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Monday, November 13, 2006

The Hardball Times Annual 2007

The Hardball Times will be releasing their third off-season baseball annual. The first, which covered the 2005 season left a lot to be desired - however, the 06 version was the best annual released last year, and I buy all of them. It had informative stats, solid analysis and wonderful essays. It was chocked full of Sabrmetrics, with a minimal amount of back patting (well one author did more than a little, but that’s besides the point) and even less useless snark. There were two essays specifically I wasn’t a fan of last year, but that is fantastic batting average if I’m only complaining about two.

While some might consider this post “spam” I think it would be a disservice to Primates if they weren’t aware of exactly how good the publication has become.

Matt Rauseo Posted: November 13, 2006 at 12:17 PM | 27 comment(s)
Related News: General, Sabermetrics, Books

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1. Damon Rutherford Posted: November 13, 2006 at 12:59 PM (#2236446)

The first annual covered the 2004 season, Mister High Standards. And it's The Hardball Times, not times.

2. JPWF13 Posted: November 13, 2006 at 03:00 PM (#2236557)

It was chocked full of Sabrmetrics, with a minimal amount of back patting (well one author did more than a little, but that’s besides the point) and even less useless snark.

What if you're a fan of useless snark????

Wait, MHS is praising a book full of sabrmetrics, is that form of snark itself?

3. Kyle S Posted: November 13, 2006 at 03:04 PM (#2236561)

I agree - the annual was great last year and looks to be even better this year. I'm looking forward to the Top 30 Prospects section.

4. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: November 13, 2006 at 03:06 PM (#2236563)

Wait, MHS is praising a book full of sabrmetrics, is that form of snark itself?

I believe that is known as "metasnark".

5. HowardMegdal Posted: November 13, 2006 at 05:27 PM (#2236807)

"Another thriving ghetto in the BTF confederacy."

Why do you continue to post at BTF? Do you hit because you love?

6. bunyon Posted: November 13, 2006 at 05:37 PM (#2236822)

Geez, I must be out of touch. I had no idea Matt Rauseo was MHS.

7. Robothal, Reporting from the 5th Dimension Posted: November 13, 2006 at 07:10 PM (#2236941)

Do you hit because you love?

Doesn't everyone?

8. Maury Brown Posted: November 14, 2006 at 12:21 AM (#2237224)

I really look forward to reading it this year. The group is writers is great, and it looks like Studes and Gleeman rounded up a great group of contributors. When is the pub date again?

9. sardonic Posted: November 14, 2006 at 12:35 AM (#2237228)

We sent it off to the publisher today, so it should be shipping within a couple weeks.

10. sardonic Posted: November 14, 2006 at 12:39 AM (#2237232)

And by "we" I of course mean "Dave," who again did the lion's share of the work on the book.

11. Greg Maddox Ford (Voxter) Posted: November 14, 2006 at 04:22 AM (#2237330)

Not to be a jerk, but I'm consistently disappointed by Hardball Times. Now and again there are interesting things on their website, but I don't feel any need to check it every day, and I was not excited enough by last year's annual to buy this year's, unless I hear something significant to change my mind. The fact that Will Leitch has an item in this year's book is enough for me to be skeptical about it.

12. studes Posted: November 14, 2006 at 08:50 AM (#2237369)

Thanks for the link, Matt. The book is due to ship November 30.

Sorry to hear that, Voxter. We try our best.

13. DSG Posted: November 14, 2006 at 08:51 AM (#2237370)

Not to be a jerk, but I'm consistently disappointed by Hardball Times. Now and again there are interesting things on their website, but I don't feel any need to check it every day, and I was not excited enough by last year's annual to buy this year's, unless I hear something significant to change my mind.

***

Why?

This year's Annual would make Bill James envious and proud -- both in terms of writing quality and research -- in my (somewhat biased) opinion, but it's kind of impossible to sell it to you if you can't explain why you're skeptical.

14. Repoz Posted: November 14, 2006 at 09:03 AM (#2237376)

The fact that Will Leitch has an item in this year's book is enough for me to be skeptical about it.

Cosloy's take: "Can't Start the Reading"

15. sardonic Posted: November 14, 2006 at 10:14 AM (#2237408)

David --

"somewhat"??

16. studes Posted: November 14, 2006 at 10:28 AM (#2237415)

Yeesh. No kidding. Let's not go overboard on the self-promotion.

17. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 14, 2006 at 11:02 AM (#2237447)

Let's not go overboard on the self-promotion.

Yeah - you don't want to sound like Baseball Prospectus :)

-- MWE

18. sardonic Posted: November 14, 2006 at 11:10 AM (#2237456)

Yeah - you don't want to sound like Baseball Prospectus :)

Definitely. We're WAY better at not self-promoting. ;)

19. DSG Posted: November 14, 2006 at 01:41 PM (#2237605)

I forgot to add a "Studes will yell at me for this" disclaimer at the end. I meant to. It's only my very subjective opinion, folks. And it has nothing to do with knowing or e-knowing these people. I think it's spectacular, though, and I would say that whether I was involved in it or not.

20. Damon Rutherford Posted: November 14, 2006 at 01:47 PM (#2237608)

Did you just create that "e-knowing" term? I like it.

21. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: November 14, 2006 at 02:04 PM (#2237628)

I think anyone who regularly posts to BTF can shamelessly self-promote their own baseball annual all day. At least in a thread dedicated to the annual, don't be a Mets hijacker.

22. Mister High Standards Posted: November 14, 2006 at 08:15 PM (#2237940)

I guess DSG has given away who was the only author who did more than a minimal amount of back patting. Seriously - DSG, when your trying to sell something comming off as a salesman is a worse thing in the world.

23. Guapo Posted: November 14, 2006 at 08:36 PM (#2237952)

Seriously - DSG, when your trying to sell something comming off as a salesman is a worse thing in the world.

That and for god's sake, whoever came up with the John Cougar Mellencamp "This Is Our Annual" campaign should be fired immediately.

24. DSG Posted: November 14, 2006 at 11:48 PM (#2238182)

25. DSG Posted: November 15, 2006 at 12:39 AM (#2238258)

And I should add, I thought they were pretty good. :)

26. The Hop-Clop Goes On (psa1) Posted: November 15, 2006 at 02:10 AM (#2238338)

My articles are pretty much the least-interesting part of the book. Honest.

***

And I should add, I thought they were pretty good. :)

***

I agree, David...at least on one of the two ;-).

27. sardonic Posted: November 15, 2006 at 02:14 PM (#2238742)

I'm actually really interested in seeing what the Hall of Merit people think of David's career pitching value chapter.

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