Review of "The Arm"

Being that it is World Series time, it is only appropriate that a baseball book review appears during the Fall Classic.  This book is considered by many to be one of the best baseball books of 2016, and it is hard to argue against it, as I enjoyed this one a lot.  Here is my review of "The Arm."

Title/Author:

“The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” by Jeff Passan, narrated by Kevin Pierce

Tags:

Baseball, professional, injuries, youth sports, audio book

Publish date:

April 5, 2016

Length:

376 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:
Those who follow the game of baseball have notices that lately the workloads of pitchers have decreased, but the number and severity of injuries suffered by pitchers has increased. Through it all, the amount of money spent on pitchers has increased to more than a billion dollars. This excellent book by Jeff Passan explores the business of pitching through several different lenses. doesn't just seem so, but research by Bill James and others backs that up.

Starting with the question of why there are so many pitching injuries, Passan looks into some reasons. From his research and interviews, the primary reason seems to be velocity. Pitchers these days throw harder than ever before, and velocity does correlate with injury rates. Passan doesn’t just stop with this conclusion – he backs it up with stories about young players getting raves for hitting speeds over 95 miles an hour on the radar gun. This “need for speed” is illustrated by his writing about youth baseball tourneys, traveling teams, and the Japanese baseball culture of big workloads for pitchers, no matter the age.

The popular surgical procedure of repairing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), also known as “Tommy John surgery”, is explained in detail.  The book starts off like a medical record as it describes this operation on Todd Coffey. This is the second time Coffey, a major league relief pitcher, has undergone the surgery.  His rehab and struggles to get back into the major leagues is the main thrust of the book, along with a similar following of another pitcher trying to make it back after the surgery, Daniel Hudson. Their stories, not just in rehab or on the field but also the toll it takes on their families, makes for fascinating reading.

Despite all of these setbacks and questions, major league teams still spend a lot of money on top free agent pitchers.  The wooing of free agent pitcher Jon Lester in the off-season of 2014-15 is chronicled, mainly from Lester’s point of view. The maneuverings of the teams in order to convince Lester to sign a contract with the team is also completing reading and one will shake his or her head to realize the lengths go to acquire top pitching talent.

The book is highly recommended for all baseball fans as it will address many different issues affecting the most important position in the game and how it turned into a billion-dollar industry. Between the outstanding writing and the thorough research, this is one to add to every baseball bookshelf.

Book Format Read:

Audiobook

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Billion-Dollar-Mystery-Valuable-Commodity/dp/0062400363/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477869457&sr=1-1&keywords=the+arm+jeff+passan

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-arm-jeff-passan/1123314873?ean=9780062400369

Review of "You Just Can't Teach That!"

Those who follow this blog regularly will notice that I have not posted in awhile - there is a combination of reasons at work here - one IS work, one is being away at a conference and one is that I have been watching the postseason baseball games.  But since there was a short gap between the end of the league championships and the World Series, it gave me a chance to read a quick book between conference sessions. Finding one that was provided to me by the author a LONG time ago (thank you for your patience, Mr. Taylor), I decided to finally take one of the large pile of books that I meant to read but never did.  Here is my review of "You Can't Teach That!"

Title/Author:

“You Just Can’t Teach That! Or Can You?” by Kenneth D. Taylor

Tags:

Training, running, psychological, injuries

Publish date:

April 5, 2013

Length:

150 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

There are sports clichés that mention speed, such as “You can’t teach speed.” However, this book by Kenneth Taylor (who was a player on the 1985 Chicago Bears, winners of Super Bowl XX) puts that cliché to the test as he provides training tips and other useful information on how an athlete can improve his or her speed.

This is much more than another training book, as Taylor uses kinesiology, psychology and good old sweat to illustrate what speed does for an athlete.  While of course, the training and the emphasis is on running, I think the best passages of the book are when Taylor takes away the negativity of running and makes an athlete actually enjoy it.  Think of a boxer doing his “road work.”  How many of them say they love that part of their training?  After reading this book, they just might!

There is also valuable information on the body and some of the changes that can be made internally with this training to increase one’s speed.  A fascinating chapter is titled “Myelin Skill Training”, that explains how myelin, the insulating layer around nerve cells, helps in developing physical speed when it increases the frequency of impulses in the nerves.  This in turn will help the runner or athlete become even better.  There is a chain of thought to the logic which is explained in that particular chapter.

This is not a book that can be read like a story or biography.  Some of the sections can be very technical and require careful reading to fully comprehend.  Also, there are aspects of self-confidence and one’s individual beliefs that will make the reader stop and think, even if the reader is not an athlete.  However, this is a very good book to add to one’s library if one wants to get better at his or her game by improving one’s speed.

I wish to thank Mr. Taylor for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Format Read

Paperback

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/You-Just-Cant-Teach-That/dp/1482078910/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477440390&sr=1-1&keywords=you+just+can%27t+teach+that

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-just-cant-teach-that-kenneth-d-taylor/1115658116?ean=9781482078916

Review of "Miracle at Fenway"

Since it is that time of year when baseball fans are concentrating on postseason action, it was only appropriate that a book about one of the most memorable postseasons in recent memory was next on my mountain of books to read.  Red Sox fans will especially love this one.  Here is my review of "Miracle at Fenway."

