Book Description
Stats vs. Scouts. Math vs. Makeup. Computers vs. Commuters. College vs. High School. The debate is a new one in baseball, and it has recently taken on a life of its own. Ever since Michael Lewis' best-seller Moneyball arrived on the scene, and spurred by the recent World Series victory by the sabermetric advocate Boston Red Sox, the dispute about the best way to build a professional baseball team has raged out of control - until now.
In this fascinating and insightful look into what criteria major and minor league baseball scouts use to determine talent, Scout's Honor shines a bright light on the job done by `old-school' scouts and their killer instincts. The author uses the success of the Atlanta Braves as the focal point for a mesmerizing investigation into the debate of stats versus scouts, and why, if it's a successful franchise you're after, there is no debate about the bravest way to build a winning team.
"What makes Scout's Honor so great is that it brings us into the world of those who determine successful big leaguers by looking into the future, not by looking back at spreadsheets and stats. Now that takes talent. `Old-school' wins, literally. This book is a worthy foil to the Moneyballers." - Lyle Spencer, MLB.com
"Finally, an entertaining book that validates the importance of scouting." - Pat Gillick, 2-time World Series Champion GM and Executive of the Year.
Customer Reviews:
Enlightenment on traditional scouting.......2006-03-23
I read this book and assumed it would be an answer to Moneyball, and in some ways it was. But the best description I saw was in an earlier review. If you read the first 4-7 chapters to get a history and an overview of the scouting program, as well as 1 or 2 of the scouting stories on prospects, you get the idea. Then skip to the end and read the last 2 chapters. If that was all the book was, then it would been a fascinating read. But as a competitor to moneyball, it doesnt hold a candle to the book in general.
First, moneyball was well written. This book could've been a compilation of a home schooled sophmore in high school research and writing course. Moneyball actucally has flow, and tells stories differently. Scout's honor tells the same story over and over.
Here's my suggestion. Buy the book, read the first 10 chapters and the last 2, and then return it.
Who said he doesn't define makeup?.......2006-01-06
This is a great book, especially if your an Atlanta Braves fan, as it is particularly groomed for these fans. However, anyone who has a passion for baseball should love this book.
In regards to the reviewer who said the book is ruined for you because Shanks never defines makeup, perhaps you should take a glance at page 16, and check out that paragraph that's clearly indicated with a baseball above it, highlighting its importance.
"The Braves are what you call in the game of baseball, an old school organization. Radar guns and stopwatches are always in use, and of course they'll check out the stats. But there's a personal side that's more important to this gang. They believe in getting to know their potential players. What's he like off the field? Is he a winner? Can he handle adversity? Can he handle winning and losing? Does he hustle? What's his desire? What's his attitude? What's his personality? Is he coachable? Does he have heart? This is makeup. It defines the character of a ballplayer."
Perhaps you should go back and reread this one mate, seems like you dropped the ball.
An Embarrassment, Really.......2005-12-15
If you are a huge Braves fan, you won't mind reading line after line describing how the Braves system can do no wrong. If you are a serious baseball fan, you'll just roll your eyes. Some of the profiles of minor leaguers are interesting at first. But as one other reviewer noted, the profiles all seem to be the same. You'll find yourself skipping several pages at a time.
Most would acknowledge that the Braves are a top-notch organization. It's just silly, however, for anyone to assert the Braves have done EVERYTHING right. I don't think the book contains even mild criticism of a Braves employee, trade or scouting decision. Everything is painted in a light most favorable to the Braves.
In addition, whenever possible, the author takes a shot at Michael Lewis, Moneyball, Billy Beane and the Oakland A's. Fine, the Braves have a different approach and it works. Is there only ONE way to build a solid baseball team? Seems unlikely. And why take cheap shots? For instance, at one point he is discussing the A's acquiring Dan Meyer and Juan Cruz, two young Braves pitchers from the Braves. He sneers at the A's, in effect saying, if Moneyball is such a great system, why did you come crawling to the Braves for young pitching? Well, guess what? Everybody needs young pitching. You know who the Braves got in the Cruz/Meyer trade? Tim Hudson. A pitcher. A pitcher developed in the Oakland A's farm system.
