Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks

• #19 in Best Baseball Books

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I strongly disagree with the reviewer that says that there is not much here that has not been said elsewhere. While I am new to baseball, at the age of 55 vastly more familiar with soccer, football, and basketball, my youngest son loves the game, and I have spent time looking for the perfect book that can both help him see the nuances, and help me follow the game.

This book is nothing less than extraordinary. It would be a superb gift for any high school or college student who loves the game, and for any parent or grandparent new to the game. Personally I think it has a great deal of information that those who consider themselves avid fans have NOT noticed, but you can decide that better than I.

Here are some of the nuggets in this book, which is the tactical complement to the strategic companion by another author, "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game." The two books together constitute an instant reference library from any baseball affecionado.

1) 1 in 100,000 make it to major leagues from among those who strive to get there.

2) Going to college is a superb way to perfect your skills and shorten the time to selection for minor leagues--a tiny handfull get to go straight to the majors.

3) Five tool players can field well, throw hard (and accurately), run fast, hit home runs, and hit a high batting average.

4) Any major leaguer, however "bad" they might appear on a given day, is the best of the best and has spent a lifetime getting there.

5) Awesome concise clear description of the many kinds of balls that a pitcher can throw to a batter.

6) Runner on second can see catcher's signals and signal to the hitter more often than not. I had no idea.

7) When bases are loaded, a fast ball is more likely, hit to it and improve your batting average.

8) Amazing list of all the *many* reasons a coach might walk out to talk to a pitcher.

9) Leg strength is critical for all players and helps power the ball.

10) Run bases on a CURVE for faster rounding of bases.

11) A catcher can be the team's reference librarian, a goldmine of knowledge about hitters built up over a lifetime of observation.

12) Strike zone defined by each player, not a fixed box. From the kneecaps to a line halfway between the belt and the shoulders.

13) Outstanding section on umpires, who can spend thousands on a school and endure 8-12 years in the minors on bare subsistence salaries. If they do make it to the majors, then they earn a six-figure salary.

14) Lovely section that clearly illustrates and explains all of the symbols needed to record every move in a baseball game.

15) Umpires WILL remember every slight over the years, and when borderline calls need to be made, the slights will come home to roost.

Superb glossary.

I am giving this review and the book to my 12-year old, in the hopes that he will read every word and refer back to this book many times in the years to come.

This book is a GEM. Ignore the faint praise by other reviewers.

See also the DVDs
Field of Dreams (Widescreen Two-Disc Anniversary Edition)
A League of Their OwnBaseball - A Film By Ken Burns
The Natural (Director's Cut)
For Love of the Game
Impossible to Forget: The Story of the '67 Boston Red Sox
Nine Innings From Ground Zero: The 2001 World Series
Rising Sons Return - Matsui, Ichiro and More!
American Pastime
The Pride of the Yankees (Anniversary Edition)

I think this book is pretty much aimed at younger readers, 10-20, or an occasional follower of the game. It's material is really fairly light. If you're familiar with baseball, then there's not much here that hasn't been said somewhere. It has five interesting questions on the back cover. For example, "Why do some players urinate on their hands?" Good luck if you can find the answer. There is no index. That is quite unfortunate in my view. If you are pretty familiar with baseball, you'll find yourself skipping over material to find something you might find interesting. The lack of an index will let you down.

I'm turning this over to my 12-13 year old nephews. I'm sure they'll love it.

I don't think the interesting question about name five ways a hitter can get to first without hitting the ball is in here. (Answer is found by Google.)

this book is a must read for anyone interested in getting the most out of watching a baseball game. even the most knowledgeable fans will find lots of new and interesting information in this extremely thoughtful book...but not to worry, it is extemely entertaining and funny as well. in addition to the well laid out text there are references in italics linking to a prodigious glossary at the end containing every imaginable baseball term. this is a welcome addition to the literature especially as it comes right at the beginning of the new season.

I really liked this book a lot...I learned quite a bit about baseball and I enjoyed the author's sense of humor. I don't think the book quite lives up to its subtitle: ...for beginners, semi-experts, and deeply serious geeks. It probably won't be quite basic enough to totally please the absolute beginner...but still not a bad choice either. Likewise I think that most semi-experts and serious geeks are going to be looking for something more than what is offered here. Nevertheless, I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that will really enjoy and learn from this book, the way I did. I'd recommend it for people with at least a very basic knowledge of how baseball is played, who want to learn more about a truly fascinating game.

This book's subtitle should have stopped at "for Beginners." I'm shocked to think that "Semi-experts" or "Deeply Serious Geeks" would gain any insight into the game by reading this lightweight term paper of a book. It's not that the author doesn't understand baseball; clearly he does. But the information he imparts is the kind of stuff most Little Leaguers would know by the time they turned 12. What a disappointment! Then again, I have to take full responsibility for making the mistake of buying the book. After all, how could one book appeal to "beginners" and "serious geeks?" I just didn't think about it rationally. Hopefully you will before popping for the 12 bucks or so the book costs.

The subtitle of this well crafted work: "A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-Experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks." For the first two categories, right on! Geeks are not going to learn a whole lot that they already do not know. That aside, though, this is a nice work.

Examples of what is in some of the chapters: Chapter 2 focuses on "Pitchers and Catchers." The first part of the chapter describes basic pitches (and how they are thrown)--fastball, curveball, slider, change-up, split-finger fastball, knuckleball, screwball, spitball (naughty, naughty!), eephus, and gyroball (does it even exist?). Each is described, with a bit of humor added here and there.

Chapter 5 explores "Fielding." There are brief descriptions of what each position has to do. As an old second baseman, I enjoyed reading about the basics of the double play and so on.

Chapter 6 examines "Stadiums" (but should this not be "Stadia," to use the proper Latin term?). One of the more enjoyable features is the description of some unique fields. Think Fenway Park or Wrigley Field. But why not talk about the cool stadium in Cleveland?

Chapter 9 takes a peek at "Random Stuff to Know." E.g., Why K for strikeout on scorecards? What about uniform numbers? The seventh inning stretch? And so on.

This book is a lot of fun. Even hard core baseball fans might enjoy it for its style, even though they may not learn a great deal that is new. For beginners and intermediate fans, though, this will be quite a pleasure!

This book is a great start for those who want a deeper understanding to the game. I always knew the basic rules about baseball and could even watch a game on Tv and not become to bored. But after reading this book my love, addiction, and knowledge of the game grew. I treat this book as a 1st step into a deeper understanding of the game, or even just to understand the difference between a fastball and curveball.
All in all, this book made me love the game of baseball even further and now I am going to more and more games. A must buy for fans and those who want to be fans alike.

So you'll probably hear a lot of reviews for this book that start with, "Okay, I'm a huge baseball fan..." or "I played baseball my whole life, and..." followed by praise for Mr. Hample's insight, research, and humor.

Although the book would TOTALLY help peak interest and raise awareness amongst new baseball fans, you will probably pick it up because the huge, warn-in baseball looks good enough to eat, and you love the game like a member of your own family.

As someone who has lived and learned baseball for 30 years, Mr. Hample's book provided me with more knowledge, more open doors, and more "No kidding!" Pick this book up. Read it. Carry it with you to a game. Have it out on the table when you watch games on TV. You'll see why...

Bravo, Mr. Hample. You have created a gem.

Very interesting book, I found myself understand baseball talk I didn't get before during conversations. It gave me a glimpse into the intricacies of the game which lead me to understand better what it is that some find so appealing. I always thought baseball was quite a static game. Turns out, to the initiate, there isn't a peaceful moment!

It's easy to read and entertaining. The book is well-edited - chapters are split up in such a way that makes it easy to find immediate answers during a game, yet it flows cohesively enough to make it an entertaining read on a quiet night. I like the extensive dictionary of baseball terms and phrases. It has lots of whats, but frequently also includes the whys behind things like the history of certain stats and the main reason the MLB did away with spitballs. There's lots of insider info, interesting facts and anecdotes; everything from how to read a box score to unusual attributes of ball parks. This book is loaded, and any baseball fan will enjoy it.

