Customer Reviews

Bill James Presents...: Stats Major League Handbook 1998 (Annual)

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

 

 

I've been reading Bill James for almost ten years now, and the Baseball Handbook just keeps getting better. Whether you're in a fantasy, rotisserie, or simulation league, this book is the basic set of data and analysis you need. I'd buy it for the career player stats and the left/right breakdowns alone.

Don't draft without it!

I've purchased this book each of the past six years, and I anticipate purchasing it the next six as well. It has all the basic stats for anyone in the major leagues that year and the projections for 2000 and probably the most accurate available.

I enjoy the leaderboards and also the park effects and defensive stats.

My only problems with the book are how it meshes with the Minor League Handbook (green book). For rookies or part-time major leaugers it does not include minor league career totals despite showing all of the player's minor league stats. These numbers would be far more interesting than the career totals they show with just minor leaguers. I also wish they would include Zone Rating in the defensive stats, but Mr. James refuses to allow it in a book with his name, so you are forced to purchase the Player Profiles (blue book) as well if you want those numbers.

All in all, it is the earliest and best yearly stats annual available, but I would like to see some small improvements made.

Lists career major league stats for every one who appeared in a game in 2001. There are also break downs for lefty/righty, pitchers hitting, managers tendancies, projections, and leader boards in many obscure categories. You can refer to it through out the year. I haven't missed one yet and don't intend to. No commentary, just pure stats.

If you're a stats freak, this is the book for you. Bill James is the MAN!

I have read this book every day for 3 weeks and I find something new everyday.

BUY IT!

This book has it all. Pitcher breadowns vs. lhb & rhb. Batter brekdowns vs. lhp & rhp. Defense is broke down by position. Each ballpark even has stats on how certain type of players did. Plus, every player who played in 1998 is listed in the book along with his age,year and career stats, and some with minor league stats. This book is a must for all real stat minded baseball fans.