THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

I can absolutely recommend #1.  Peter is a researcher non pareil, and a good writer to boot.  It’s the first of two volumes, so if you have the interest to get through the whole thing (the second volume has been released recently, I believe) you’ll get LOTS of “stories behind the innovations.”

Howcum “The Book” isn’t on the list?

I recommend “Fantasyland” by Sam Walker to anyone.  It came out last year, and normally I try to wait for paperback (I have such an extensive baseball library that weight is an issue).  But I picked up a hardback copy in the bookstore the other day, and could not put it down.

Phil: I don’t even see it as a reference book in the sabermetric category, forget about any top or bottom lists.  My guess is that its self-published status let it slip through the cracks of whatever auto-generation program picked up the books.

Friend-of-site Dan Fox offers us his buying list for 2006:

http://danagonistes.blogspot.com/2006/12/making-list.html

He put in some very kind words for THE BOOK, so much thanks to Dan.  The Echoing Green is the only one out that I haven’t read.

I like looking at the Amazon reviews.  Playing With The Enemy has received 20 customer reviews, each 5 star, and each “legitimate”, in that the review was noted as “helpful” by lurkers.  It’s a consensus pick on the order of Ichiro or Adam Everett.

On the other hand is Echoing Green which received great praise from Dan Fox and Greg Spira, and has 19 Amazon reviews, and while it has a 4-star review, not all reviews were so glowing.

It’s strange to see a national bestseller number of reviews be equal in number to a small publisher.  Either everyone from Sesser reviewed the book, like USSMariner fans inundadated the Fans’ Scouting Report, or, it struck a real chord among them.  USSM fans however were brutally honest.  Time to check into this book too.  Thankfully, the holidays are upon us.

I did really enjoy the book but I could see where some might not appreciate the style Prager employed. For me, the level of detail was what was most interesting.

Moore, the author of Playing With The Enemy, and with whom I’ve had zero contact, actually wrote to me, to thank me for talking about his book.  Now, I really need to start buying books for 2007, especially his.

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Here’s another Hardball Times review for those of you on the fence:
http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/01/04/ten-things-ive-learned-from-the-hardball-times-2007-annual/

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Between The Numbers will be released as a paperback, for the very low price of $10.20 at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465005470/baseballprospect/ref=nosim/

(Using the link means an extra 5% or something goes directly to BP.)

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There’s something for everyone.

I haven’t read either of these, but some of you may be interested:

Derek Zumsteg:
http://ussmariner.com/2007/01/08/advance-praise-for-cheaters-guide-to-baseball/

JC from Sabernomics:
http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2006/12/links-to-pre-order-the-baseball-economist/

Hi, Forgive the intrusion. I work for the publisher of Moore’s “Playing with the Enemy.” The reviews on Amazon are real (34 I think now), and we get calls and emails every day from around the country about how the book has made grown men grab a hanky. We are a small independent publisher, and so we appreciate the interest some of you have shown. You might find this of interest: http://www.playingwiththeenemy.com/mouse.htm. As you will see, the people of Sesser, IL are indeed PASSIONATE about their baseball!

Have a great 2007.

Sarah Keeney

Hidden Game Of Baseball for $22.  Probably one copy only.  I’ll be disappointed if it hasn’t been bought today.

Hidden Game above was bought (someone from here?).  And, here’s another one, this time for $28.50.  Have at it.

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Studes reviews the Moore book:
http://www.baseballgraphs.com/main/index.php/site/article/playing_with_the_enemy/

Yes, I was the one who bought the one the other day.  Thanks for posting that.

Now Gary Moore is having a dialogue with our own studes:
http://www.baseballgraphs.com/main/index.php/site/article/gary_moore_responds/

I don’t know of many authors who are considerate enough to take the time to email their readers and potential readers, but he seems to be a true gentleman.