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Twice Around the Bases: The Thinking Fan's Inside Look at Baseball – A Manager and Analyst's Honest, Insightful Appraisal
For fans of Men At Work , Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans , and Moneyball , respected baseball insider Kevin Kennedy offers fresh and engaging appraisal of major league baseball. Kevin Kennedy knows baseball inside and out, as a fan, player, manager, and analyst. In this intelligent and lively book, the FOX Sports commentator and host offers an original look at big-league baseball today, exploring a wide range of issues, Lively and down-to-earth, this insightful, honest book offers a deeper appreciation of the game for every fan.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 8, 2015
I went ahead and ordered this one with the idea to have bare-bones baseball theory book to accompany the early rounds of this year's MLB Playoffs. Kennedy has always been on my radar as a baseball person, but I've taken a particular liking to him in the past few years from his role with the Dodgers' radio broadcast. I consider Kennedy to be one of the best "old baseball" analysts.
All that said, this book not good. Published in 2005, I get the impression that this book was a money grab, capitalizing on Kennedy's fledgling status as a national personality. It was co-written by Bill Gutman and reads as if Kennedy simply spent a few hours on the phone for transcription.
There were a few anecdotes that I enjoyed, but overall the lack of effort in this book led to me putting it down about 60% through. There are multiple occurrences of Kennedy leaving a player's career arc to question when a simple Internet search (even in 2005) could've given him an absolute answer.
One big contributor to me giving up on this one was a one-off reference to Nogales, Arizona spelt "Nogalis". This small error defines the lazy tone of the book and ate away at me until I had had enough.
The jacket claims this is "The thinking fan's inside look at baseball", though I feel slightly less smart and wholly more foolish for dedicating the past two nights to it.
Kennedy remains a great analyst in my eyes, but perhaps not one with enough content and drive for a 258 page book.
All that said, this book not good. Published in 2005, I get the impression that this book was a money grab, capitalizing on Kennedy's fledgling status as a national personality. It was co-written by Bill Gutman and reads as if Kennedy simply spent a few hours on the phone for transcription.
There were a few anecdotes that I enjoyed, but overall the lack of effort in this book led to me putting it down about 60% through. There are multiple occurrences of Kennedy leaving a player's career arc to question when a simple Internet search (even in 2005) could've given him an absolute answer.
One big contributor to me giving up on this one was a one-off reference to Nogales, Arizona spelt "Nogalis". This small error defines the lazy tone of the book and ate away at me until I had had enough.
The jacket claims this is "The thinking fan's inside look at baseball", though I feel slightly less smart and wholly more foolish for dedicating the past two nights to it.
Kennedy remains a great analyst in my eyes, but perhaps not one with enough content and drive for a 258 page book.
August 11, 2014
I approached the book with the feeling that it would be lightweight and not very interesting. I was partially right, as a certain percentage of the book is taken up with the author's "best of" lists of top players at each position, top games he's seen, etc.
But along the way there were some very useful insights into different aspects of the game, including hitting, pitching and fielding. Being a former big league manager also allows the author to give insight into a manager's game day activities. I thought the section detailing the importance of scouting to an organization was also very interesting.
But along the way there were some very useful insights into different aspects of the game, including hitting, pitching and fielding. Being a former big league manager also allows the author to give insight into a manager's game day activities. I thought the section detailing the importance of scouting to an organization was also very interesting.
September 18, 2013
Met him before, and loved reading his book. I agreed with mostly every one is his selections he made for the greatest hitters he has ever seen, agreed with all of the selections of the greatest pitchers he likes, and his greatest all-around players were dead on too. Very nice choice for any baseball fan and very informative too!
February 11, 2012
Pretty half decent "inside baseball" book by Kennedy. He emphasizes the "Dodger Way" where he learned how to play the game the right way. Many stories about his managerial experiences with the Red Sox and Rangers, some self-serving, but he comes across as forthright.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews