I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t put something like this
together in the past, but there’s definitely more time on all our hands as the
world responds to a global pandemic. Baseball allows us to consume the sport in
so many different avenues, and while I appreciate your readership both here and
on Twitter @tlschwerz, there’s been more than a few great books on the game
that have come out in recent years.
With the analytical age being almost entirely focused on the
consumption of information, we are now being provided content that can act as an
avenue for knowledge advancement. Still rooted within the confines of the
sport, there are literature works of art that challenge the way we think and
push the boundaries for what is to come.
These authors are well known within the baseball world, and
some of them have worked directly on the biggest stages of the sport. In no
particular order, here’s a list of some recommendations I would have:
The Arm – Jeff Passan
With the emergence of Tommy John regularity over the course
of the past few seasons there has been no better depiction of what has taken
place and why. Passan dives into doctoral recommendations and advice, while
cataloging just how we got here.
Smart Baseball – Keith Law
Start with why bunting may be a dying art and add in how to
squeeze the most out of the only finite parameter in the sport, your 27 outs.
Law provides knew ways to think about execution and outlines solid arguments as
to why they make sense.
The Only Rule Is It Has To Work – Ben Lindbergh & Sam
Miller
What happens when you allow to analytically driven minds to
completely architect and steer a professional team? This book has your answer.
Two Baseball Prospectus minds are given the keys to do as they please and this
blends real personalities with calculated decisions.
The MVP Machine – Ben Lindberg & Travis Sawchik
Much like Lindbergh’s previous entry on this list, The MVP
Machine is a must for number crunching fans. While the book does highlight both
the Astros and Red Sox World Series runs, the message is clear. It isn’t about finding
the diamond in the rough as much as it is creating that player. Because of
data, organizations now can do just that.
The Inside Game- Keith Law
Following a similar thread as the one explored in Smart
Baseball, Law is out to find the why behind the what. Baseball produces
decisions at a blistering pace, and some of them are more well received than
others. Understanding why a choice was the correct one, why it wasn’t, and what
drives it all is a fascinating case study that can reveal plenty about
ourselves.
Swing Kings – Jared Diamond
After analytics paved the way as a new buzz word, it stepped
back for launch angle to take over. As more balls than ever leave the yard Swing
Kings is there to analyze the trend and what players are saying in regards to
staying power. This isn’t as much of a wheel reinvention as it’s billed, and
the positive results suggest there’s plenty of reason to buy in.
If you’re looking for more of a biography or story based
read, here are some of my favorites in that category:
Papi – David Ortiz
The Phenomenon – Rick Ankiel
Juiced – Jose Canseco
What are some of your favorites?
