Bookshelf review: Lindy’s Sports Baseball 2011 Preview

February 24, 2011

I originally had not planned to buy this one, but on my next appearance on the What’s on Second Internet radio program (shameless self-promotion), I’ll be discussing the annual publications, so that’s how I justified the purchase.

Actually, it’s better than I first thought. Although it’s light on features, the team profiles more than make up for any shortcoming.

Features

The section leads off, fittingly enough,  with “Leading Off,” a few seemingly random observations about the past season. There’s also a set of “5 Best” lists for pitching and hitting coaches; ball-strike umpires (worst, too); “gotta-see” young players; strongest and fastest players (what are they, superheroes?); and “platinum glovers.”

Another article examines the problems with the amateur draft system and how to fix them. There’s also a profile on SF Giants star rookie Buster Posey.

Team analysis

The five-page profiles (presented alphabetically by league) are preceded by a “fearless forecast” of finishes and individual award winners.

Each profile includes:

  • a brutally honest “scouts snapshot” (“I think [the Mets are] going to be dead last.”)
  • a brief but detailed analysis of starting and relief pitching; catchers, infielder; outfielders; designated hitters; and organizations (along with the direction in which they’re heading). Capsule (p)reviews talk about key players’ strengths and weaknesses and include a couple of different grading systems
  • arrivals and departures
  • a brief “Fantasy Spin” for three players. This is the only editorial mention of FB in the publication
  • a projected rotation and batting order, almost guaranteed to change by opening day (just look at what happened to the Cardinals)
  • the three top prospects
  • the 40-man roster
  • a grid schedule
  • 2010 statistical leaders

The rest

Lindy’s offers a list of the top 50 MLB prospects, prepared by Will Lingo, although it does no identify him as editor in chief of Baseball America. I find it somewhat puzzling that this list differs from the one he published in the Baseball American Prospect Handbook 2011. I wonder if that’s like doing a song cover: as long as you change one word, you don’t have any legal problems.

Allan Simpson contributes a list/analysis of the top 20 college and top 10 high school draft prospects.

The magazine winds down with the standard list of team and individual statistics.

Consensus

If you want a down-and-dirty frill-free publication to learn about the individual players, Lindy’s is certainly worth the newsstand price of $7.99.

Previous baseball annual reviews:

USA Today 2011 Complete MLB Preview

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