Taking the Field: A Fan's Quest to Run the Team He Loves

by Howard Megdal

In this fearless and half-crazy story, Howard Megdal decides that simply rooting isn't enough-it's time for fans to stand up and take charge. A lifelong and feverish New York Mets fan, he has been there through thick and (more often) thin. And yet, year in and year out, the Mets seem to find ways to disappoint him. The almost-victories, the mistakes, the lost years; it's all too heartbreaking. And so, mustering his energy, heart, and sportswriter's pedigree, Megdal decides to become the general manager of the Mets. It's not an elected office, but that doesn't mean you can't campaign for it.

Part baseball history and part personal narrative, Taking the Field is at heart the story of a fan who decides to take control. Staging public rallies to gain support, and hustling for interviews and opportunities, Megdal rewrites the rules for being a fan: If you want a championship so badly, maybe it's time for more than praying at the television and buying merchandise. Maybe it's time for action. As he tells his personal story, Megdal intersperses the narrative with a history of rooting for his team: the Tom Seaver trade, the Doc Gooden saga, the highs and lows, the mistakes, and the moments that made it worth the pain. At the same time, he learns the lessons of this history, outlining for the public his campaign pillars: logic, transparency, and passion.

With the unstinting passion of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer , the humor and business smarts of Moneyball , and the elbow-grease appeal of Julie & Julia , Taking the Field is a love letter to baseball.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2011

Reviews

[Michael Mulraney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the most serious anyone has ever taken the “I could do a better job” barstool take of running a franchise.

The Jerry Manuel years were lean for Mets fans, and a lot of people probably made that claim. Howard ran an actual campaign to do so. Kind of wild.

The book is written like a 250 page blog post, which isn’t really my style. It gets better toward the middle but the end felt like he promised his editor more pages than he could deliver.

[Cody Mangold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book Taking The Field, by Howard Megdal. The book details how Howard knows everything about the Mets and wants to be the general manager so that his team with be a great team again and make right decisions. The book has good insight in the game of baseball and creates memories that live for forever in the game. Howard knows how trade deals need to be done and everything that needs to be made for the team. The format of the book is great and the many details it gives has a rich audience for it. Howard has had experience covering the Mets and grow up a Mets fan. The strengths of the book are that Megdal knows what he’s talking about when he explains how baseball works and how the Mets all their years did not run a great organization. The book gives detail in that he enjoys baseball and wants the game to greater and stronger than ever. The weaknesses are that he has trouble spending time with his family and friends. I would rate the book at a 5 because it real and true events that happened and that people lived through. The book was one of the best books I read because I love baseball and the things he knows is incredible to read from. If you are a fan of baseball or sports in general, than you need to read this book. The book has so much excitement that you will enjoy it. The book Taking The Field is non-fiction book that I have chosen to read in October. Since I have started reading more, my reading books are increasing a lot. I fully enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone that would ask me if it was good. I love non-fiction books because they are real and did happen in real life. These kinds of books intrigue me and want me to read more baseball books and I want to learn more about the kind of job the general manager has on a day to day level. The general manager has one of the most important jobs in organizations and if they are going to be a winning team or a losing team.

[Jerry Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's just face it. I've never read a bad baseball book. If a baseball fan reads a book written by a baseball fan, it must be good. Right? Well, I'm sticking to that, and "Taking the Field" certainly exemplifies my position. Mr. Megdal, a frustrated New York Mets fan (frustrated but not despairing. Despairing means you've lost hope and a fan never loses hope. His sanity perhaps, but never hope), decides to run for the GM (general manager) job. Now the GM is not an elected position but that does not deter Megdal. His theme-LOGIC, TRANSPARENCY, and PASSION- reverberates with Mets' fans. He gives campaign speeches, radio interviews and forums on the multitudinous Mets' blogs. He discovers his frustration is shared and garners, to me, amazing support. His main criticisms center around the front office. A manager can certainly screw up. He can try to force pieces to fit, or use the same piece so much it loses its edges and snugness. But a manager ultimately has to use the pieces he's given. And Megdal analyzes the way in which the pieces are chosen and discarded. Just one broad example that draws his ire-good young players well within the team's financial control traded for past prime players for beaucoup bucks and long-term contracts. Megdal fills this memoir with prime examples. Two great quotes- "Over long seasons, the knowledge provided by advanced statistical analysis will make your team better, And yet, baseball is most thrilling when the unlikely occurs-as it so frequently does" and "That represented far more time than our treks to synagogue, where we had the popular Reform Judaism Two Dates and a Guilt Complex plan, in which we attended Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and felt badly numerous other times for not attending." He does not become GM. But in late September, at the end of a crappy season, Megdal is still in the stands. Now that's a guy to love.

