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Product Description
Product Description
Whether you’re a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or teaching game to a beginner, Watching Baseball Smarter leaves no territory uncovered. In this smart and funny fan’s guide Hample explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will surprise even the most informed viewers of our national pastime.
What is the difference between a slider and a curveball?
At which stadium did “The Wave” first make an appearance?
How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills?
Which positions are never played by lefties?
Why do some players urinate on their hands?
Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott’s Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport–no matter what your level of expertise.
Zack Hample is an obsessed fan and a regular writer for minorleaguebaseball.com. He's collected nearly 3,000 baseballs from major league games and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published in 1999.
What is the difference between a slider and a curveball?
At which stadium did “The Wave” first make an appearance?
How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills?
Which positions are never played by lefties?
Why do some players urinate on their hands?
Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott’s Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport–no matter what your level of expertise.
Zack Hample is an obsessed fan and a regular writer for minorleaguebaseball.com. He's collected nearly 3,000 baseballs from major league games and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published in 1999.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Watching Baseball Smarter will appeal to youngsters around 9-12 who are eager to grab as much baseball knowledge as possible by attending and watching games on television. For those young people, scoring, colorful terms, and obscure rules can make the game seem more mysterious than it is. At the same time, learn those elements of active watching and a youngster can develop the basics to enjoy being a lifelong fan.
If someone had given me this book at that age, I would have treasured Watching Baseball Smarter above all over gifts I got that at that time. I would have been most thrilled by the illustrations of how the various pitches are thrown.
Remember that observation when you consider if you know any budding fans who would be thrilled to have this book.
As for the claim that the book is also for semi-experts and deeply serious geeks, I don't think so. I didn't see any material that wasn't well known to me by the time I was 15. And I was hardly a semi-expert or a deeply serious geek. I just enjoyed watching and attending the games.
Don't give this book to a serious baseball fan; you'll embarrass yourself if you do.
Here are few questions to test your ability to enjoy the book:
1. What is the infield fly rule?
2. What is a double switch?
3. What is a catcher's earned run average?
4. What is a safety squeeze?
5. How do you keep score?
If know all five, this book isn't for you. If you know four, you'll get an occasional nugget from the book. If you know three or fewer, this book is a good choice for you.
On this reading, the main pleasure was from remembering when I first learned the material and from an occasional bit of trivia that was new to me. The former pleasure was what kept me reading, and I was disappointed that the book was aimed mostly at an elementary level . . . having found the subtitle to be misleading in terms of the book's relevance for me.
Play ball!
If someone had given me this book at that age, I would have treasured Watching Baseball Smarter above all over gifts I got that at that time. I would have been most thrilled by the illustrations of how the various pitches are thrown.
Remember that observation when you consider if you know any budding fans who would be thrilled to have this book.
As for the claim that the book is also for semi-experts and deeply serious geeks, I don't think so. I didn't see any material that wasn't well known to me by the time I was 15. And I was hardly a semi-expert or a deeply serious geek. I just enjoyed watching and attending the games.
Don't give this book to a serious baseball fan; you'll embarrass yourself if you do.
Here are few questions to test your ability to enjoy the book:
1. What is the infield fly rule?
2. What is a double switch?
3. What is a catcher's earned run average?
4. What is a safety squeeze?
5. How do you keep score?
If know all five, this book isn't for you. If you know four, you'll get an occasional nugget from the book. If you know three or fewer, this book is a good choice for you.
On this reading, the main pleasure was from remembering when I first learned the material and from an occasional bit of trivia that was new to me. The former pleasure was what kept me reading, and I was disappointed that the book was aimed mostly at an elementary level . . . having found the subtitle to be misleading in terms of the book's relevance for me.
Play ball!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I recently got into Baseball and was desperate for a book aimed at people who really know very little about it. I knew the basics, such as the difference between a ground out and a fly out, but wanted to put some substantial meat on the bones. I purchased this book, together with baseball for dummies and beyond batting average. This book was fantastic, the other 2 have their strong points, but for anyone in a similar position to me, they should buy this book now.
It guides you not just through the rules, but also such useful stuff as how the draft works (so different from NFL draft which i am much more familiar with,) what/why players chew and what pine tar is. Having read this book I feel i can sit and watch ESPN America all day long and actually understand what I am watching. At it's most basic level Baseball is a very simple game, it's just been Americanised to make it seem complicated. This book kind of breaks down these barriers by explaining it all in plain English. Very highly recommended.
It guides you not just through the rules, but also such useful stuff as how the draft works (so different from NFL draft which i am much more familiar with,) what/why players chew and what pine tar is. Having read this book I feel i can sit and watch ESPN America all day long and actually understand what I am watching. At it's most basic level Baseball is a very simple game, it's just been Americanised to make it seem complicated. This book kind of breaks down these barriers by explaining it all in plain English. Very highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bought this book as an interested UK based baseball fan to learn some of the quirks of the game. Was mightily impressed. Has all the basics, advances to the more complex and keeps you engaged with interesting tid-bits along the way. A must for any baseball fan!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Watching Baseball Smarter
Zack brings the reader into the world of baseball at whatever pace suits. The book is great for beginners to the game (like me... Read more
Published 3 days ago by BenjScott
Assumes too much knowledge
I really wanted to get into Baseball, I purchased ESPN America solely for that purpose. I love the colour, the glamour and the statistics... Read more
Published 1 month ago by David Murray
Essential reading for an armchair viewer in the UK
As a follower of Baseball in the UK, I found this book an invaluable guide to improving my knowledge and expanding my horizons. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Bojy
Wow...A real home run!
This book really blew me away, AT LAST a fan friendly book, one that actually speaks to you. This has been so far the most valuable purchase on THE best sport in the WORLD! Read more
Published 8 months ago by JJ
A good At Bat!
This is the first book I bought on baseball, and I loved it. It helped me understand all the funny little quirks that baseball has. Read more
Published 9 months ago by D. Ross
Watching baseball..............
I got into baseball a few years ago,but still find myself asking the poor guy (or gal) next to me at Fenway the question - what was that about? Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by R. Murphy
great book
really good for those who don't know anything about baseball but like to watch it on tv
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Mrs. L. Steel
Absolute Beginner
I purchased this book as an absolute beginner, didn't have the first clue about baseball, and hoped it would explain the basic rules. It didn't. Read more
Published on 21 July 2009 by J. M. Levey
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