that it would be good – having read some of these back in 2008 on-line. Then again, maybe that was “the thing” behind my preconceived notion? Maybe I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the book because it wouldn’t be totally “new” to me? Well, whatever the reason, it was totally wrong of me to think I was going to have to plug this one out of kindness as opposed to it being warranted.

For the book, Alex uses the “heavy hitters” among those contributions – like Bob Costas, Richard Ben Cramer, Tony Kornheiser, Tom Boswell, Dave Kindred, Leigh Montville, Joe Posnanski, Jane Leavy, Maury Allen, Bob Klapisch, Tyler Kepner, Allen Barra, Marty Appel, Alan Schwarz, Steve Rushin, Mike Vaccaro, Rob Neyer, and Ken Rosenthal – along with some sundry others (mostly Bronx Banter Blog contributors and friends of that blog) and it’s a wonderful anthology. And, this totally “works” as a book. First, it’s a neat capsule of all these stories in one binder. Secondly, the beauty of this one is that you can read it from cover to cover, or, just cherry-pick the entries as you so desire – and, it’s a great read, either way.

“Lasting Yankee Stadium Memories: Unforgettable Tales From The House That Ruth Built” is a literary cornucopia of the Yankee Stadium experience from every possible angle. If you’re a Yankees fan, this one will hit the sweet spot for you.

The scheduled release date for Alex’s book is October 1, 2010. As mentioned, if you’re a Yankees fan, you owe it to yourself to pick up “Lasting Yankee Stadium Memories.” It will resonate with you. And, if you’re not a Yankees fan, but want to check out a cool book about what an old ballpark has meant to so many people, you’ll want to pick up this one too.

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I just had a chance to check out Doug Decatur’s book, Traded: Inside the Most Lopsided Trades in Baseball History, which was released eight months ago.

Having read Decatur’s last book, four years ago, and finding that one to be very enjoyable, I was looking forward to reading this one. And, now done, I can say that “Traded” did not disappoint me.

Decatur has worked as a statistical consultant for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves. And, in “Traded” he uses stats to determine the 306 most lopsided baseball trades of the twentieth century. Bascially, Decatur adds up the future Win Shares for each player after the trade for the two teams- and the net difference determines a score that allows for rankings . But, this book is more than just a ranking of trades. The author also provides a team-by-team overview of the best and worst trades in each team’s history as well as providing countless “fun” stories about the people involved in, or behind, these transactions. Also, as a bonus, Decatur shares thirteen red flags that might indicate a lopsided trade now or in the future.

The Yankees? Well, the have the second best trade ever according to his analysis – when they swapped cash for Babe Ruth. But, they also have the third worst trade ever – when they traded Fred McGriff, Mike Morgan and Dave Collins for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd. Ouch.

What I enjoyed most about “Traded,” aside from it being a great chronicle of some crazy baseball trades, is that it provides a ton of data and commentary, makes you think, and sparks some debate. And, what more can you want from a baseball book – especially one that focus on baseball history and statistics?

“Traded: Inside the Most Lopsided Trades in Baseball History” is a fun and informative read and a worthy addition to every baseball library. In a word, this book was “stimulating.” I recommend this one to baseball fans of all levels – as there’s something in there for everyone.

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I saw Bigger, Stronger, Faster* for the first time ever last night on TV. (Yeah, I know, I’m two years behind the times on this one.) It was interesting – and it does offer some food for thought on the whole PED debate. I found it both educational and entertaining. If you’ve never seen it, and have a chance to catch it, I recommend checking it out.

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Today is George Steinbrenner’s 80th birthday. So, what better time to share a review of Bill Madden’s recent book “Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball“?

My “Yankees-fandom” started during George Steinbrenner’s first year as owner of the Yankees. Therefore, I grew up following the team in the “Big Stein Era” and only know the “Steinbrenner owned” Yankees. And, since I was a kid, I’ve been reading Bill Madden’s columns – along with having read his book “Damned Yankees” back in the day. As such, I was very much looking forward to reading “Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball.”

This is not the first George Steinbrenner book that I’ve read. Years ago, I read Ed Linn’s “Steinbrenner’s Yankees.” And, recently, I read Peter Golenbock’s “George: The Poor Little Rich Boy Who Built the Yankee Empire.” Yet, despite having read the story of “The Boss” before, I was still extremely entertained reading “Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball.”

In addition, I also learned a few things for the first time reading Madden’s book – such as how Phil Rizzuto used Steinbrenner’s dislike of him as a way of getting out of making west coast road trips and how Randy Levine gained his favor with the Yankees family. I was also shocked to learn how much (then commissioner) Fay Vincent abused his power and railroaded Steinbrenner out of baseball during the whole Howie Spira incident.