[Ann Marie Senter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. On the one hand, I really did not enjoy it at all. On the other hand, I am clearly not the target audience so others may love it. I read this for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (Task #1: read a book about sports). I am not a baseball fan, so most of the book kind of went over my head. There were a lot of lists of stats on various players, which made my eyes glaze over. I enjoyed the passages where he described teaching his baby daughter about the game, and I did get the impression that Megdal has a good sense of humor, though there were a lot of jokes that I just didn't get. If you're really into baseball, you would probably enjoy the book, but if not I would take a pass.

[Wingedbeaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

For whatever reason, I have been reviewing a bunch of baseball books lately. Most likely it has something to do with the start of the season, everyone is trying to get their baseball books out while people are still excited about the new season and a bunch of these books have found their way into my lap. The problem with reading a bunch of baseball books, or really books of any same genre, all together is they start to all sound the same. They share the same themes, the tell similar stories, they make all the same points. You start to struggle picking out what is actually a good book and what is just rehashed ideas because they begin to all blur together. I didn't have that problem with "Taking The Field," a book that felt as original as a book about baseball can be. That's not to say it didn't contain elements most baseball books contain. Howard Megdal, the book's author, talks about obtuse offensive stats, bemoans bad player trades, and shares fond ballpark memories, but does so in a voice, both passionate and humorous, that breaths new life into these old topics.

"Taking The Field" starts with the premise that Megdal is going to run for the office of New York Met's general manager, a position that is not an elected position. Part political platform, part passionate memoir, part team history, "Taking The Field" argues how Megdal can change the culture of his favorite team while telling it's tragic history and documenting his struggles passing this tortured love on to his new born daughter. With equal parts humor and love, Megdal shares his journeys from hardcore fan to general management candidate without getting too bogged down in boring baseball detail. He uses just enough stats to make his argument clear and convincing without losing those of us who have no idea what WORP is. The wonderful blend of team policies and blunders with personal family stories keeps the book feeling fresh and personal unlike a lot of sterile books of a similar nature.

This book is probably only for baseball enthusiasts. You have to have some interest in the history of the game, where it's future is headed, and all the statistical stuff that goes along to keep turning pages. As touching and fun as the memoir elements of the book are, they still center around baseball and its fandom and will not be enough to entertain someone who doesn't care about the game. But there has been no better book I've read this season that tackles these subjects. "Taking The Field" succeeds in every way that "The Extra 2%" failed. It deals with similar topics but makes them more interesting, uses the right examples to form a convincing argument and does all that in an entertaining and engaging manner. "Taking The Field" is a must read for any Met fan (which I am not) and a highly suggested read for any baseball enthusiast (which I certainly am).

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Goodreads giveaway program. Not being an extreme baseball fan, I was a little confused. I don't really understand all of the technical jargon or the player trades and the inside stuff. That said, I still gave it a three because it was a very well written book and Mr Megdal's passion came through brilliantly. This book will change the way I look at baseball forever - I used to watch bits and pieces of the game and appreciate the bigger plays, but now, when my husband tunes in to ESPN, I will take a greater notice of the baseball news. It is really opens your eyes to the deeper workings of baseball. And now, this book is on my husband's shelf to read (which is really impressive because it will be the third book he has read in his entire life! LOL)

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I entered this primarily for my son-in-law who loves books about sports, but since I first entered I have read a couple of sports books and have found that I enjoy them also. I am looking forward to reading this book before I pass it on to my son-in-law to enjoy.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This man is obsessive about the NY Mets. If you would like to read in depth about the NY Mets players, games and General Managers this is the book for you. He wrote well and with humor but was just a little to much detail for me.

[Lauren Krueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that the 86 Mets broke my heart and nearly caused me to drown, this book was enjoyable and touching, the ending most of all. Plus: many mentions of me! A must read for true baseball fans of any allegiance.

[Andrew Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read my (positive) review of this book here: http://www.thesportsjournalists.com/2...

[Frank Taranto · Rating 3 out of 5]

An fun and knowledgeable look at the history and mishaps of the NY Mets organization and baseball team.