Watching Baseball Smarter will appeal to youngsters around 9-12 who are eager to grab as much baseball knowledge as possible by attending and watching games on television. For those young people, scoring, colorful terms, and obscure rules can make the game seem more mysterious than it is. At the same time, learn those elements of active watching and a youngster can develop the basics to enjoy being a lifelong fan.

If someone had given me this book at that age, I would have treasured Watching Baseball Smarter above all over gifts I got that at that time. I would have been most thrilled by the illustrations of how the various pitches are thrown.

Remember that observation when you consider if you know any budding fans who would be thrilled to have this book.

As for the claim that the book is also for semi-experts and deeply serious geeks, I don't think so. I didn't see any material that wasn't well known to me by the time I was 15. And I was hardly a semi-expert or a deeply serious geek. I just enjoyed watching and attending the games.

Don't give this book to a serious baseball fan; you'll embarrass yourself if you do.

Here are few questions to test your ability to enjoy the book:

1. What is the infield fly rule?

2. What is a double switch?

3. What is a catcher's earned run average?

4. What is a safety squeeze?

5. How do you keep score?

If know all five, this book isn't for you. If you know four, you'll get an occasional nugget from the book. If you know three or fewer, this book is a good choice for you.

On this reading, the main pleasure was from remembering when I first learned the material and from an occasional bit of trivia that was new to me. The former pleasure was what kept me reading, and I was disappointed that the book was aimed mostly at an elementary level . . . having found the subtitle to be misleading in terms of the book's relevance for me.

Play ball!

This book, in conjunction with a book called "The Physics Of Baseball", combines into a quite good education into the sport. I now find the sport more interesting because I am familiar with the issues and challenges.

I am a serious baseball geek and my kids are near beginners (8 and [...]) and yet we all find the book to be entertaining, engaging, and extremely educational. It has really helped my young second baseman/pitcher learn some very useful strategies in his own little league game.
A great read for anyone who loves baseball in any form.

This is a great book for those just getting into baseball. Hample clearly and quickly explains baseball's rules, history, traditions, and lingo (the latter occasionally to the extent that it becomes distracting). If you are new to the game or only casually follow it, this book is a must-read.

However, the title indicates that this book is intended not only for beginners, but "semi-experts and deeply serious geeks" as well. I'd put myself somewhere between the latter two categories, and I have to say that for me the book was a waste of two hours. After skipping chunks of the "Basics of the Game" section, I read at least most of every section but came away learning little or nothing. If you consider yourself a hardcore baseball fan, skip this book and pick up Baseball Between the Numbers by Baseball Prospectus or one of many other more advanced books.

Football may have the hard-hitting action and basketball may have the slam-dunk feats, but baseball has character. In what other sport are the fans supposed to all stand in the middle of a game and sing a song? Furthermore, while basketball, football, hockey and soccer are all essentially different versions of the same game (pushing a puck or ball into the goal defended by the opposition), baseball has no real parallel (except maybe cricket, which is at most a minor sport in the U.S.). And, of course, unlike almost any other sport, there are no real time or point constraints to baseball; you're always in the game until the last out.

The unique elements of baseball can be off-putting to fans of other sports, who may find the subtleties of the game to be slow or boring. But as Zack Hample illustrates in his book Watching Baseball Smarter, there is a lot more going on than is readily apparent. Designed for the casual baseball fan, Hample offers insights into the sport that may escape most people (though the more die-hard fan will know much of what he describes).

After a review of some of the basics of the game, Hample has sections dedicated to the four major components of the game: pitching (and catching); hitting, base running and fielding. He then has chapters on stadiums, umpires, statistics and "random stuff". If you want to know the difference between a cut fastball, a four-seamer and a two-seamer, Hample provides the information in the pitching chapter. If you want to know why left-handed catchers are so rare, look in the fielding chapter.

For the avid fan, an error or two may be noted. For example, in the section on umpires, it is noted that the catcher can appeal to the first or third base umpire on a check swing; actually, he appeals to the home plate umpire, who can seek the appropriate umpires opinion. Any other errors also seem to be on such subtle issues, so it really isn't a major issue. In general, this is a fun book for baseball fans, filled with the slang and historical perspective that gives the sport its personality. If you enjoy baseball, you should read this book.