One thing that resonated with me while reading the book is that many have a beef with Steinbrenner because they believe that George, in his salad days, was narcissistic, illogical, pompous, impetuous, delusional and pathological. And, that made life terrible for all those who worked for him.

Now, I cannot dispute this – especially after reading Madden’s account (in the book) of how “The Boss” conducted his business.

However, I’ve been working full-time for 26 years now – since graduating college. And, in my estimation, during this time, I’ve had at least 15 different “bosses” – some of whom were (in my opinion) also “narcissistic, illogical, pompous, impetuous, delusional and pathological” and terrible to work under. (Not all were this way, I want to stress. And, many were excellent leaders and a pleasure to follow. But, there were at least four of them that…well…put it this way…if I saw them, today, on the side of the road in the pouring rain with a flat tire, I would not stop to help them…that’s for sure.)

The point here is that, yup, George Steinbrenner was an “ogre” to work for – to many. But, is he alone in this department? In everyday life, many of us have worked for such a person or know someone else who has worked for a “terrible boss.” Look around…”these people” are out there – all around us – and it’s just not George Steinbrenner. In fact, you – the person reading this – may just be, or someday will become, that “terrible boss.” Or, maybe someone close to you is a “Big Stein” in their professional life. Hey, it’s possible. Again, any sundry leader in any particular industry being a tyrant is not a singularity.

In summary, George Steinbrenner is not the first, last, or only maniacal person to run something. He’s just one that millions know about because of his elevated profile and the amount of media following his organization. Related, I have to question why some parties want to skewer Steinbrenner for his business tactics when he’s just one of many who use the same approach? Don’t get be wrong – I am not advocating this particular modus operandi…at all. And, I’m not condoning Steinbrenner’s behavior because he’s not the only “boss” to act questionably.

I’m just wondering why so many have a strong distain for Steinbrenner because he was this way – since he’s not unique in terms of being an abrasive leader. I mean…really…it is that shocking to see a person in charge of something to be an agitating and demanding bully who is willing to trade moral soundness in exchange for getting what they want? When I read the stories of how George Steinbrenner behaved as owner of the Yankees, I’m not shocked. Anyone who has been in the “business world” has probably encountered demanding individuals whose primary focus was on something other than having scruples.

Therefore, what’s the big deal about George Steinbrenner being a despot? It’s sort of like getting yourself in a lather because you just found out that your favorite restaurant is overcharging for drinks and desserts. Hey, it’s just the way the world we live in works…it is what it is…and all that.

Yet, this all said, do not lose sight of the fact that Big Stein is one of the all-time kings when it comes to being charitable. This does lend towards the notion that he’s not 100% all bad. (And, his “sports franchise owner” success record speaks for it self.)

In any event, getting back to “Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball,” I found Madden’s book to be one of the best chronicles of the Yankees, under the Steinbrenner family, ever written. It’s a super read and highly recommended. Actually, it’s a “must read” for all Yankees fans.

If you are a Yankees diehard, and haven’t picked up “Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball” yet, I suggest that you don’t wait any longer to check it out. It’s truly one of the most well-done and interesting Yankees-related books that I’ve ever read.

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When I first heard that Dayn Perry had authored “Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball’s Mr. October,” I was pretty excited to see this biography. I’ve been a fan of Perry’s work – dating back to when I first read “Baseball Between The Numbers.” And, having now finished this new work, I can share that this book more than met all my expectations.

I found Perry’s “Reggie Jackson” to be remarkably well researched.

To be candid, sometimes this is a problem for some authors. They get so locked into sharing facts that they lose sight of the story-telling goal. But, this was not the case here.

“Reggie Jackson” was informative while also being very entertaining – and therefore engrossing.

To many baseball fans – especially Yankees fans – under the age of 40, the clock on the Reggie Jackson story probably starts in 1977. But, there’s so much more to it than that. And, Perry covers it all in this book – going back to Jackson’s childhood, college days, minor league travels, and his entire major league career.

There’s a lot shared in “Reggie Jackson” – and, it’s not just about Reggie. In fact, this book does a great job at painting the picture of what was going on in all of baseball – and Amercia – during the late ’60′s, 1970′s, and early ’80′s.

In fact, you don’t have to be a Yankees fan, or even a Reggie Jackson fan, to enjoy Perry’s “Reggie Jackson.” It’s a book that any baseball fan would relish – and learn from it. (For the record, even though I like to consider myself as someone who knows 1970′s baseball, even I discovered a few things, for the first time, reading this book.)

One thing that I found extremely appealing about “Reggie Jackson” was the pace that Perry used to tell the story. It was perfect and a pure pleasure. This was not only true in telling the story of Jackson’s life but also in covering game accounts. Too many times, in reading baseball books, I’ve found authors who either gloss over game accounts or, worse, go crazy with minutiae to the point where it becomes tranquillizing. However, Perry finds the sweet spot every time in this book when providing details on game action.

