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Zusatztext “This isn’t the first book to take on the challenge of explaining baseball intricacies! but I’ve never seen it done better. . . . When it comes to producing ‘aha moments’ of baseball enlightenment! the book indeed has a high batting average.” — The Seattle Times “Hample calls himself an obsessed fan—obsessed in a good way—and the product of his torment is a funny and informative guide for all levels of fans.” — Yankees Magazine “Engaging. . . . Hample’s book is both deceptive in its simplicity (the basic rules! but also the ten different ways a pitcher can commit a balk) and surprising in its range.” — Fortune Informationen zum Autor Zack Hample has written three books about baseball and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. He has snagged more than 4,600 baseballs from 48 different major league stadiums. Hample runs a business called "Watch With Zack" and has a popular blog, The Baseball Collector, chronicling his obsession. http://www.zackhample.com Klappentext This smart and funny fan's guide to baseball explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will appeal to anyone-whether you're a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or a beginner. What is the difference between a slider and a curveball? At which stadium did "The Wave" first make an appearance? How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills? Which positions are never played by lefties? Why do some players urinate on their hands? Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott's Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport-no matter what your level of expertise. Features an glossary of baseball slang, an appendix of important baseball stats, and an appendix of uniform numbers.CHAPTER 1 THE BASICS There's one word that describes baseball: "You never know." --Joaquin Andujar, former major league pitcher THE DREAM Life is pretty good if you're in the Major Leagues. First of all, you get to hang out with other major leaguers. You also get to be on TV every day and play in front of thousands of people. You get to see your name in newspapers and magazines and on the back of people's T-shirts. You get to see your face on scoreboards and baseball cards and posters. You get free equipment from sporting goods companies. You get unlimited bubble gum and sunflower seeds in the dugout. You get to relax in the clubhouse and watch big-screen TVs from fancy leather couches while other people get paid to wash your uniform. You get to fly on private jets and stay in nice hotels. You get recognized by kids and pretty women who scream for autographs. Sometimes old men scream too. You earn an average annual salary of $2.9 million (or roughly $17,900 per game), and when the team travels, you get over $75 extra every day to spend on food. No wonder the dream starts early. But is it simply about fame and money? Maybe it's about having the chance to do something spectacular in one instant that people will always remember. Maybe it's about a subconscious desire to play a game full-time and act like a little boy well into adulthood. Maybe it's about having the manager and trainer race onto the field to make sure you're okay after you hit a foul ball off your ankle. The motivation is almost irrelevant because every kid with the dream wants it bad. Every kid has a reason. Every kid has a story. Every kid has a good baseball name. Every kid practices his swing in the mirror. Every kid can steal a base and catch a fly ball and throw strikes. Every kid converts his statistics into a 600-at-bat season and concludes that he'll be a superstar in the majors. Ever...
