Customer Reviews

Graphical Player 2010

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Lots of charts and graphs for the discriminating fantasy player to make a call on who to draft, who to ignore, who to keep, and who to drop. John Burnson provides lots of numbers here, and the charts allow you to spot the trends in the numbers. Even better is the network of bloggers Burnson has put together, so that the blurbs on each player are written by the people who see these players day in and day out during the season, not just people who look over a stat sheet.

All the numbers you need plus eyewitness info. What more does the would-be fantasy league winner need?

For those not aware, the Graphical Player annual has been issued since 2004. (Actually, until 2007, it was called "Graphical Pitcher" - as it covered pitchers at first and then was expanded to cover batters as well.) John Burnson - of BaseballHQ.com and Heater Magazine fame - is the moving force behind this book.

"Graphical Player 2010" has an incredible amount of data, presented in a somewhat unique style along with commentary on more than 1,000 current baseball players provided by bloggers who cover their teams - and edited by Burnson with some help from Rob McQuown and Michael Street.

Now, it's been years since I was a serious fantasy baseball enthusiast. In fact, I pretty much dropped the game after the 2000 season. But, had Graphical Player been around back then, it would have been a "must-have" for me at that time - and I would recommend that "Graphical Player 2010" is a must-have for the serious fantasy baseball franchise owner today.

O.K., that said, even if you're not a roto-head, many will still derive a lot of use out of "Graphical Player 2010." Why? Well, if you're a baseball fan, and someone who's into sabermetrics, you will find "Graphical Player 2010" to be both pleasing and intellectually stimulating. It's just full of fun stats like xFIP, wOBA, and Wins Above Replacement - as well as stats that cover a player's component skills, how luck may have impacted his stats, and, for pitchers, the strength of the teams he faced.

This book is great fun. Again, the "Graphical Player 2010" is a must-have for the diligent fantasy baseball competitor and a treasure trove of sabermetric data for the thinking baseball fan - and highly recommend here.

The booked has changed into a must have for anyone with fantasy or real baseball interest. Covers all the stats, the new & the old and with the prospect listed it gives you the future as well. Not just a winter time read, you can keep it around until the next one comes out. Baseball Forcaster beware, there's a new sheriff in town.