I LOVED this book!! I loved it so much that I purchased six more copies to give as gifts to family and friends. I don't care who you are - you will get something out of this book. Even if you think you know everything, I'm sure there will be a few surprises. I could not wait to attend my first game after reading this book - what a difference it made in understanding and enjoying the game. And not only that, I can now appreciate what the announcers are talking about when they use baseball jargon. There is a great glossary of terms with all the slang you ever need to know.

I bought this for my ten-year-old grandson who is a Little League participant and a baseball nut. He has thoroughy enjoyed it and feels that his improved understanding of the game will help him as a player.

Excellent, detailed explanations. Clear and cleverly written.
Answered questions I didn't know I had.
A book to keep next to the remote while you're watching the game, or lying on the beach.

This kid is fantastic! I read this book in one sitting. Even a seasoned baseball fan like myself loved all his easy to get explanations. Zach hit a tater here!

I'd give this book to a girlfriend or anyone who wants to understand the game. It's on par with Baseball for Dummies. Not much new for the real fan. Disappointing.

This book does exactly what is promises - it greatly enhances the act of viewing baseball on TV. Not only can you read it from beginning to end to gain a step-by-step understanding of "why", but you can also use the glossary at will for the "what". Every time some ex-player commentator throws out a term like "squibber", you can just flip to "s" and get a simple explanation. Zach Hample writes with a great respect for the game, but also the insight into the casual viewer's mind. He is entertaining and educational all at once. It's an excellent book for you or as a gift - anyone who wants to know more about baseball, no matter how much they think they already know.

As a sixty year baseball fan, I think I know most everything about the game. However, Zack came up with some new/clarifying information for me. By the way, the game has changed since I started following it in the mid-1940s.

watching baseball smarter really doesn't get as in-depth as i had hoped. its more for beginners and people somewhat familiar with the game. its not a bad book, its well written and easy to read. if you are looking for something to blow your mind, this isn't it.

About: Guide to the generalities and intricacies of the game of baseball.

Pros: Very informative, funny, great use of examples. Even I learned something and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the sport.

Cons: Would've liked to see an index.

I purchased this book for my husband who happens to be a deeply serious baseball geek. He's not much of a reader so I wasn't sure if the book would keep him enthralled enough to keep reading it. Much to my surprise he's yet to put the book down. The two of them have been inseparable since Christmas. I figure if it can keep his interest it most certainly will keep the interest of other baseball fans wanting to learn the sport. For this reason I highly recommend the book.

Zack Hample wrote this book in an easy-to-understand and pleasant writing style. His writing style is conversational and you almost feel as if he is there in person talking to you. He provides an extensive glossary near the back and words that are in the glossary are italicized when they're used in the body of the book. The book provides a lot of insight into professional baseball and is really useful for someone who is not an aficionado. It helped me enjoy the game more by understanding strategy and understanding baseball jargon. Hample also provides some history of the game and of the league as a tool for helping the reader understand why certain rules or strategies exist. A book on a subject like baseball could easily be written in a dry style; this book is anything but dry. I enjoyed reading it.

Table of content for this book:

Ch. 1, The Basics
Covers the draft, how players get into the Major League, How the League is organized, spring training, regular season, post season.

Ch 2, Pitchers and Catchers
Covers the signs they use, the different types of pitches (with diagrams), pitching strategy, what's really going on during time-outs at the mound.

Ch. 3, Hitting
Covers how the lineup is determined, fundamentals, stances, recognizing pitches, hitting strategy, and more.

Ch. 4 Baserunning
Covers the rules, strategy, signs, base-stealing,the various types of slides, signs given by coaches to runners, duties of the first base coach.

Ch. 5 Fielding
Covers the various types of defensive alignments (and why), why you'll probably never see a left-handed catcher, types of ball bounces and how the player responds to each, field positions and the skills needed to play each, and more.

Ch. 6 Stadiums
Covers the challenges of playing in various well-known stadiums.

Ch. 7 Umpires
How umpires get to be umpires, what life is like for an umpire, meaning of gestures used by umpires, why umpires work in fours, why the ump places a hand on the back of the catcher, why the ump puts mud on the balls, why the ump goes with the trainer when the trainer goes to the mound to talk to the pitcher, and lots more.

