Rating: 
Summary: Must have for all knowing
Review: This is not a book for the baseball illeterate, people who think the game is boring or communists. Will goes into microscopic detail about the intricacies of our national pastime. Even the most avid fan will learn something new. A possible strategic guide for managers in the Bigs? Definatly. Buy it, love it, read more of it!
Rating: 
Summary: To "SFGiants Fan"
Review: This was one of the first books I ever read that tackled the "brains" behind baseball. Since then I've read a bunch of others, including Tom Boswell and Tim McCarver. Like the previous poster, I felt like they all had their head in the 1970s (or earlier). They were missing today's game.The book I found that does what SFGiants Fan wants is one that talks about the modern game, talks about new stadiums and expansion and short benches and deep bullpens and closers and everything is _Off Base_ by Andrew Torrez. Has anyone else here read _Off Base_? It seems to be "Men At Work", only for 1999, not 1985.
Rating: 
Summary: Information +, Style -
Review: Will includes tons of fascinating insights and anecdotes, but the writing is ponderous. He seems unable to be agile in explaining anything. Statistics are frequently presented in far more volume than necessary to prove the point in question. There are misspellings and sentences which simply do not scan. This book seems to have lacked a strong, intervening editor. The result is a book at least 30% longer than it needs to be. In addition, although its 4 stars are still active in baseball, a great deal has changed since then including interleague play, smaller parks, the big home run totals, the even greater importance of the closer, the money -- this book is in big need of an update. It's also surprising that he never really addresses free agency. If he were writing it today, he would need to discuss salary cap and realignment.
Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Look at THE Game
Review: Will's approach and in-depth analysis make this a tantalizing read for the fan. The reader will never look at a game the same way again. Every situation - from four perspectives - pitcher, batter, defense & manager. The games within the game. While the individuals Will has selected are, in some cases past their peak or retired, the book is nonetheless timeless because it is about the game, not the players. And this is one game that never changes.
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