I highly recommend checking out “Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball’s Mr. October.” As shared previously, this one’s not just for Reggie fans or Yankees fans. It’s a great read for any baseball fan – especially those with an interest in 1970′s baseball and the years which bookended that decade.

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On June 1, 2010, Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory will release MLB Bloopers: Baseball’s Best Blunders on DVD. I had a chance to review this one before the release and can share that it’s full of entertaining stuff.

The main program of the DVD is 90 minutes long – but, it also comes with 30 minutes of extra bonus content. MLB Bloopers: Baseball’s Best Blunders contains all the classic “bloopers” that you would expect – but, it also features a lot of content from last season as well…and this includes a fair share of the “fun” which the 2009 Yankees experienced.

Click here to see a trailer for the DVD. I’ve watched MLB Bloopers: Baseball’s Best Blunders twice already – once by myself and another time with the kids. And, I enjoyed watching it the second just as much as the first. This stuff just doesn’t get old. If you’re into seeing players as human beings and laughing at, and along with, them…you’ll want to check out this DVD.

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I have seen a lot of advance praise for Doug Glanville’s “The Game from Where I Stand: A Ballplayer’s Inside View” (scheduled to be released on May 11, 2010). Buzz Bissinger, Peter Gammons, and George Will, among others, have endorsed this one. So, I was pretty excited when I recieved an advance copy to review this one.

To be candid, when I started reading “The Game from Where I Stand,” and was about one-third into it, I wasn’t knocked off my seat. Don’t get me wrong – it was, to that point, a pleasant read. However, it was more like a “nice baseball book to read on the beach one day this summer” than it was “a book about baseball unlike any I have ever read” (as Bissinger referred to it).

However, then, I got to the section of the book where Glanville wrote about “The Stresses of the Game” – which was followed by a chapter on “Relationships in the Game.” And, at the junction, it all started to click. With those 44 pages, “The Game from Where I Stand” shifted from first gear to high gear – and in a hurry. Seriously, that 20% of the book, thereabouts, makes this work from Glanville a must read for all baseball fans. Glanville’s contribution here was, indeed, very honest, thoughtful, and insightful. Really, it’s great stuff.

And, the second half of “The Game from Where I Stand” was very fascinating as well.

In summary, on the whole, I was very impressed with Doug Glanville’s “The Game from Where I Stand: A Ballplayer’s Inside View.” The early-bird acclamation for this one is more than warranted. Glanville’s work here just may be one of the best baseball books that you can read this season. I highly recommend “The Game from Where I Stand.” This book truly is an insider’s revealing look at the world of major league baseball – one that both informs and entertains. Doug Glanville provides a great contribition to the all-time collective of baseball books with “The Game from Where I Stand: A Ballplayer’s Inside View.”

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When it was first released, back in 1990, George Will’s “Men At Work” was number one on the list of the New York Times Non-Fiction Best Sellers for nine consecutive weeks immediately after its publication. At that time, it was one of the best-selling baseball books since Jim Bouton’s Ball Four (in 1970).

Now that it’s been 20 years since “Men At Work” was first published, Harper Paperback has recently released a new edition (with a new intro from Will).

Back in the day, the Chicago Tribune reviewed “Men At Work” and called it “the best baseball book of the ’90′s.”

I’ve been reading the new release and it truly is an intelligent book. And, while it was a great read 20 years ago, now it’s an even more fascinating read to go through it, today, with the benefit of a retrospective view.

If you read “Men At Work” twenty years ago, I recommend checking out this new release. You’ll enjoy it just as much now as you did the first time – maybe more. It’s a nostalgic treat. And, if you’ve never read “Men At Work,” then I highly recommend this new release – it’s as bright a baseball book as you could ever find.

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I’ve mentioned a few times in the past that I’ve been reading “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend” by James S. Hirsch. (For more on that see here, here and here.)

I’ve now finished the book and can share that “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend” is one of the greatest baseball biographies that I’ve ever read – and I’ve read more than my fair share of these types of books.

Mays played his last game a couple of months after I saw my first big league game. So, I never saw him play – at least that I recall. And, for sure, I missed seeing him in his prime. However, I was always aware of his statistical greatness. In fact, in my book, I make the case that – per the numbers – Mays and Honus Wagner were the greatest all-around players in National League history.

In any event, before I read “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend” I never knew much about Mays as a person. Sure, I may have thought that I knew some things – based on what I’ve read and heard here and there. But, now, having read Hirsch’s book, I have a much better and full understanding of the Willie Mays story – and it’s a great one. Thanks to this book, I now consider myself a raving fan of Willie Mays and truly lament not being able to see him in his prime.

