Title/Author:
“The Grind: Inside
Baseball’s Endless Season” by Barry Svrluga
Tags:
Baseball, Nationals
Publish date:
July 7, 2015
Length:
192 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Many kids dream of
becoming a big league ballplayer. It
must be the luxurious life – after all, a player makes a minimum of about half
a million dollars while flying all over the country to play a game. Their wives
must live in the lap of luxury with all that money, correct? Or how about the general manager who signs
these players? He’s got it made too,
right?
If someone’s answer to
any of the questions is yes, that person is a prime candidate to read this
entertaining and well-written book by Barry Svrluga. He writes about the day-to-day lives of not
only the players, but also the perspective of a wife (Chelsey Desmond, wife of
Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond), a scout, the clubhouse manager of
the Nationals, the traveling secretary, and of course players.
The stories are terrific
reading as the reader will soon find out that even though the players are paid
handsomely, they will have the same routines and same concerns about fatigue
and loneliness that anyone else who travels will have. The wives, much like
military spouses, have to keep everything on the home front organized and when
a move happens due to a trade, promotion or demotion, the wives are the ones
who usually do all the work for moving. Their
perspective is covered in great detail in that section.
The less glamorous jobs
such as scout or clubhouse attendant makes for the best reading and the most
insight for a baseball fan. Svrulga
captures the life of the scout on the road, down to the minutest detail of what
that scout has to pack in his car. The
stories of the clubhouse manager and his staff members are the most
entertaining, and the reader will be amazed at how well they know the players’
likes and dislikes as the season wears on.
Capturing the true
day-to-day routines and aspects of a 162 game season like only a seasoned
writer can, Svrulga will make the reader feel like he or she is part of the
Nationals’ family in many different ways.
This is an excellent read for any baseball fan.
I wish to thank
NetGalley and Blue Rider Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for
an honest review.
Pace of the book:
It is a fast read as
each story contains a lot of personal anecdotes by the person interviewed with
interesting aspects toward his or her views on the daily routines of the
season.
Do I recommend?
Anyone who wants to
learn what life is like in the baseball world, especially for those involved
other than the players, should pick up this book.
Book Format Read:
E-book
Buying links:
(Note: These links are for pre-ordering at the time of the
review)
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