Customer Reviews

The 1998 Big Bad Baseball Annual: The Book Baseball Deserves

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked up this book with high hopes. The promise of a Bill James-like book kept me alive throughout the winter. Alas, the BBBA failed to deliver. Although it has some interesting features (I particularly liked the QMAX), much of the other statistical discussions were dull. Lots of pretty charts and graphs to look at, but dull, dull, dull.

The authors tried to be witty and irreverant like James was, but most of the time came across as just being mean.

And, to top it all off, there are many typographical and grammatical errors scattered throughout the book. My favorite was the pitcher with the "soar" arm.

Spend your money somewhere else.

Interesting read. Lots of writers give you a lot of different perspectives. Some of the statistics are interesting. The graphic design is a nice counterpoint to the content. The layout breaks up the numbers well.

As a contributor to the Big Bad Baseball Annual, I can assure you that this book will make you look at baseball in a different way. In the team essays, you will find out things about your favorite team you hadn't known before, and the statistical breakouts will give you greater insight into the season that was and also what may happen in 1998. Anybody who was a fan of Bill James' Baseball Abstracts will enjoy this book.