I’m very grateful for the chance to read a book like this one – it’s extremely well done and engrossing. And, I highly recommend “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend.” The only bad thing I can say about this book is that it ended. Really, it’s so good that I found myself, once done, wishing that I could keep reading it – since it was so enjoyable. (Don’t take this to mean that the story is not completely told. That’s not the case. Hirsch covers it all in this one. More so, it’s just that I’m going to miss reading this book since it was such a pleasure to open it up each time and learn so much.)

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In the last five weeks, I’ve mentioned The Bill James Gold Mine 2010 a few times in various entries. (See: here, and here, and here, and here.) And, I expect that I’ll be mentioning it a few work times in the upcoming weeks – at the least.

As you may recall, I’ve been a fan of The Bill James Gold Mine annuals in the past. (See: here and here.) And, I’ve found this year’s edition to be right in line with the ones from the preceeding two years – it terms of quality and value.

Basically, the book is a collection of select James’ articles posted to Bill James Online from the past year along with awesome “nugget” collections of facts and stats for each major league team. These “nuggets” were put together by folks like John Dewan, Mike Webber, Mat Olkin, Dave Studenmund, Charles Fiore, Ben Jedlovec, Steve Moyer, Damon Lichtenwalner, Jon Vresics, and Rob Burckhard. However, that said, James takes responsibility for these “nuggets” – because, as Bill writes “I am responsible for them, in the sense that if there is something amiss, that would be my responsibility.”

It’s all great stuff. And, as stated herein, I expect to be referencing the book fairly often at the blog this year.

In the past, I’ve shared that The Bill James Gold Mine is the type of baseball book that’s so much fun, and enlightening, that you’ll want to re-read it, again, the minute you finish reading it for the first time. And, there’s a good chance that you’ll want to read it a third time after that – as there’s so much good stuff in it. And, I can think of no better way to describe The Bill James Gold Mine 2010. I highly recommend this book.

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One of the best perks of authoring a long-standing and popular blog is that, each season, I receive several review copies of baseball books. For a baseball book junkie like me, this is just like manna from heaven.

And, today, I received a package of books from Dover Publications which included the following:

• This Side of Cooperstown: An Oral History of Major League Baseball in the 1950s – by Larry Moffi (originally published in 1996, to be reissued in March 2010)
• My Twenty Years in Baseball – by Ty Cobb (originally published in 1925, reissued in June 2009)
• Even the Browns: Baseball During World War II – by William B. Mead (originally published in 1978, reissued in February 2010)
• My 66 Years in the Big Leagues – by Connie Mack (originally published in 1950, reissued in April 2009)

They each look good – fun and informative portals leading into baseball’s past. What’s not to love about that? If you enjoy baseball history and books covering it as much as me, you’ll want to check these out.

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I just started reading an advance copy of “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend” (by James S. Hirsch) on Friday. (The book is scheduled to be released this coming Tuesday.) It’s going to take me a while to get through it – after all, it’s close to 600 pages worth of ‘reading.’ (The info on the book lists it as 628 pages – but that includes source notes, etc. In actuality, the book is closer to 566 pages of ‘story.’)

I’m enjoying “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend” so far. It’s incredibly well sourced and crafted. From what I’ve read to date, the book has what I call “The Time Machine Effect” – meaning, as you read it, you truly feel as if you were there, in real time, watching all that is being described, etc. The author, Hirsch, excels at painting a picture with his words that pulls you in to the story.

In any event, David Takami just did a review of this book for the Seattle Times. Click here to read it. Here’s a few snips of what he had to say about “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend” -

In “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend,” James Hirsch, author of “Hurricane: the Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter,” has written an enormously entertaining and wide-ranging biography — a fitting tribute to Mays, the Hall of Fame ball player, and a thoughtful account of the complex and often misunderstood man. That this book got written at all is a notable accomplishment. Mays is famously prickly with reporters and refuses most requests for interviews. After seven years of trying, Hirsch finally got Mays to meet with him and talk.

True baseball fans will delight in the author’s edge-of-seat game reports and picture-perfect descriptions of Mays’ superlative talents. He was the game’s first “five-tool” player, excelling at hitting, hitting for power, base running, throwing and fielding. One special treat: Hirsch devotes an entire chapter to Mays’ legendary over-the-shoulder grab of Vic Wertz’s line drive — known as “the Catch” — in the first game of the 1954 World Series.

This is a superb baseball book, but it’s also a riveting narrative of Mays’ life and times, ranging from his penchant for fancy suits to urban development in New York City to the giddy cult of celebrity. In the mid-1950s, Willie Mays was as famous as anyone in the country, gracing the cover of Time and other magazines and appearing on numerous television shows

This is a 600-page book that never flags and educates as it entertains. But what I’m most grateful for is the chance to “see” the player whom I’ve only imagined. I grew up idolizing Willie Mays but was too young to ever see him play. This book makes me feel like I have.

