The Rotation: A Season with the Phillies and the Greatest Pitching Staff Ever Assembled [Paperback]

Jim Salisbury (Author), Todd Zolecki (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

Not since 1957 has one major league team's pitching staff boasted three pitchers (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Roy Oswalt) in the Top Ten in career winning-percentage. Plus, the Philadelphia Phillies' 2011 rotation also happens to include Cole Hamels—the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP—and an alternating fifth starter.

This awe-inducing rotation has been the talk of baseball since coming together in December 2010. They were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2011 baseball- preview edition, interviewed on the MLB Network on opening day of spring training, covered in the New York Times Magazine, and mentioned in numerous newspapers and magazines nationwide.

Authored by two of the most knowledgable and connected Phillies beat writers, The Rotation is a remarkably detailed day-in-the-life story of one complete season with a Major League Baseball starting-pitching staff. The authors offer deep daily access to the Phillies players, coaches, and front-office staff, as well as the players and staff of other major league teams and the national baseball media.

With firsthand reporting and extensive interviews, plus two full-color photo inserts, this is a fascinating and detailed look into the day-to-day operation of what is arguably the greatest pitching rotation ever assembled. It is a must-read for Phillies fans and general baseball fans alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

J.B. Library Journal
"…a breath of fresh air for Philadelphia fans and beyond."

The Times of Trenton
“Authors Jim Salisbury and Todd Zolecki have written a can’t-put-down story of the 2011 Phillies filled with insight, inside knowledge of the club’s history and overall knowledge of the game that even non-Phillies fans will enjoy reading.

“The Rotation” is a crisp, in-depth look at how a team, particularly its pitching staff, prepares for a season and handles its triumphs and adversities, and is a must-read for all serious baseball fans."

 

The Trentonian
“… most likely had been written with a much different ending in mind, but it manages to somehow make you forget about the ending and enjoy the historic pitching milestones of the regular season…. The real highlights of the book come in the behind the scenes accounts of how Lee came to the team (both times) and their long pursuit of Roy Halladay. …This section is worth the price of the book alone…. The blow-by-blow account of the unexpected deal that brought Cliff Lee back to Philadelphia is captivating and a must read for any Phillies fan.”

 

Baseball America
“The book, penned by a pair of long-time Phillies' beat writers, does an excellent job of explaining how each of the Phillies Fab Five reached the big leagues. It also does a great job of taking the reader into the front office to detail contract negotiations, trades and the other moves that were needed to bring the rotation together. All of this makes for an excellent read. It's the kind of detail, scouting stories and back-room negotiations that diehard baseball fans like Baseball America readers, love.”

About the Author

Jim Salisbury is the Phillies' beat reporter for CSNPhilly.com and appears regularly on Comcast SportsNet-TV in Philadelphia. Previously, he had covered the Phillies for more than 13 years for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Todd Zolecki covers the Phillies for MLB.com. Previously, he served as the Phillies beat reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer for nine years. The National Sportswriters Association named him Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year in 2008. He lives in Philadelphia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Running Press; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762444002
• ISBN-13: 978-0762444007
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #650,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Todd Zolecki is the Phillies beat writer for MLB.com. Born in Milwaukee, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota. He joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in Oct. 1999, and became The Inquirer's Phillies beat writer in April 2003. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association & Hall of Fame named him Pennsylvania's Sportswriter of the Year in 2008. The Associated Press Sports Editors recognized him in 2003 (in the game story category) and 2008 (in a collaborative effort for The Inquirer's World Series preview.) Zolecki, who joined MLB.com in Feb. 2009, lives in Philadelphia.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, and not just for Phillies fans April 18, 2012

By Craig VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical upon beginning this book, expecting another team-focused book that would be all sunshine and positives without providing any depth. Fortunately that was not the case, and instead the authors have provided an insightful look into the assembling of that staff while providing great insight into the pitchers themselves.

The structure of the book works well. The authors provide chapters on each of the big four (Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt) as well as a chapter on the possible fifth guys (Blanton, Worley) before reviewing the season chronologically in a month-per-chapter format. The chapters on the individual pitchers are, to me, the best part of the book because we get to learn about their motivation for coming to the Phillies, their work habits, and some of their personalities. It's clear that the authors admire the work habits of a pitcher like Halladay, but I appreciated that they didn't leave out issues like Hamels' bar fight during his early years, or the tough negotiations and temporary hard feelings between Lee and the ballclub. Including things that some might construe as negative just gives the book more credibility.

We all know how the season ended for the Phils, but that doesn't make the review of the season any less enjoyable. It's a credit to the authors that they can make a season review interesting, again by including details that go well beyond the boxscores. There's no shortage of books focusing on one team or one particular season, but among that group this one is a standout. I'm a Jays fan, and I couldn't put this book down. I would recommend this to any fan of the modern game, Phillies fan or not.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read April 10, 2012

By Patrick Carney

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Zo and Jim do a great job telling the behind-the-scenes stories most fans don't know. This was a great read for any Phillies fan.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rotattion March 14, 2012

By Leah M

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a must read for Phillies fans. A good review of the 2011 season and many funny bits about the players and Charlie. Loved it!