I'm looking for some reading recommendations...

by Elvez on Mar 12, 2006 5:06 PM PST

I've been an insane A's fan and fan of baseball in general since 1995 when a buddy of mine looked over and out of the blue said, "Hey, you wanna be A's fans?". I've learned a lot about the game and the specific way the A's play it since then. I've read Moneyball, but I'm looking for something that goes a little deeper into strategy than that book. I'm particularly interested in the pitching/hitting strategy, and how to understand the theories that good hitters and pitchers are focused on when playing. Are there any recommended books that I could pick up to get a good understanding of this aspect of the game? Something like "Baseball for Dummies", but maybe a little more intermediate than that...

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Baseball for Dummies

is written by Joe Morgan.

*WARNING!*
Playing online multiplayer games may change your: Religion, Sexual Orientation, Race and/or Gender for undetermined periods of time.

by Zonis on Mar 12, 2006 5:18 PM PST reply actions

As opposed to 'Dummies For Baseball'

which was written about Joe Morgan.

"Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson's a coach with Detroit and I'm in the Hall of Fame.'" - Dennis Eckersley

by El Payo on Mar 13, 2006 1:07 AM PST up reply actions

Books

The book "Aces" by AN-lurker/journalist/author Mychael Urban is definitely worth a read. It's not exactly what you're asking about, but it does let you see into the minds and lives of Oakland pitchers in 2004. I enjoyed it.

The other books I'd recommend reading, just as a general baseball reading list, are these:

The Physics of Baseball
The Only Ticket Off the Island
Summer of '49
Glory of Their Times

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 12, 2006 5:22 PM PST reply actions

Nice list.

I would add the "Bill James Historical Abstract," which is light on statistics but heavy on the history and characters of baseball.

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Mar 12, 2006 5:32 PM PST up reply actions

of course

good call

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 12, 2006 6:38 PM PST up reply actions

I'll throw in Ted Williams'

The Science of Hitting which shows why the Splinter was so splendid.

"Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson's a coach with Detroit and I'm in the Hall of Fame.'" - Dennis Eckersley

by El Payo on Mar 13, 2006 1:02 AM PST up reply actions

Two more for the general reading list...

Both hilarious:

Veeck -- As in Wreck by Bill Veeck

Slouching Toward Fargo: A Two-Year Saga Of Sinners And St. Paul Saints At The Bottom Of The Bush Leagues With Bill Murray, Darryl Strawberry, Dakota Sadie And Me by Neal Karlen

"Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson's a coach with Detroit and I'm in the Hall of Fame.'" - Dennis Eckersley

by El Payo on Mar 13, 2006 1:16 AM PST up reply actions

Check out a previous diary on this

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2006/1/7/141211/6106

I would strongly recommend Keith Hernandez' "Pure Baseball" for his insight into the pitcher vs hitter dynamic.

by green star oakland on Mar 12, 2006 5:46 PM PST reply actions

o, my bad

that's the book I recommend but I couldn't remember the title

twinkle twinkle, blah blah blah, etc...---D Boon

by davestewart on Mar 19, 2006 9:36 AM PST up reply actions

"Hey, you wanna be A's fans?"

That's so random. I love it... :-D (of course, my own "baseball birth" in 1998 was along the lines of "Well, I have to learn about baseball now because the kid's playing. The Giants seem to win too much. I pick the A's.")

My sister just gave me a copy of Roger Angell's Once More Around the Park. Has anyone else read this, have any comments pro or con? I don't think I saw it covered in the other recent "baseball reading" diary...

I need a signature.

by Poppy on Mar 13, 2006 9:30 AM PST reply actions

Baseaball "Literature"

Baseball has inspired excellent fiction. 3 of my favorites:

The Natural, Bernard Malamud
The Celebrant, Eric Rolfe Greenberg
The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry

Waugh, Proprietor, Robert Coover

by NoeValley on Mar 14, 2006 8:39 AM PST reply actions

the best baseball books I've read

are Summer of 49 by Hallberstam, Number 1 by Billy Martin, My Jail without Bars by Pete Rose, and my personal fave, that really explains the game, is by former NY Met Keith Hernandez, tho' I can't remember the name right now.

twinkle twinkle, blah blah blah, etc...---D Boon

by davestewart on Mar 19, 2006 9:35 AM PST reply actions