Based on how far I’ve gotten with “Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend,” I agree with everything that David Takami says about it. This is one new baseball book that you’ll want to check out.

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Today was a Jury Duty day down in the Land of Thunder. Ah, nothing like having to leave the house at 6:45 am for a nice 50 mile drive…

But, since I was going to be penned up for the day, or most of it, I decided to take advantage of it.

I’m a self-confessed baseball book junkie. But, as such, I sometimes buy baseball books and don’t read them right away. It’s usually because I’m reading another, or more, baseball books at the same time that I bought the one which landed in the “read later” pile. And, to be candid, the “read later” pile is bigger than I would like to confess to…especially over the last 6 years or so, since I have such little “free” time these days.

But, today, I was determined to rescue one book off the pile. And, I chose “Paths to Glory: How Great Baseball Teams Got That Way.” I picked this one up, in hardcover, back in 2003 because I heard a lot of good things, back then, about it. But, sadly, it got buried in the “pile.” Until…today!

Cracking it open, now, and having a chance to get into it, I now see what all the buzz was about six-some years ago. “Paths to Glory: How Great Baseball Teams Got That Way” is a very good book. And, now that I’ve started it, I’m not putting it back until I finish it.

If you’ve never read it, I suggest that you check it out.

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You’re probably aware of Josh Wilker’s blog Cardboard Gods. And, if so, the fact that Josh has a book coming out, Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards, should not be news to you. (And, if you’ve never heard of his blog and book, now you have!)

While the book is not slated to be published until April 1st, the good folks at Seven Footer Press have provided me with an advanced reader’s copy. And, now that I’ve finished Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards, here’s my review of Wilker’s forthcoming book.

Don’t be mistaken, Cardboard Gods is not a book about baseball cards in the sense that it details the industry and/or hobby of collecting them. More so, this book is the memoir of Josh Wilker using the anchors of his childhood, his beloved baseball card collection, as selected portals into various parts of his life story. And, his story is somewhat atypical to the Norman Rockwell chronicled nuclear family setting that many of us have experienced.

Related, as I was reading Cardboard Gods, at times, I found myself thinking “This is sort of like the PG-13 baseball fan version of The Basketball Diaries, written by the late Jim Carroll.” (And, in fact, I later learned that Josh is a fan of that work and writer.)

Now, this is not to say that this book is a rip. It’s merely shared to inform that this is not a book for those who can’t handle a story that is…let’s say…”colorful” and “strikingly unconventional.” And, in reality, I found Cardboard Gods to be absolutely engrossing. Wilker’s unique presentation approach (using his baseball card collection) and clever picturing painting through word selection, combined with the story of his avant-garde upbringing and its residual impact, make Cardboard Gods one heckuva of a compelling read. And, I highly recommend this book.

April always brings a slew of new baseball book. When that time comes, be sure to make room for Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards among those that you elect to read. There’s a lot in this one – and something for everybody.

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For the last ten days or so, I’ve been thumbing through the “Graphical Player 2010” – and having a great time doing it!

For those not aware, the Graphical Player annual has been issued since 2004. (Actually, until 2007, it was called “Graphical Pitcher” – as it covered pitchers at first and then was expanded to cover batters as well.) John Burnson – of BaseballHQ.com and Heater Magazine fame – is the moving force behind this book.

“Graphical Player 2010” has an incredible amount of data, presented in a somewhat unique style…more to follow on that…along with commentary on more than 1,000 current baseball players provided by bloggers who cover their teams – and edited by Burnson with some help from Rob McQuown and Michael Street. (Lisa Swan of Subway Squawkers provided the Yankees commentary.)

Getting back to the data, here’s some of what you will find in this book:

• Projected 2010 stats and historical dollar values for single and mixed Roto leagues, as well as tallies for points leagues.
• Four years of career stats, including splits for RH/LH and 1st-half/2nd-half.
• Minor-league stats down to Single-A for 2009 for every player.
• A unique “mini-browser” showing five players with similar projections at the same positions.
• Profiles of more than 100 prospects, with independent rankings from three experts.
• Speculative rosters for every MLB team for 2010, 2011, and 2012.
• Full player stats by team for 2009

Now, it’s been years since I was a serious fantasy baseball enthusiast. In fact, I pretty much dropped the game after the 2000 season. But, had Graphical Player been around back then, it would have been a “must-have” for me at that time – and I would recommend that “Graphical Player 2010” is a must-have for the serious fantasy baseball franchise owner today.

