Baseball Prospectus 2005?

darkhorse · 03-08-2005, 02:52 AM

I ordered my copy on Saturday. Hope to have it on my doorstep on Wednesday. Any of you chaps put in an order already? Or planning to do so? Current price at Amazon.com is $12.21.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/book/

attackemu · 03-08-2005, 02:55 AM

I already have mine, mate. There is a top-notch article on quantifying the effects of in-play baserunning.

darkhorse · 03-08-2005, 03:00 AM

2004 BB Pro was my first exposure, though I've been making use of the website for years.

rem · 03-08-2005, 03:07 AM

I pre-ordered but didn't realize that they didn't charge my (I bought a lot of school books at the same time) so it actually took me a few weeks to come with the money (I spent nearly all my cash on hand on a much needed new jacket and shoes) so I expect to get it shortly. I've been a subscriber to the website for about a year now and enjoy the subscription even if I don't keep up with reading all the articles. I accidentally bought 2004 BB Pro this winter because it was bundled with Bill James' 2005 Handbook and I thought I was getting this years version at pre-order price. Still, worth the price to look it over.

attackemu · 03-08-2005, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

2004 BB Pro was my first exposure, though I've been making use of the website for years.

Same.

darkhorse · 03-08-2005, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remangiii

I accidentally bought 2004 BB Pro this winter because it was bundled with Bill James' 2005 Handbook and I thought I was getting this years version at pre-order price. Still, worth the price to look it over.

I was excited about buying the 2004 Bill James Handbook until I cracked the sucka open and saw it was mainly stats. Bleah!!!

atarizx3 · 03-08-2005, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attackemu

I already have mine, mate.

ditto

The Professor · 03-08-2005, 09:13 AM

Already have it. Good stuff, as always.

asamford · 03-08-2005, 09:37 AM

one of my favorite player capsules so far is for Rod Barajas. Pretty damn funny. Anybody else got any funny ones they've come across?

Crapshoot · 03-08-2005, 09:51 AM

5 years of buying that damn thing...

Mike Donlin · 03-08-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asamford

one of my favorite player capsules so far is for Rod Barajas. Pretty damn funny. Anybody else got any funny ones they've come across?

A Bob Howry Abbot & Costello routine.

"How're we gonna get batters out?"

"Howry."

You get the idea.

darkhorse · 03-13-2005, 01:58 PM

Yesterday, I finally bought a premium subscription at BB Prospectus. I've got a lot of reading to catch up on, so I'll see you gents in a couple of years.

Next on my list is a membership at www.sabr.org .

JML · 03-13-2005, 02:50 PM

If I did the fantasy league thing, I would buy it in a heartbeat. But I can't justify the purchase otherwise. It would be nice to have around, but I know I wouldn't get my money's worth out of it.

<o> · 03-13-2005, 02:54 PM

I bought the book last week, and I'm trying to wrap my head around things that I've heard people talk about, but never understood. Some of the player profiles are priceless though.

darkhorse · 03-13-2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <o>

Some of the player profiles are priceless though.

Yep, that's one of the big attractions. Some excellent writing in the book. It's what made the Bill James Abstract's so compelling as well, and the lack thereof made the 2004 edition of the Bill James Handbook a nonpurchase.

<o> · 03-13-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Yep, that's one of the big attractions. Some excellent writing in the book. It's what made the Bill James Abstract's so compelling as well, and the lack thereof made the 2004 edition of the Bill James Handbook a nonpurchase.

Well for me, hopefully, it'll lead to a better understanding of the different ratings that you and other bring up. Doubt I can grasp and understand that much, but I sure can try.

darkhorse · 03-13-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <o>

Well for me, hopefully, it'll lead to a better understanding of the different ratings that you and other bring up. Doubt I can grasp and understand that much, but I sure can try.

I remember Bill James writing in the "Politics of Glory", his 1990 book about the BB Hall of Fame, that a presentation was made to the HOF committee on SS Arky Vaughan's behalf and that they "bought it" and Vaughan earned induction into the hallowed halls.

10 years later, Bill James was endorsing Arky as the second greatest shortstop to ever play the game in his New Historical Abstract.

So, even one of the sharpest minds in baseball can expand his knowledge base in a major way over a period of time.

<o> · 03-13-2005, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

I remember Bill James writing in the "Politics of Glory", his 1990 book about the BB Hall of Fame, that a presentation was made to the HOF committee on SS Arky Vaughan's behalf and that they "bought it" and Vaughan earned induction into the hallowed halls.