It's just embarrassing. The author is a Braves employee -- and not even a baseball man -- a broadcaster. This book reads like a propaganda piece commissioned by the Braves. As a baseball fan, I'd rather read an objective account of how good the Braves organization is. When a company man writes it (and never adds criticism when criticism is due), it loses all credibility.
Why does the best organization in baseball need to commission a book like this? Doesn't winning your division 14 of the last 15 years say all there is to say?
***
Note: The writing is done at a pretty basic level, and there are lots of typos and grammatical mistakes. Golenbock's books have tons of typos and grammar issues too, but at least his substance is good.
How do the Braves do it? Only vague answers here........2005-12-13
This was a really good idea for a book, but it just doesn't deliver. Aside from the general annoyance of the cheap publishing and frequent typos, this book has no real structure or overarching argument ... if you read the last couple chapters you get more out of it than if you waste your time reading the whole thing. It's basically a mixture of biographies of everyone in the Braves organization and the author paraphrasing the words of others indiscriminately.
I am a huge admirer of the Braves organization and their genius, so I was disappointed to not glean very much info about their magic in this book. Every once in a while there is a real gem about the Braves' philosophies, but just reading the life story of Steve Avery teaches me nothing. The book gets pretty repetitive with this and much of it is skippable.
The Braves are an excellent foil to "Moneyball." This book certainly isn't.
"Me Too" kind of book.......2005-10-08
I recently went on vacation and chose this book to be the one that I read while sipping margarita's by the pool and wondering how my fantasy team was doing. The title and back cover intrigued me since I figured that it was a response to Moneyball. Although I lean more towards that side of the argument, I was curious to read a well-written counterpoint. Not a great choice.
The book is basically made up of chapters that select several Braves and looks at how they were drafted and how their progression through the minors went. In between thoughts or at the end of chapters, the author would throw in a line about how stats didn't mean anything when looking at Player X, it was all scouting. Well, maybe. But HOW? The author writes at length about Chipper Jones before he was drafted and shows how the Braves were trying to make a last ditch effort to convince Todd Van Poppel to sign. When they coudn't convince him they went for Chipper because he showed "toughness". Hellooo, he was the concensus #2 and the Braves still preferred Van Poppel. The Braves lucked into Chipper.
Chapter after chapter about each player was the same. Player X had skills, player wanted to play for Braves since he was a kid, Braves steal him in the draft, player makes the team or is used as trade bait. Nothing about the loads of players that every team drafts who amount to nothing. The secret, evidently, is to draft players who want to play for you. That's the one and only scouting tip that the book serves up over and over.
In the end, whether you agree with Moneyball or not, it was insightful into the "why" Beane et al think they way they do. Nothing here was explanatory, it was simply put out by someone upset at Moneyball who wanted to say "Me too!"
It gets two stars because all things baseball related deserve a read.
Book Description
In 2005, the Atlanta Braves won their unprecedented 14th straight National League East title. And behind this success has been the genius of John Schuerholz, whose anti-Moneyball philosophies kept the Braves among the elite teams in baseball for over a decade. Now, Schuerholz pulls back the curtain for the first time, revealing everything from how the Braves traded for Barry Bonds in the early 90s to dealing with John Rockers hateful comments in 1999 to losing pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine to the recent acquisition of superstar Tim Hudson, and, against all odds, how he helped keep the Braves at the top of the baseball mountain. Offering a remarkable and candid view inside one of the most incredible minds in all sports, BUILT TO WIN will make baseball fans worldwide look at the game in a whole new way.
Customer Reviews:
Written by John's biggest fan.......2007-07-28
First of all, I've been a Braves fan for 30 years, so I appreciate the success of the Schuerholz era. Having said that, this book is really terrible.