O.K., that said, even if you’re not a roto-head, many will still derive a lot of use out of “Graphical Player 2010.” Why? Well, if you’re a baseball fan, and someone who’s into sabermetrics, you will find “Graphical Player 2010” to be both pleasing and intellectually stimulating. It’s just full of fun stats like xFIP, wOBA, and Wins Above Replacement – as well as stats that cover a player’s component skills, how luck may have impacted his stats, and, for pitchers, the strength of the teams he faced.

As I stated in the opening, I’ve been thumbing through this one for days – and expect to keep going through it for many more (to come). It’s great fun. Again, the “Graphical Player 2010” is a must-have for the diligent fantasy baseball competitor and a treasure trove of sabermetric data for the thinking baseball fan – and highly recommend here.

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If you’ve been reading this blog for the last four years, you’ve probably noticed that I’m a fan of The Hardball Times Baseball Annual. And, in case you were not aware of that, here are my reviews covering the last four editions of this work:

• The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2006
• The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2007
• The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2008
• The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2009

The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2010 is slated to be released next week on December 1st. However, I’ve had a chance to get a sneak peek at it and can share that this year’s edition is just as good, if not better, than the editions from the previous four years.

Among the many excellent articles and commentary inside The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2010 are:

• Craig Calcaterra’s hilarious “The Year Iin Frivolity” where the author overlays some fiction on to an overview of the 2009 season.
• Bill James “Strong Season Leading Index” – which you can learn more about by clicking here.
• Jack Marshall’s “The Content of their Character” that provides more food for thought about the consideration that should be given towards a player’s character and conduct than one could ever hope to see in one feature.
• Geoff Young’s interesting and innovative “The Rebuilding Team Fan’s Survival Guide.”
• Chris Jaffe’s enlightening look at why the 1972 World Series was one of the best ever Fall Classics.
• Craig Brown’s all-inclusive and entertaining “The Year the Players Were Set Free” – a journey through the first off-season where free agency came into play.
• Sky Andrecheck’s study on “Championship Leverage Index” – which takes the concept of “Leverage Index” and applies it to an entire season (as opposed to one game).
• Mike Fast’s “What the Heck is PITCHf/x?” – perhaps the best primer/history lesson on what PITCHf/x is all about…how it started…and what it may lead to in the future.
• Tom Tango’s “Miles Per Starter” – a quantitative and illuminative look at the question of what’s best for a starting pitcher with respect to usage (in terms of batters faced).
• Sean Smith’s excellent essay entitled “Relievers Yesterday And Today” comparing the two sets and providing the answer on which is more effective – despite the difference in usage.
• John Walsh’s “Better Than We Thought” where the author adds baserunning and defensive value to batting statistics to paint a better picture on a player’s worth (outside of just what his batting stats suggest).
• Dave Studenmund’s “Oh Lucky Men!” – a statistical look at which players were “most favored by Lady Fortune on the field” in terms of how their teams did versus reasonable expectations.
• John Dewan’s “The Tiger and the Mariner” – a great read on how improved defense can change a team.

And, in fact, the above list is less than half of the features that can be found in The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2010. As in the past, this year’s addition includes reviews on each division in baseball covering 2009, Studenmund’s “Ten Things I Learned This Year,” a “Manager in a Box” feature (on Paul Richards) and a “Hit Tracker” contribution from Greg Rybarczyk (among other features not already mentioned here).

Oh, yes, there’s also tons and tons of stats in The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2010…so many statistics that those alone probably bring cause for you wanting to have this work on your baseball bookshelf.

In summary, as always, The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2010 is a perfect blend of spot-on commentary covering the current state of baseball, entertaining narratives focusing on baseball history, and astute sabermetric analysis – with a huge side serving of cutting-edge statistics. And, also as always, I highly recommend this book.

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The 2009 World Series Film DVD was released today.

I had a chance to check it out this evening and, having now viewed this one, highly recommend it.

This DVD is full of game footage and behind-the-scenes stuff, including interviews, that makes it a wonderful visual chronicle of this year’s World Series.

The 2009 World Series Film DVD opens up with a 16-minute section that details the Yankees season as well as their ALDS and the ALCS. And, this includes highlights of the many walk-off wins the Yankees had in 2009. This is followed by a 4-minute segment highlighting the Phillies season and road to the World Series. The remainder of the DVD brings you through the World Series – game by game. And, in the closing, you also get some brief highlights from the parade held for the Yankees, after winning, down the “Canyon of Heroes.”

The 2009 World Series Film DVD also contains “Bonus Features” which are highlights of just about every big hit, homer and play for the Yankees during this post-season – including the Damon “double-steal” in Game 4 of the World Series. What I liked most about these “Bonus Features” was the option where you get to see multiple shots and angles of the Yankees players celebrating after the last out of the World Series.