10 years later, Bill James was endorsing Arky as the second greatest shortstop to ever play the game in his New Historical Abstract.

So, even one of the sharpest minds in baseball can expand his knowledge base in a major way over a period of time.

Thanks DH. See you're not the complete Asshat that MD would make you out to be.

darkhorse · 03-13-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <o>

Thanks DH. See you're not the complete Asshat that MD would make you out to be.

One of my all time great sports moments occurred in an NBA contest back in the late '70s. Julius Erving's 76ers were playing in a nationally televised game and a fight broke out midway through the contest. While the melee continued, the camera panned around the court until it finally rested on Dr. J, sitting on a basketball at midcourt, enjoying the spectacle.

I'm just sitting on the basketball these days.

Kaline · 03-14-2005, 03:05 PM

I've had mine for 3 or 4 days now....read it all.

This is my first experience at more than dabbling into sabremetics and such...it was meh.

PECOTA seems very flawed and picks regressions for about every player. They have a ton of very young prospects in the top 50 (A ball guys...) and Im not sold on their EQBA/EQSLG/EQOBP. I found the base-running article to be very interesting, even if somewhat flawed.

All in all, a good read (and I read damn near every players bio as well). However, its to be taken in with my other reading materials. It offers a different way to view players, not the end all, and some of their projections just didn't really make a whole lot of since. Either way, a good read and worth the 17 bucks or whatever I paid for it at Borders.

03-08-2005, 02:52 AM	#1
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Baseball Prospectus 2005? I ordered my copy on Saturday. Hope to have it on my doorstep on Wednesday. Any of you chaps put in an order already? Or planning to do so? Current price at Amazon.com is $12.21. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/book/

03-08-2005, 02:55 AM	#2
attackemu All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 971	I already have mine, mate. There is a top-notch article on quantifying the effects of in-play baserunning. __________________ "Disguised in EMU's Blunt and sometimes hostile post is actually very sound advice. I think you would be wise to consider what he said." -ihatenames

03-08-2005, 03:07 AM	#4
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	I pre-ordered but didn't realize that they didn't charge my (I bought a lot of school books at the same time) so it actually took me a few weeks to come with the money (I spent nearly all my cash on hand on a much needed new jacket and shoes) so I expect to get it shortly. I've been a subscriber to the website for about a year now and enjoy the subscription even if I don't keep up with reading all the articles. I accidentally bought 2004 BB Pro this winter because it was bundled with Bill James' 2005 Handbook and I thought I was getting this years version at pre-order price. Still, worth the price to look it over. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

03-08-2005, 09:13 AM	#8
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	Already have it. Good stuff, as always. __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

03-08-2005, 09:51 AM	#10
Crapshoot Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: watching: DArwin's missing link in action Posts: 3,112	5 years of buying that damn thing... __________________ Senior Senor Member of the OOTP Boards Pittsburgh Playmates- OTBL

03-08-2005, 03:00 AM	#3
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	2004 BB Pro was my first exposure, though I've been making use of the website for years.

03-08-2005, 09:37 AM	#9
asamford Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Snellville, Georgia Posts: 1,769	one of my favorite player capsules so far is for Rod Barajas. Pretty damn funny. Anybody else got any funny ones they've come across?

03-13-2005, 01:58 PM	#12
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Yesterday, I finally bought a premium subscription at BB Prospectus. I've got a lot of reading to catch up on, so I'll see you gents in a couple of years. Next on my list is a membership at www.sabr.org . __________________ "The Human Torch was denied a bank loan."

03-13-2005, 02:50 PM	#13
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	If I did the fantasy league thing, I would buy it in a heartbeat. But I can't justify the purchase otherwise. It would be nice to have around, but I know I wouldn't get my money's worth out of it.

03-14-2005, 03:05 PM	#20
Kaline Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 321	I've had mine for 3 or 4 days now....read it all. This is my first experience at more than dabbling into sabremetics and such...it was meh. PECOTA seems very flawed and picks regressions for about every player. They have a ton of very young prospects in the top 50 (A ball guys...) and Im not sold on their EQBA/EQSLG/EQOBP. I found the base-running article to be very interesting, even if somewhat flawed. All in all, a good read (and I read damn near every players bio as well). However, its to be taken in with my other reading materials. It offers a different way to view players, not the end all, and some of their projections just didn't really make a whole lot of since. Either way, a good read and worth the 17 bucks or whatever I paid for it at Borders.