Schuerholz comes across as a pompous blowhard who wants us to know that he IS the best dressed man in baseball ("dapper" & "stylish apparel" are used in the book), and that he and Tom Glavine know more about wine than idiots like Stan Kasten. In fact, we get three pages on a Chateau La Fleur Petrus Pomerol, vintage 1961 - oh yeah, that's great reading!! Add some incessant name dropping and a pile Management 101 anecdotes and you get this opus of self-love.
I really thought I'd enjoy this book. It's too bad the big guy didn't stick to baseball and leave the management cliches for someone as impressed with the author's insights as the author himself. It's almost as if Schuerholz is desperately seeking his share of the credit for the success of the team; so much so that he tries to convince the reader that his management expertise is more responsible for the team's success than the organization Bobby Cox had in place when the author arrived in Atlanta. I'm not buying it, John - even though I was dumb enough to buy this book.
Irritating and Cliched.......2007-07-09
An occasionally interesting look into the mind of a successful MLB general manager is marred by insipid management book cliches regurgitated from far better motivational books.
If this book had stuck to the inside stories, it might have been a modern baseball classic, but Schuerholz can't seem to resist slinging tired bromides about commitment and teamwork. When he talks about baseball, Schuerholz is a joy; but when he babbles about his "leadership strategies," this book jumps the rails.
Methinks this book might be a better library or bookstore skim than a take home purchase.
Better than expected!.......2007-04-07
As a long-time baseball fan who has heard all the interviews and read a lot of baseball books, I fully expected "Built To Win" to be a rah-rah, gung-ho baseball book in the spirit of the interviews that Tommy Lasorda always gives the media. I also expected nothing resembling "inside info" that I hadn't read elsewhere. So I was very pleasantly surprised that the book isn't at all like that. As a 15-year Braves' season-ticket holder, I learned a lot about the organization and gained a greater respect for Schurholz and his staff. The only negative thing I can say about it is that Schurholz repeatedly hammers the point that his philosophies are all full of goodie-two-shoes attitudes. While that's not a bad thing . . . in fact it's quite admirable in this day of schmuck-dominated business dealings . . . it gets a little old after a while.
Schuerholz proves his genius.......2007-02-22
A great "bio" of the streak of the Braves. If you're a die-hard Braves fan, you'll love this book. If you're into the management of baseball, you'll love it as well.
Good baseball stories mixed with some leadership tips........2006-09-09
As a lifetime Braves fan I may be a little biased, but as a lifetime baseball fan I think I can make a fair review. It seems like Schuerholz wanted to write a book about how to be a great leader in the business world, but he just could not stop talking about all the interesting behind the scenes baseball stories from his career as a general manager for the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves.
These stories make this book a fun read for baseball fans. Schuerholz talks about the Glavine debacle, trading for Barry Bonds, stealing Maddux away from the Yankees, and trying to sign Arod among other things. This book is a must read for Braves fans, and a pretty good look into the life of a general manager for baseball fans.
Book Description
This is the story of Leo Mazzone and his ascent through the minor leagues to the dugout of the Atlanta Braves where he has become one of the finest pitching coaches in the game and has coached perhaps the greatest pitching staff ever assembled on a major league roster. Mazzone has been developing pitchers at various levels of the Braves organization since 1979, but nothing has given him more satisfaction than the past 11 seasons. The Braves pitching staff has either led or been second in the major leagues in ERA's each year since 1992, and his starting pitchers have won six Cy Young Awards between them. Tales from the Braves Mound reveals many of Mazzone's coaching philosophy's and will give insight into his relationships with current Braves greats such as Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. An assortment of stories and memories from Mazzone's time on the Braves bench will make this book a must read for any Braves fan or baseball fan in general.
Customer Reviews:
Mazzone and the Braves.......2005-10-27
We bought this book as a gift for an ardent Atlanta (nee Boston, nee Milwaukee!) Braves fan. We had looked for some time to find an appropriate book, and this was a winner! Mazzone has been linked with Bobby Cox, the Braves manager, for several years and their results together have been recordbreaking. So much of the success of the Braves has had to do with the consistently high level of perfromance of their pitching staff, and Leo Mazzone has been the constant during all that time, despite turnover of the pitchers themselves. It was interesting to hear from the man himself, and the book makes excellent reading for a real baseball fan. It will be interesting to see how long the Braves maintain their pitching excellence, now that Leo Mazzone will be wearing a Baltimore uniform!
