9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A huge step backwards, January 1, 2010
This review is from: Graphical Player 2010 (Paperback)
The Graphical Player has had a very prominent place in my predraft preparations for the past few years, and I eagerly awaited this year's version. Unfortunately, this year's book is nothing like the prior versions, and that's a shame. The graphs are gone, replaced by rows and rows of numbers. If I wanted numbers I'd use the Baseball Forecaster or other similar books. Bring back the star charts, GOG3/4, etc! Those are the things that made this book unique and useful. This year's book is just like all the other roto annuals out there, and as such is pretty much useless.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Accelerating Downhill, February 3, 2010
This review is from: Graphical Player 2010 (Paperback)
This annual's descent began when it changed from the Graphical Pitcher to the Graphical Player a few years ago. What had once been an innovative and deeply informative book has slowly spiraled down to mediocrity. As other reviewers have noted, the unique features that made this book so valuable are gone.
If you want sabermetric analysis and projections, check out Shandler's Forecaster. If you want sharp analyses of each MLB organization look at the Baseball Prospectus.
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12 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Where are the graphs?, December 11, 2009
This review is from: Graphical Player 2010 (Paperback)
I find it amusing that the product description for this item states: "John Burnson's Graphical Player 2010 is a different way to view baseball players. Instead of grey columns of numbers, this book shows player stats in the most natural way - visually!" The writer of that blurb must have been referring to a different edition because GP 2010 is exactly what it claims not to be, page after page filled with grey columns of numbers. That's not to say that there isn't useful information here; there is, but it's pedestrian information that is widely available elsewhere.
The heart of the book is missing. Gone are such innovative and useful stats/graphs as SIM ERA, Career Fortunes, Expected Strand Rate, GOG 3 and GOG 4, the Star Map, Sx and Px, Age Among Peers, etc. In their place we are treated to...grey columns of numbers. Gone too is the playfulness and humor that made the old "Graphical Player" delightfully contrarian and a pleasure to read. Oh sure, they've expanded the space given to player commentary, but as usual, more is less. The prose is not as sharp or funny as it once was and tends to be simple restatement of statistical trends.
It's obvious that Burnson and his crew now see their publication as a competitor rather than a complement to baseball annuals such as "Bill James' Handbook" and "Ron Shandler's Baseball Forecaster." That's a shame. In straying from the spirit of the old "Graphical Player," Burnson's book is not only less fun and interesting, it is far less useful. The world doesn't need another book of fantasy baseball projections and valuations. Perhaps Burnson should change the title to "Another Baseball Book Filled with Grey Columns of Numbers."
Edit: I can see my review has generated strong feelings, with several negative votes to its credit. Perhaps, those of you who disagree with me could enlighten me as to why in the comments.
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