Ch. 8 Statistics
Lists baseball stats, gives formulas for how the stats are determined, and explains how they are used. (This chapter could have been dry, but was not. It was as fun to read as the rest of the book).

Ch. 9 Random Stuff to Know
Why the players grab and adjust their crotches, why the letter K represents a strike in scoring, how baseball began using numbers on the uniforms (and negative reaction to it), unwritten rules, controversies, and more.

Ch 10 Random Stuff to Notice
A few pages of odds and ends; some of it interesting and some of it mundane.

Glossary: Baseball Slang
42 pages of terms with definitions

Appendix A: More Statistics
Baseball stats with their abbreviations, the record holders, and informative commentaries.

Appendix B: Uniform Numbers
Shown in order by number, provides list of famous players who wore the numbers 1 - 55.

I have gone to probably over two hundred baseball games and counting in my lifetime so I know quite a bit about the rules and little details of the game, and by the time I was done reading I even learned a few things that I had always been a little unclear on in the past regarding the rules, strategies, etc. The good thing is that just about any one with any knowledge level of baseball from knowing hardly anything to experienced watchers will get something out of this book. Some more than others but everyone will get something. It's also a very easy read, I think I got through it in a day or two.

I bought this for my 26 yr old son for his birthday. My fiance, a baseball Aficionado,
started looking at it and said, this great I want this, too. I'll be ordering 4 more books today.

This book was very enjoyable to read and informative. I would recommend it to any baseball enthusiast.

I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and I learned things that I had wondered about.

Every baseball fan, from beginner to expert will learn something new and interesting . Pick it up during a commercial to get a perspective on what you just saw. It will increase your enjoyment of the game, Have this book next to you as you watch a game and see how much you were missing. A first rate book

Not only is this a great book for the novice, experienced baseball fans will get something out of it as well. Hample writes about what he knows... and that's "How to Collect Baseballs" and How to watch baseball smarter. If you doubt his skills, just know that he caught the last Mets homer at Shea... EVER. He actually does what he preaches. He also wrote a foreword for the Sports By The Numbers series MLB book. Here is their Yankees book, that you may love as well: New York Yankees: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports by the Numbers). Buy both books. You will love them.

Your view of this short book depends on how much you know about baseball already and how much you want to know. Being that you are looking at it and the title, you are at least a little interested. I found myself speed reading through some sections, but others sections I read with great interest due to knowledge base or lack thereof. The author loosely organizes the book on sections about player positions, stadiums, and so forth. Organization is not a strong part of this book. But, there are some great facts in here. For 200 pages, I learned a lot.

This is a great book for moms who have sons playing baseball. I only wish I would have had this book when my son was younger. I always thought I knew what was going on in a game, but I didn't know so much. I have learned a lot from this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves or hates the game of baseball.

I enjoyed this book, especially the glossary of baseball lingo. I think I'll keep this book near the TV when I listen to the "color commentator" spew all that meaningless baseball jargon! Some parts of the book were helpful, but a lot was fairly obvious if you've spent much time watching games or playing Little League. Still, the author includes some fun little-known facts...and I *think* I finally understand the infield fly rule! But don't quiz me on it.

excellent for all level of fans. great reference and a fun read. I have been looking for this book along time, it's not too technical (like some coaching books) and it's far from dry.

After reading and enjoying this book, I purchased several copies to give as gifts. The recipents gave the book raving reports and consider it one of the best gifts ever received. It is also a book that will be consulted over and over again as it is informative, entertaining and humorous.

Pages 79 to 110 are completely missing.

If binding is baseball, the people who did the binding would be kicked out of bush league.

Also, the information is very elementary and meant basically for elementary students.

My husband has been an avid baseball fan for over 60 years and so I asked him to rate the book. It was my gift to him for Father's Day and he certainly enjoyed it.

This book provides a basic through expert level of information on all aspects of the game. After reading this book, I have been able to hold very in depth conversations with baseball experts, watch games with an increased sense of appreciation and understanding, and better understand player/game statistics.

Both new fans and old will enjoy this hilarious inside-look at baseball and all its intricacies. Find out why some people are so riveted to the game.