Mazzone holds court.......2005-10-14
Of the many factors influencing the Braves' stupendous run of 13 straight Division Championships, none of it is more prominent than its emphasis on pitching anchored by Leo Mazzone.
"Tales from the Braves Mound" contains anecdotes in Mazzone's career from his pitching days to his forays in the minor leagues and finally to his elevation to pitching coach with Bobby Cox as the manager of the Atlanta Braves.
The anecdotes provide some interesting tidbits such as Maddux's request to give him a mound visit because "it's lonely out there" and even Glavine's reluctance to hit a batter after his teammate was beaned by the opposing pitcher. Also, Mazzone defends his coaching philosophies which include the practice of throwing in between starts, getting the pitcher's input on how long he stays in the game, his aversion to the "wild card" format and emphasis on pitch location rather than raw power. Of course, the good coach in him refuses to dwell on the Braves' postseason failures but instead celebrates the team's successes.
Having said that, I would have liked him to make the book just a little bit longer by rating the current aces (Randy Johnson, Bartolo Colon) and sluggers (Barry Bonds, David Ortiz) and of course another chapter on the post-Maddux, Glavine era would have made the book perfect.
Even if pundits scoff at his team's postseason failures, I do believe real baseball enthusiasts including opposing players and coaches have a healthy respect for his and Cox's ability to mold a staff and in effect a team.
Good stuff.......2005-10-09
While I enjoyed the behind the scenes experience and Leo's candid discussion concerning his past and present pitchers, the book needed more beef. Too good a subject to pass an opportunity to be more in depth. Other than that, very enjoyable book!
Attention True Baseball Fans.......2003-05-31
I have been a Brave's fan since the late eighties watching the young guns loose close games by one or two runs, especially in 89 and 90. Scott and Leo team up to give us a highly entertaining behind the scenes look of a decade and more of one of the best pitching staff's in the history of baseball. This book is well written and is a must for any true baseball fan, particularly Brave's fans. Great book Scott and Leo!
Book Description
More than 30 former and current Atlanta Braves players celebrate the extraordinary moments that have shaped the franchise's rich heritage, which includes a major league record 14 straight divisional titles.
Book Description
1996 marked the 125th season of the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in America: the Atlanta Braves. This comprehensive reference begins with the team's birth in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings, and follows them to Milwaukee in 1953 and to Atlanta in 1966, playing under such a variety of names as Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Braves, Bees, and back to the Braves. Because of this transient past, much of the franchise's history has been misplaced over the years—until now. Beloved not only by their tomahawk-chopping local fans but by baseball fans everywhere, the Braves have become one of today's most successful sports organizations. The Braves Encyclopedia brings it all together.
150 player profiles—from Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Warren Spahn, and Eddie Matthews to all-time greats Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, and Terry Pendleton to today's stars like David Justice, Greg Maddux, and Steve Avery
600 photographs of players, game highlights, and memorabilia
extensive statistics, including box scores, team and individual records, and trades
season-by-season descriptions bring to life the great moments, the World Series championships, the managerial strategies, the personalities, and the milestones
a comprehensive history of the ballparks
a wealth of little-known facts and surprising anecdotes
Average customer rating:
- Nice look at Turner Field
|
Turner Field: Rarest of Diamonds
Gary Caruso
Manufacturer: Longstreet Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Baseball
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1563524503 |
Book Description
Details the creation and first year of the Atlanta Braves' spectacular new ballpark.
Customer Reviews:
Nice look at Turner Field.......2003-06-16
This is a nice look at one of the prettiest of the new ballparks around today- Turner Field, the home of the Atlanta Braves. It has enough nice pictures to give you a feel for the stadium if you've never been there before. This would be a nice book for any Braves fan.
