* Reviews (and then some): Cooperstown Confidential

June 23, 2009

From the MLB portion of Fanhouse.com, this piece on Zev Chafets‘ new and controversial book on the Hall of Fame.

And another from The Hardball Times.

Upshot:

Chafets doesn’t portray himself as a baseball expert, a la Bill James. He clearly is a fan of the game—and a passionate one—make no mistake about it, but his focus is different. This isn’t a book about if the Hall inducted the right players. (The one time Chafets delves heavily into those waters provides the weakest part of the book.) Instead, it’s more about how other items unrelated to on-field merits impact selection.

***

The book does have one annoying feature: I think Chafets gets a little carried away with his caustic attitude. Any time an issue is brought up, he shows how it creates a tension between the Hall’s official standards and stature and reality. By and large this works well, but seems reflexive.

***

It’s a book worth reading if you’re interested in Cooperstown’s contemporary controversies, but not if you’re looking for analysis on who belongs in/out based on his playing ability.

There’s cheating and then there’s cheating. Or is there? Is it like being “a little bit pregnant?” Some hate Chafets for letting some light in on the subject, wanting to believe their game is pure. But players have been taking cortisone shots — which contains a steroid, albeit not anabolic — for decades without public outrage. Then there are the other “performance enhanceers” such as amphetamines.  Hell, even caffeine can be considered a substance that can give a boost. Should that be banned, too?

On the other hand, I would hope Chafets isn’t just being an iconoclast for the publicity it has and will garner him.

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