Darryl

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story
Review: This book is great. It provides a real life drama of a superstar once destined to reach the hall of fame, and his battles with fame, alcohol, and drugs, and his battle to win his life back.

Rating:
Summary: Shy of Greatness.. Shy on Humility
Review: This book was written after the 1991 season, his last solid season in the majors. He spends most of the book pontificating on how great he is and how his teammates couldn't perform on a consistent basis to help the Mets. When the Mets did well, it was because of him. When they didn't win... hey he can't do it all... my teammates stink.

He feels free to rip teammates while exempting himself. Case in point: '86 World Series. In one of the games Hernandez fielded a bunt and threw it away to center trying to get the runner at second. He lets Keith have it. Then he barely mentions how he botched a Rich Gedmen fly ball in game 7, pushing it over the wall for a Red Sox Homer. Also he sulks an incredible amount for being pulled in 6 six in a double switch for Kevin Mitchell. Hey it worked! Deal with it and be thankful you won.

The only reason I didn't give this one star is you can clearly see the pressure he was under to be the next great baseball superstar. Pressure put on him by others, but also, more importantly by himself. I believe he desperately wanted to achieve, but the pressure prevented him from pushing past the cusp of very good to a great player. You can feel the pressure he was under in this book.

He takes continual shots at the Mets. Claiming racism for part of the reason he was let go (the Mets shaft Ray Knight for much less $ in '87). It may be true, I don't know, but he has few kind words for the Front Office. If this book were written any later he would have had to address how he went from very good to pretty poor player... which couldn't have been written with the same attitude.