Customer Reviews:
Great Color And Great Memories.......2005-02-19
I've been a Braves fan since 1977, and the 1991 season still stands as the greatest rush I've ever experienced. From nine back at the All-Star break, the Braves put on a pennant race for the ages. When it was over, they had outlasted the Dodgers by one game.
So they went up against the now two-time NL East champs, the Pirates. Trailing three games to two, they went back to Pittsburgh and not only beat them - they didn't even allow them to score!!! 21-year old Steve Avery and 24-year old John Smoltz - the only Brave still with the team in 2005 - made believers of all of baseball.
And then came the greatest World Series in history.
Still.
I only hate how it ended - and I can't blame that one on Rosenberg. Enjoy the book.
Book Description
In a city that had almost given up on the idea of a world championship, pitcher Tom Glavine turned dreams into reality when he pitched one of the greatest games in World Series History. The 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians in game six of the 1995 World Series clinched Atlanta's first world championship and made Glavine a hero.
In None But the Braves, Glavine tells the story that led up to this moment of glory, giving readers an insight into what it takes to build a championship team. As the winningest pitcher in baseball in the last five years, he also describes what makes an exceptional pitching staff. He offers an in-depth look at many of the personalities on the team, including Greg Maddux, his fellow pitcher and four-time Cy Young award-winner; former teammate Deion Sanders; and, of course, owner Ted Turner. He also tells his own story from growing up in a working-class family, pushing himself to succeed and his decision to turn down a chance to play pro hockey, opting for baseball instead.
Fans of the Braves, and of baseball, will love Glavine's book. It is filled with all the drama and inspiration that make the game America's passion.
Customer Reviews:
Glavine's gabbin'.......2004-02-01
As a fan of the Atlanta Braves, I jumped at the chance to get a bit more background on one of the most dominating bullpens of our times. This bullpen brought us over five Cy Young awards and a string of divisional championships.
My first thought was that this would be about the Braves. Since this was not quite the case, I felt it would an autobiography about Tom Glavine. Well, both of these are partly true, because the text is more of a series of reflections on his life and baseball. Unfortunately, these reflections don't appear to be in any particular order, which can be confusing for the readers.
We learn about the seasons of the Braves going to the World Series and the one time they won. We read about the strike year and hear it from the point of view of Glavine who was a spokesman for the players union. Glavine shares his brief time in the minor leagues as well as his being drafted to play professional hockey. There are even some stories about famous Atlanta Braves and other players, like when he was supposed to retaliate for a hit batsman, but had a bit of inner turmoil because he would have to plunk Dale Murphy.
Although the book could have gone through another edit, it does have some gems for baseball fans.
Tom Glavine best lefthander in the NL.......2000-08-10
This book was very insightfull. It not only told of Tom's life growing up torn between hockey and baseball but it told of the wonderful seasons he has shared with "America's team". I loved the way it talked about his relationships with Greg Maddux and introduced you to the other people on the team. In my opinion there is no other man in baseball that is as polite and caring as Tom Glavine. He never used a foul word or talked demeaning about any of the players or opponents. He is a true hero to the sport of baseball.
My review of None but the braves:A pitcher,a team,a champion.......2000-07-16
I think that Tom Glavine did a wonderful job of writing this book. He explains his experiences throughout life in a way that is easy for anyone to understand. I enjoy seeing the photographs. His picture with his daughter Amber is adorable.
For Glavine Fans- That's about it.......2000-05-21
I must reveal I'm a life long Braves fan. I've rooted for and respected Tommy Glavine since his rookie season pitching for 7,000 people at Fulton County stadium. I enjoyed this book just as I have enjoyed watching Glavine's career.
However, the book doesn't reveal much insight into the Braves or the game of baseball-just Tommy Glavine. It reads like a book rushed to print in order to capitalize on the 1995 World Series MVPship of Glavine; while the marketability of Glavine was high. Its a standard baseball auto/biography. The 3 stars isn't to belittle this book: its an average book getting an average rating.
Not bad.......2000-01-11
Pretty good account of both Tom Glavine and the Braves. Weak in some areas.
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