My only disappointments in the DVD were that, in the section reviewing the Yankees season (from Spring Training on) there was no mention of A-Rod’s PED issue – and only coverage on his hip operation (and comeback from that); and, in the “Bonus Features” section, all those clips are real-time game stuff with field noises – and there’s no added commentary. (Then again, considering how some feel about FOX and/or John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, maybe others would consider this to be a plus?)

But, on the whole, I consider the 2009 World Series Film DVD a “must have” for all Yankees fans and a “smart have” for baseball fans in general (to add to their baseball DVD collection). After all, the first World Series in the new Yankee Stadium only happens once – and it’s now captured in video, and nicely done, with this DVD.

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I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m a raving fan of the Bill James Handbook which is produced annually by the good folks at Baseball Info Solutions and Acta Publications.

And, after perusing through the Bill James Handbook 2010 for the last two weeks (since it was released on November 1st), I can now share that this year’s edition has not lessened my opinion of this annual. In fact, if anything, it’s just made it stronger.

As always, the Bill James Handbook 2010 is the perfect off-season companion for the baseball stat junkie. It’s a joy to curl up with a copy of this book and allow yourself to get lost for minutes or hours – immensely enjoying the journey as you cherry-pick on the snapshots of the data therein.

Most times, I’m just happy thumbing through the pages and landing, at random, at a player and checking his career stats.

Just the other day, I landed on former Yankee David Weathers. What an amazing career! Weathers is 40-years old and has pitched in the major leagues now for 19 seasons – for 9 different teams (at various times). He’ll never be a Hall-of-Famer, but, when a guy can play in the big leagues for 19 years and pitch in close to 1,000 games, he sure will be able to walk away from the game proud. Yet, if not for a book like the Bill James Handbook 2010, where you can randomly land on his career stats, would you even think twice about Weathers’ major league career?

That’s just an example of the fun you have with the “Career Register” in this book. But, there’s more – including sections such as, but not limited to, “Team Efficiency Summary” (which tells you how efficient a team was with it’s hitting, pitching and run scoring), the “Fielding Bible Award” and “Runs Saved Plus/Minus Leaders,” how “Baserunners” perform, how “Relief Pitchers” perform, which teams are the best and worst at “Manufactured Runs,” tatics and usage patterns for skippers in the “The Manager’s Record” section, tons of Leader Boards from 2009, and, of course, career “Win Shares” data for every player in the majors last year as well as 2010 player projections for hitters and pitchers.

That said, here’s some interesting Yankees-related data/facts from the Bill James Handbook 2010:

• Over the last three season, Jorge Posada is the worst catcher at “saving runs” with a mark of -23. (During this time, Yadier Molina was the leader with a mark of +22).
• In terms of “net gain” in baserunning, factoring in chances to go first to third, second to home, etc., and the amount of times the player was successful, as well as making outs on the bases, hitting into double plays, and net steals, the Yankees were the 22nd worst team in baseball with a mark of -9. (The best team in baseball here was the Phillies with a mark of +109 and the worst team in baseball was the Royals with a mark of -67.)
• Also in terms of “net gain” in baserunning, Robinson Cano was the worst in baseball for second baseman (-23) and Chase Utley was the best (+50). This probably lends towards explaining the Phillies and Yankees overall team totals in this stat.
• David Robertson allowed .36 of his inherited baserunners to score in 2009. For a point of comparison, Edwar Ramirez last season posted a mark of .33 here, Brian Burney’s number was .31, Damaso Marte posted a .19 and Phil Hughes’ fashioned a percentage of .06 – yes, point-oh-six.
• In 2008, Joe Girardi had runners moving with the pitch 173 times (which was tops in the league). But, in 2009, Girardi had runners moving just 83 times. (What a difference not having Jason Giambi makes, I suppose.)
• Nick Swisher had the second worst “BPS per OutZ” in the American League with a mark of .218 in 2009. What’s “BPS per OutZ”? It’s batting average plus slugging percentage on pitches outside of the strikezone. (Hey, Swishalicious, do yourself a favor and only swing at strikes!)
• A.J. Burnett had the third “fastest” average fastball in the league at 94.2 MPH last season whereas Andy Pettitte had the third “slowest” average fastball in the league at 89.0 MPH (minimum 162 IP in both cases).
• Among all players with at least 98 games played at 2B or SS, Robinson Cano had the 10th worst “2B Pivot %” in the league at .563 and Derek Jeter had the 10th worst “SS Pivot %” at .541 (whereas Dustin Pedroia led 2B at .789 and Yuniesky Betancourt was tops at SS with .735).

O.K., that’s just a taste of the fun stuff that you can find thumbing through the Bill James Handbook 2010.

As usual, the Bill James Handbook 2010 delivers. I highly recommend this book – and, not just for Yankees fans, – but for any baseball fan. If you like stats, this book covers all the bases (regardless of your favorite team or teams).

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A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was reading Mike Vaccaro’s new book: The First Fall Classic: The Red Sox, the Giants and the Cast of Players, Pugs and Politicos Who Re-Invented the World Series in 1912.

And, I can now share that this one is more than just a book…it’s a time machine.

Over the years, I’ve read my share of “historical” baseball books. And, many times, these types of works – especially ones that go back 70 to 100 years ago – can come across as dry and a labor to read. But, this is not the case with Vaccaro’s “The First Fall Classic.”

Reading “The First Fall Classic” is a joyride back to 1912 as it enables you to feel what it was like to be there during that time when this World Series was played. And, what a World Series that one was! (I’m not going to spoil it here by giving you all that went down in the 1912 World Series. Besides, this book does a better job at providing the details than I can do in this space.)

I highly recommend The First Fall Classic: The Red Sox, the Giants and the Cast of Players, Pugs and Politicos Who Re-Invented the World Series in 1912. And, I cannot think of a better time for you to read it – given that we’re in the middle of a World Series now. It’s very fun to use Vaccaro’s work and compare how much the World Series – and the world! – are different, and yet the same in some ways, today as compared to 1912.

Really good stuff here in this one from Mike Vaccaro.

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Ted Berg of SNY.tv has started a blog – TedQuarters.

Not only does Ted know a lot about sports, but, he’s a very clever and funny guy. I suspect that his blog will become daily “must read” stuff very quickly. If I had to stick a label on this one, I’d call it “The Young Keith Olbermann Chronicles.” Really, Ted’s that talented – and has a huge sports/entertainment career ahead of him. Check it out.

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I have to confess that, when I first glanced at a copy of Lew Paper’s “Perfect: Don Larsen’s Miraculous World Series Game and the Men Who Made It Happen,” my first reaction was “I’m not sure if I’m going to like this…after all…what haven’t we heard about this game already?” But, I decided to read the book, nonetheless. And, now, I can share that I was very happy to make that call to give it a try.

“Perfect” is a wonderful book. It’s more than just a recap of Larsen’s perfecto – it’s the life stories of 19 New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers players who took part in that contest. And, Lew Paper did an excellent job at telling these stories – they are well-sourced, informative, and entertaining.

Whether you’re someone who remembers that era of baseball or one of the two generations of baseball fans who have come along since, you will enjoy this book. It’s a great read for any baseball fan and a must read for the “New York” baseball fan.

If Don Larsen’s World Series perfect game were a box of Cracker Jack, then the players who appeared in it would be the molasses-covered popcorn treats inside and Lew Paper’s new book is now the special prize that comes along with it. I highly recommend Lew Paper’s “Perfect: Don Larsen’s Miraculous World Series Game and the Men Who Made It Happen.”

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There’s a brand new Yankees blog on the scene: Yankeeist

If you stop by, tell them that WasWatching.com sent ya!

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Back in February 2008, I mentioned the buzz that was bubbling up around the film “Sugar.” Unfortunately, I never had a chance to see it in the theaters. But, in July of this year, I found out that it was coming to DVD on September 1st. At that time, I promised a review on “Sugar” once I saw it. And, now that I’ve seen a review copy of the DVD, I can share that review.

First, I’ll cut to the chase and say that “Sugar” is a film that every baseball fan over the age of 16 should view – and I only provide that age cut-off due to some of the storyline not being completely suitable for young children. That said, the film was rated PG-13, and, if you’re comfortable with your young teenager watching a movie containing some mature language and mild sexual themes, then you can lower that age bar from 16 to 13 here.

Why should baseball fans watch “Sugar“? Well, it tells the story of how baseball propsects from Latin America – and, specifically, in the case of this story, the Dominican Republic – have to deal with the “systems” in their hometown as well as having to deal with the cultural and language issues, racism, and isolation/home-sickness once they make it to America to play professional baseball. “Sugar” also does a through job painting the picture of life as a minor league baseball player, in general.

Now, erudite baseball fans may think, here, “I already know all that stuff – so, what’s this flick going to tell me that I don’t already know?” And, my answer to that is simple: Thanks to the outstanding acting in “Sugar,” we get to witness and absorb some emotion around that “story” which some already know…and, thanks to warmth derived from watching “Sugar,” it enables those familar with this type of story to acquire additional perception via the stimulation of viewing this film.

Actually, that’s a good lead into my second point on this matter – while I feel that “Sugar” is a film that every baseball fan over the age of 16 should view, I can also share that this is a film that any adult should give consideration towards watching…because it’s a story told beautifully, and with compassion, that many will find satisfying.

I was very pleased to be able to watch “Sugar” on DVD – and I highly recommend checking this one out.

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