I just picked up the Bill James 09 handbook earlier today. It's pretty interesting to look through. I'm not saying I live or die by it, but it's intriguing to look at his perspective. For instance:
According to his +/- scale Robinson Cano had a score of -16 at 2nd base last year. This scale is strictly defensive, so his putrid offensive year had no effect on the score. That -16 earned Robby a dead last ranking out of all MLB 2nd Basemen in 08.
Mark Teixeira earned a score of +24, ranking him first, four points ahead of Albert Pujols.
Derek Jeter's score of -12 proved all of the experts wrong, it was NOT the worst in the majors. Five other shortstops had the privilege of scoring worse that DJ (although he dead ranked dead last when combing the three year numbers from 06-08).
The book is full of all kinds of interesting stats and analysis, again I wouldn't swear by it, or say it is the be all, end all of baseball knowledge, but it's fun to look through and I plan on placing directly next to my toilet (where I do most of my heavy reading).
In other literature news I recently picked up a copy of Buster Olney's The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty. I know I'm a bit behind as this book came out several years ago, but this copy has an extended version discussing the 2004-2007 seasons, focusing a lot on Alex Rodriguez. It really gives you the feeling of being right in the Yankee clubhouse. It details the Torre, Martinez, O'Neill dynasty of 1996-2001, interweaving anecdotes of player relationships, details of working for the Big Stein, and the makeup of those Yankees that I grew to know and love. It is filled with such detail that I almost feel David Wells hangover, Paul O'Neill's obsession with success, or Roger Clemens unmatched intensity (hopefully I don't get the same side effects from the HGH, I can't afford to have my boys shrink). Overall a great read.
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