Title/Author:

“Miracle at Fenway: The Inside Story of the Boston Red Sox 2004 Championship Season” by Saul Wisnia

Tags:

Baseball, professional, history, Red Sox

Publish date:

July 15, 2014

Length:

295 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

Even the most casual of baseball fans can recall many of the details of the 2004 postseason. That was the year that the Boston Red Sox accomplished two historical feats – they became the first baseball team to win a seven game series after losing the first three games and they won their first championship in 86 years, breaking the mythical “curse” that had been attached to the franchise.

There were many published writings about that team soon after the last out of the Red Sox World Series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals was completed, but this book by Saul Wisnia, written ten years later, was a different take on the story.  Wisnia, a self-proclaimed Sox fan and writer of other books on the team, provided some information from different sources.  Stories from players such as Dave Roberts, whose stolen base in game 4 of the American League Championship Series is credited by many to be the turning point of that series, makes this a little different than many other writings that get information from star players like David Ortiz.  There are also passages in which ownership, fans and employees of the team share their thoughts on not only the championship season but about their beloved team.

That is important to note because book does not concentrate solely on the 2004 season – it really gets going when the Red Sox new ownership team took over in 2000.  Wisnia writes about the steps taken to revitalize Fenway Park and save it from demolition (something hard to fathom now), the hiring of Theo Epstein as general manger to bring the team into the world of statistical analysis and “Moneyball” scouting, and also of field manager Terry Francona whose leadership proved crucial.  There is a lot of material on the 2003 season as well and the heartbreaking end.  Even though this wasn’t the focus of the book, it was my favorite section to read as I learned a lot more about that season and how important it was in setting up the success of the following campaign.

While Red Sox fans will probably know most of the material written already, it is one that they should add to their library if they have not already done so.   Fans of other teams (with the exception of possibly Yankee fans) will also enjoy this fresh look back at one of the most historical seasons in recent baseball history.

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Griffin Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

Paperback

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/125003163X/ref=x_gr_w_glide_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=125003163X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miracle-at-fenway-saul-wisnia/1118893428;jsessionid=2AAD2C9D5B2D7D1F886EFB013C5B4936.prodny_store02-atgap02?ean=9781250031631&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004

Review of "Fight for Old D.C."

One topic that is always interesting to me for sports books is integration.  Whenever I get a chance to read about a breakthrough to integrate a sport or a team, I always want to learn more about that. So when the University of Nebraska Press offered a review copy of this book on when the Washington Redskins became the last NFL team to hire a black player, I was very interested.  It turned out to be one of the best books I have read on integration in sports.  Here is my review of "Fight for Old D.C."

Title/Author:

“Fight for Old D.C.: George Preston Marshall, the Integration of the Washington Redskins and the Rise of a New NFL” by Andrew O’Toole

Tags:

Football (American), professional, biography, Redskins, race

Publish date:

November 1, 2016

Length:

272 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

The Washington Redskins have had their share of recent controversy on social and racial issues but that is nothing new for the franchise. They were the last team in the National Football League to have an African-American player, mainly due to the hiring practices of their long-time owner George Preston Marshall. Andrew O’Toole penned this excellent book that details Marshall and his beliefs and business actions as well as the struggles of the Redskins team during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. 

While the book is not marketed as a biography, that is the best description as the reader will get an extensive look at the man who brought the Boston Braves to the nation’s capital.  Also, the author is to be given credit for not focusing solely on the discriminatory practices of Marshall.  Marshall was an innovator in professional football with rule changes and was able to get public funding for a brand new state-of-the-art stadium.

However, this did not come without much inquiry into why the Redskins would not let black players suit up in the burgundy and gold. Marshall’s reasons that were made public did sound like poor excuses and rather than pile on the criticism, O’Toole writes about this in a matter-of-fact style that allows the reader to come to his or her own conclusions.  Marshall is not made out to be an evil or despicable man, but is certainly not excused for his behavior by the author.

This book also took a different approach to integration in a professional sport in that instead of focusing on the first black player to sign with the team, Bobby Mitchell, it instead focuses on the owner who won’t sign black players. Many other books on sports integration will concentrate on the struggles of the black player or players who made the groundbreaking appearances. O’Toole does write some about Mitchell and other black teammates who were the first black players for the Redskins in 1962, but their adventure is secondary to those of Marshall and his fight with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, who threatened to pull back on support for the new stadium unless the Redskins could show they did not have discriminatory hiring practices.

This book was one that I enjoyed reading and is one that anyone interested in the integration of professional football will want to add to his or her library.  The words and pages flow quickly as the reader in placed inside the mind and thoughts of one of the most interesting and controversial owners of professional football.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Old-DC-Integration-Washington/dp/0803299354/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476235352&sr=1-1&keywords=fight+for+old+dc

http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Fight-for-Old-DC,677279.aspx    

Review of "See Jane Climb"

As one who is always looking for books on different sports, I had to say that competitive stair climbing was one sport I had NEVER heard about when the author sent me a message asking if I was interested in reviewing it.  Of course I said yes, and I am glad that I did.  Here is my review of "See Jane Climb."

