Baseball Prospectus '97

These authors are gifted and insightful in ways that the average baseball writer can not even begin to comprehend. They get inside the numbers and situations of players. Their forecasts are intriguing and provoking -- and often right. The intellectual horsepower of the editorial staff is amazing; these are the same guys who have been sharing their wisdom on rec.sport.baseball for years to all of our enjoyment. Play ball!

If I had to choose one baseball book for next season, this would be the one. It offers thought provoking statistical analysis -- whether you agree with all their conclusions or not. The information and writing is not the same old stuff. Conventional wisdom is never "just" accepted -- a wonderful book. I haven't read analysis like this since the Bill James Baseball Abstacts. Ever since James stoped writing his book, I've been looking for a replacement, after reading the 1997 edition this book is it. I have to start clearing off shelf space for future editions.

Top-notch and cutting edge statistical analysis is paired with sharp and witty writing. If you spent springtime in the 1980's waiting for the new Bill James Baseball Abstract to come out, you won't be disappointed. (Disclaimer: an essay I wrote appears in this book.