Is sabermetrics really that much of an improvement?

"Oddballs"

The new normal in baseball literature is to publish something — anything — that pushes baseball analytics as the only logical way to assemble a team. Michael Lewis’ Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game may may have been the first “official” book to address the concept, but there have been several since its […]

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When newspapers were an actual thing

"Oddballs"

In addition to the regular reasons — the signaling of the start of summer, the lazy evenings, the smell of the grass, etc. — I love the beginning of the baseball season because of the previews in the newspapers. These have often come in the form of supplements of substantial length and breadth and tailored, […]

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The collectibles of the Times

"Oddballs"

The last page of today’s New York Times‘ art section features several wonderful baseball collectibles. The least expensive is a paperweight commemorating Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit for $19.95 plus shipping. The most expensive: a Pride of the Yankees original movie poster for $4,950. Other items include Jackie Robinson Story original movie poster ($1,950) Vintage baseball […]

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Leading with The Arm

2016 title

Tom Hoffarth begins his 30-baseball-books-in-30-days series with Jeff Passan’s The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports.

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See here: Skirball hosts “The Unauthorized History of Baseball in 100-Odd Paintings: The Art of Ben Sakoguchi”

2016 title

I wouldn’t mind having some of these on my bookshelf. The “odd” could have a double meaning: yeah, there are 100-something items on display (the exhibit actually features more than 150 paintings). And yeah, some of them are pretty odd. The LA-based Skirball Cultural Center will offer this exhibition by Southern California–based artist Ben Sakoguchi, […]

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Baseball Best Sellers, April 1, 2016

2015 title

NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]

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My kind of “30 for 30”

"Annuals"

April means more than the beginning of the new season. It’s also time for another year of Tom Hoffarth’s entertaining and educational series in which he examines 30 (and often more) books in 30 days. Hard to believe, but the LA Daily News‘ media columnist has been doing these since 2008. He explains why in […]

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Author appearance: Erik Sherman

2016 title

Erik Sherman, author of Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball with ’86 Mets, will be the featured guest at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. Just had a flashback: When I was a very wee lad, my dad used to drive a delivery truck and would take me […]

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Baseball in Jeopardy once again

"Oddballs"

Don’t know how I missed this one. Must have been making dinner.

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Now hear this: Fastball (baseball in podcasts)

2016 title

Been a bit remiss in my own Bookshelf Conversations lately. But always happy to pass along what I’ve come across. Jonathan Hock’s new documentary Fastball recently hit the screens. I had the opportunity to watch a screener. Fascinating stuff. There’s a “Zelig moment” with Justin Verlander “visiting” Bob Feller during his famous “motorcycle showdown.” That […]

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The annual Baseball Preview review

"Annuals"

ESPN the Magazine (Cover price: $5.99) Maybe it’s an age thing, I found ESPN’s attempt to replicate old English (or whatever the hell they were trying to accomplish), pretty difficult to read. It would have been enough if they had just used it on the cover, but they compound the error (IMO) repeatedly Once again, […]

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National Pastime Radio: It’s all about the “base”

"Oddballs"

Jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding was the guest for Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me‘s Not My Job segment last week. So the writer thought it would be cute… PETER SAGAL: Second base is baseball, the great American pastime. SPALDING: Oh no. SAGAL: One of the worst baseball players ever was one Smead Jolley. Mr. Jolly was […]

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Baseball in Jeopardy again

"Oddballs"

Last night, an entire category devoted to “Ways to reach first base.” The contestants answered each one correctly, although the $200 clue remained on the board after the first round. $400: 4 wide ones (What is a walk?) $600: Craig Biggio had it happen 285 times; ouch! (What is hit by pitch?) $800: A defensive […]

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Baseball Best Sellers, March 25, 2016

Uncategorized

NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]

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Lest we forget: Joe Garagiola

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

It strikes me that Baseball Is a Funny Game, originally published in 1960, was that generation’s Moneyball. It was reissued several times and was a perennial favorite, so look for it to kick up a notch on the sales charts along with It’s Anybody’s Ballgame and Just Play Ball, published in 1988 and 2007 respectively. […]

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Brought to you as a public service announcement…

Annoucements

“Baseball As Good Medicine: The Amazing, Magical, Healing Qualities of Baseball” describes itself as “a unique variety of storytellers from sportswriters to rheumatologists to artists to umpires – each telling a story related to this theme in 5 minutes or less.” From time to time, they hold an fundraising event by which all proceeds go […]

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The goat ate my homework…

2017 Title

Haven’t been posting much lately but I have a good excuse. No, really, I have a better reason. Just contracted to do a book focusing on Hank Greenberg‘s 1938 season in which he put up a valiant fight to break Babe Ruth‘s single-season home run record of 60. The as-yet untitled project will also take […]

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Baseball Best Sellers, March 18, 2016

2015 title

NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]

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Where has the time gone

Annoucements

Can it really be that Sandy Koufax has been retired for half a century? The National Pastime Museum will discuss it tomorrow (March 18) at 10 a.m. (sorry for the late notice) as one of their “Baseball Banter” programs, featuring Bob Klapisch of the New York Post. Learn more about it here.  

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Happy anniversary and congrats on the “new addition”

2016 title

Between the 30th anniversary of the 1986 World Championship and the afterglow of last year’s appearance in the Fall Classic, Mets fans will have a (Citi) field day as not one, not two, but… more… books about their team hits the shelves. Should have mentioned it earlier so I’ll start off with this: Greg Prince, […]

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