Baseball Forecaster

If you're like me and you grew up reading Bill James' baseball abstracts, then the Baseball Forcaster is for you.Shandler uses sabermetric analysis to look at the numbers behind the numbers in order to evalulate players skills. Those skills are what translates into stats. Its a good book to read whether you've been doing fantasy baseball for years or just starting. Heck, its a good book to read if you're not interested in fantasy baseball, but want a systematic approach to analyzing player performance. My only criticism is that it doesn't really have much analysis on minor league players (although it does have comprehensive Major League Equivalency stats for minor leaguers, there is no commentary). Its one of the two baseball books I couldn't live without (the other one being the Baseball Prospectus). Its what I base my preseason scouting on, and I always have it handy during the season. I only hope too many other owners in my league don't start buying it.

As every fantasy baseball competitor knows, many publications out there contain important statistical data necessary to prepare for your upcoming season. But Shandler's book is different. This book not only provides data on every major league player, it gives you brilliant insights on how to INTERPRET that imformation. Shandler even includes stats for minor leaguers -- and a Major League Equivalency Table that helps make these stats relevant when looking for those all-important rookie bargains.The only negative I can find is that this book is geared for traditional ROTO League players, not Points League players. But the statistics included, along with Shandler's baseball acumen, really make this book indispensable for ANY fantasy league team owner.I used Shandler's book last year and finished in the money. Money that I used, not coincidentally, to pay for THIS year's book.