Title/Author:

“See Jane Climb: How Competitive Stair Climbing Changed My Life” by Jane Trahanovsky

Tags:

Memoir, stair climbing, motivation

Published:

May 16, 2016

Length:

202 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

While the sport of competitive stair climbing may be obscure and not very well known – after all, when was the last time you saw a stair climbing race covered on ESPN? – it has all the benefits and aspects of sports like running and race walking. 

In this easy reading memoir, one of the best women in the sport, Jane Trahanovsky, tells of her story of how the sport got her into shape and made her happier.  She had entered her first stair climbing race after her brother Mark told her about his climb up the Willis Tower in Chicago. At the time, Jane was overweight and not in good physical shape.  Nonetheless, she decided to try it and as the title says, it changed her life.

The book reads like a typical memoir in which the author has one of those life-changing events. In her case, Jane overcame troubles in her life by concentrating on not only the stair climbing for exercise and competition, but also by a complete lifestyle change into healthier eating and living.  Again, these are common themes for memoirs and Jane writes about them in an easy to understand manner.

However, what makes this book different than most sports memoirs is the sport itself and Jane’s writing about her races. Stair climbers have excellent camaraderie with each other and will boost each other’s spirits during competition.  I especially enjoyed reading about the nuances of the climbs, such as using the rails to one’s advantage.  If the stairwell is narrow enough and the climber can place both hands on handrails to lift himself or herself up, that is called “double railing.”  Little pieces like that are sprinkled throughout the book and made it a fun read for a reader like me who had never heard of the sport prior to reading this book.

Jane also gives a shout out to many of her fellow climbers as the last 38 chapters are interviews and snippets into the lives of other climbers. Their stories are varied and just as interesting for a reader who wants to learn more about this sport. I certainly did learn about it and also took away inspiration to try to live a little healthier.  This is a book that is recommended for anyone looking for an inspirational story as Jane’s story certainly is one.

I wish to thank Ms. Trahanovsky for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

Paperback

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/See-Jane-Climb-Competitive-Climbing/dp/1938015371/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475950234&sr=1-1&keywords=see+jane+climb

http://www.seejaneclimbbook.com/

Review of "Unbreakable"

An old sports adage states that records are meant to be broken. That may not apply to the record that is the subject of this book, as Wayne Gretzky scored goals at an unbelievable pace in the 1981-82 season.  The record he set during that season is the subject of this terrific book on that accomplishment.  Here is my review of "Unbreakable." 

Title/Author:

“Unbreakable: 50 goals in 39 games: Wayne Gretzky and the Story of Hockey’s Greatest Record” by Mike Brophy and Todd Denault

Tags:

Ice hockey, professional, Oilers

Publish date:

October 18, 2016

Length:

308 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Wayne Gretzky is one of the very few transcendent figures in sports in which even people who don’t follow sports know who he is. He practically rewrote the record book for professional hockey with his proficiency for scoring goals and setting up teammates to score as well.  However, there was one record that held dear to his heart and that record is the subject of this game-by-game account for setting that record.

Gretzky has stated many times, and it is repeated more than once in the book, that his most cherished record came during the 1981-82 season when he scored 50 goals in the first 39 games of the season.  Scoring 50 goals in 50 games was a cherished record in professional hockey, first done by Maurice “Rocket” Richard in the 1944-45 season and later done by Mike Bossy during the 1980-81 season.

The history of this record and how difficult it was to achieve was well documented in the introductory chapter by Brophy and Denault. This record was similar to Babe Ruth setting the home run record in baseball with 60 in 1927. Fans and media personnel loyal to Richard questioned every threat to the record, much like the fuss when Roger Maris broke Ruth’s record.  The section on the history of this hallowed record was a very good table setter for the rest of the book and was my favorite section.

However, this is not to shortchange the bulk of the book, which is a game-by-game account of the Edmonton Oilers’ first 39 games of the 1981-82 season. It is more than just newspaper accounts of what Gretzky did in those games. Each game chapter has information on the team, the league, the style of the game at that time (hint: there was a LOT of scoring) and also snippets on many of Gretzky’s Edmonton teammates. These were very interesting as well.  Of course, there were stories about other Oiler players who were stars such as Mark Messier and Paul Coffey.  However, many other teammates were featured in the book as well, such as journeyman Dave Lumley (who scored in 12 consecutive games) and enforcer Marty McSorely. Between stories about these players and a description of the many goals scored by Gretzky and the Oilers, each game recap was a trip down memory lane of that era of hockey when scoring was at an all-time high.

As a fan of the game who enjoyed that era, this book was a great trip down memory lane and was a fantastic read about one of the most hallowed records in sports. Any hockey fan or fan of Wayne Gretzky will want to add this one to his or her bookshelf as it is a terrific account of one of the most incredible individual accomplishments in hockey history.

I wish to thank McClelland and Stewart for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Gretzky-Hockeys-Greatest-Record/dp/0771017553/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475452716&sr=1-1&keywords=unbreakable+hockey

http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/237141/unbreakable#9780771017568