-
Archives
- February 2020
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- July 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- January 2015
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- November 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- April 2006
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- July 1996
- June 1996
- May 1996
- April 1996
- March 1996
- February 1996
- October 1995
-
Meta
Monthly Archives: August 2011
Evaluating Baseball’s Managers by Chris Jaffe: a review
Best to think of this as a reference book. Chris Jaffe examines the evolution of baseball management by examining the careers of major league baseball’s long-term managers. The book discusses all managers who worked for at least a decade, and a handful who worked shorter terms but made contributions to the way baseball is played or managed. He also provides overviews of manager practice for each of the game’s major eras, and occasionally reminds everyone that managing a baseball team involves more than lineups and in-game player changes. It’s an interesting book, and quite readable, except that it’s grounded in modern baseball analysis.
The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1986: a review
There’s some neat stuff in the team essays. The Blue Jays article begins with a discussion of how the information available shapes an analyst’s research, and ultimately his interests. Bill developed his interest in how teams work because he didn’t have the play-by-play data necessary to fully investigate player skills and habits; Craig Wright was similarly handicapped, despite his employer’s (the Rangers) interest in day-to-day baseball issues. Project Scoresheet, Bill knows, will change the face of sabermetrics. (That has indeed happened, though it took Pitch F/X and Retrosheet to make everything available; the real glory years for this sort of analysis seem to be just beginning.)
Posted in Baseball CrankSpace, Bookworm Alley
Tagged baseball abstract, bill james, sabermetrics
1 Comment
Rocket Boy and the Geek Girls: a short review
A short story sampler of Book View Cafe authors. I liked the Katherin Kerr & Maya Kathryn Bohnhoff stories a lot. YMMV.
The Bill James Guide to Baseball Managers: a short review
This is a largely descriptive, extremely chronological examination of the evolution of managerial roles, and of tactical and strategic developments, over the history of professional baseball. Each decade gets a chapter; each chapter consists of an overview, detailed portraits of a handful of historically-important managers, anecdotes about interesting events, and an occasional topical essay.
Sessions with Sinatra by Charles Granata: a review
Interesting, and very readable. Sinatra’s life is discussed only as it impinged on his work, and then only in generalities. If biography’s what you’re looking for, this is not the book to read. On the other hand, his changing relations with the Victor, Columbia, and Capitol recording labels are discussed in some detail. Nonetheless, the book’s mainly about the technicalities of the recording studio, and/or how Frank worked in the studio. If you’re interested in those things, this is a very good introduction.
Posted in Bookworm Alley, Musicks
Leave a comment
The Adventure of the Field Theorems by Vonda McIntyre: a short review
Sherlock Holmes takes on crop circles. McIntyre gets the tone right, but the characters seem just a bit off.
1985 Elias Baseball Analyst: a review
But it’s a shallow book. There’s not much analysis, despite the title. You can sometimes see that real analysis has been done, but the presentation hides the work. The clear attitude is “Take our word for it, we’ve crunched the numbers.” Lots of us aren’t happy with that sort of presentation; but hey, it’s their book, they can do that if they want. But saying we can’t complain about it is a little unreasonable.
In the Plex by Steven Levy: a short review
Good book, but probably a hundred pages too long. If you’ve followed Google’s history over the years, you’ll learn some interesting things but you’ll have to slog through lots of stuff that you already knew. (Not a sin, really; just a fact.)
Posted in Bookworm Alley, Semi-Geekery
Leave a comment
Electric Bill
Wish I’d known that before I authorized the repair. I’m guessing we’ll buy our next camper somewhere else.
Posted in Rant
Leave a comment