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Liked It “This book was very similar to Ball Four, but from the perspective of the manager. It's from the point of view of Tony LaRussa, the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. This book takes you inside the mind of a manager before, during and after an intense 3 game series with the Cardinal's rival...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“This book was very similar to Ball Four, but from the perspective of the manager. It's from the point of view of Tony LaRussa, the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. This book takes you inside the mind of a manager before, during and after an intense 3 game series with the Cardinal's rival team, the Chicago Cubs.”
Jake Fried wrote this review Wednesday, November 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very high level baseball book full of stratagies that race through a managers mind. Tony LaRussa is going through a series with the Cubs. This series is competing for the pennant and the NL Central. ”
Matthew S wrote this review Saturday, September 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“?”
Caleb B wrote this review Monday, September 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A fascinating look inside the mind of one of the game's best managers.”
Schmoove wrote this review Tuesday, March 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was alright, but not great. I think the author attempts to make LaRussa out to be a genius, but in no place in the book is this really shown. He makes guesses that are sometimes right, sometimes wrong, but in no way genius. I was hoping to get more out of this book, like with Moneyball.”
Jason L wrote this review Thursday, February 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Three Nights in August, Buzz Bissinger, April 2005
Kyle T wrote this review Tuesday, November 11 2008. ( reply | view 2 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
NON-FICTION Details:
Setting:
Busch Stadium, 2003 season, in St. Louis, MO
Important Names:
Tony LaRussa-St. Louis Cardinals manager
Albert "The Great" Pujols-St. Louis Cardinals star
Dusty Baker-Chicago Cubs manager
Dave Duncan-St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach
Plot:
In the heat of a pennant race, the St. Louis Cardinals hold a pivitol summer three-game series against rival, Chicago Cubs. The book is written to get the thoughts of manager, Tony LaRussa, to the paper for outsiders to see. LaRussa's mind is picked to state what goes on in a manager's mind throughout a game, and a season. The best part about this book is that it really gives the reader a front row seat to being a professinal player, or manager. The author tends to get off topic a lot with partitions within the chapters, and in a way digresses from the main topic at hand for the chapter. Overall, insightful book for anyone looking to brush up on their managerial skills.
Theme Statement:
A huge theme throughout is the preparation before a game. This book takes the reader through each and every step in the getting ready process for a game. A second theme presented in the text is brief history about the St. Louis Cardinals, Tony LaRussa, and specific players.
Quote:
"He slipped in out of nowhere. He wasn't a big-time bonus baby. He wasn't a first-round pick or even a tenth-round pick. At the outset, he seemed like nothing beyond a guy with a pretty good bat and an interesting glove who could tell people in twenty years around the grill that he once had a shot."
-The thing I love about this quote is that it was completely accurate. Albert Pujols had absolutely no shot at becoming a huge star today, but look where he is now. He is nothing like this quote describes today. Pujols is currently the best baseball player alive, and one of the kindest souls.”
“A great read for baseball fans, this book focuses on a three-game series between the Cardinals and the Cubs to paint a fascinating portrait of Tony LaRussa. Bissinger gives us a good idea of how obsessed LaRussa is with making the right moves for his team. His single-mindedness during the baseball season makes you feel sorry for his wife, because this man has nothing on his mind but baseball. But if you are a Cardinals fan, you have to love the way this guy does everything he can, with pitching coach Dave Duncan, to try to give his team the edge in every situation in every game.
Mike Y wrote this review Tuesday, October 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is the second book I know of that features LaRussa as the centerpiece, the other being "Men At Work" by George Will. The common thread is LaRussa's determination to stack the odds in his team's favor any way he can. His preparations remind one of the plotting of a general before a major battle”“Fascinating book about one of the greatest baseball managers. Takes place during a three game set between the Cardinals and the Cubs the year the Cubs went to the playoffs only to lose and blame the loss on Steve Bartman catching a foul ball that the Cubs outfielder might have caught.
ROBbury wrote this review Thursday, August 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Tony LaRusso gives his insight on the three games against Dusty Baker.
Great insider's story.”
“This book was recommended to me by a college baseball coach. He said it's the only book about baseball he enjoyed. I enjoyed it quite a bit myself. The Buzz Bissinger book does a good job marrying the belief that baseball is all heart and that baseball is all statistics. Reading "Moneyball" a month ago made this book even more compelling. Bissinger does an excellent job drawing in the reader and makes LaRussa's life seem one dimensional in a way that's good for the game. It didn't hurt that I'm a Cubs fan and reading about Prior and Wood in 2003 puts what has happened into perspective.”
Brandon W wrote this review Tuesday, February 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
