Blog book club: Why a Curveball Curves
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- April
- 17
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At last count, I have 12 new baseball books stacked up here in blog headquarters. People just send them to me.
I’m planning to read most of them and will pass along a mini-review from time to time. The first one I got to was Why a Curveball Curves. The Incredible Science of Sports.
This is not necessarily a baseball book, but there’s a lot of baseball in there. Editor Frank Vizard has put together a series of articles (complete with diagrams and photos) that explain the scientific aspects of sports.
There are contributions from Lou Piniella, Jim Kaat and other experts. You can find out what the “sweet spot” is and, yes, why a curveball curves.
I found it interesting, and this from somebody who spent four years of college avoiding science and math classes. It’s not beach reading, but you’ll be smarter after you read it. I might actually understand what Mike Mussina is talking about now.
Amazon link: Why A Curveball Curves
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on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 11:06 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
anyone read “the Physics of baseball” ??
and you’re link doesn’t work, Pete
your
I’ve been waiting for “why does a forkball fork?”
Pete, the link is 404
somewhere jim katt is on a golf course telling everyone in his foursome that vernon wells is going to win the triple crown. I miss Jim Katt like ill miss guiseppe franco proceed commercials…
Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Curv.....1588164756
Best baseball book I’ve read recently was Murray Chass’ October Men about the Yankees 1978 season, infinitely better than the Bronx is Burning, because it wrings all its dramatic tension from the game and the season. Then again, that season lent itself to it.
BTW, SI’s Albert Chen wrote an interesting profile of the Wanger recently. In case you missed it, check out the link below.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
I’m in the process of writing “Why your fastball gets hit: The Kyle Farnsworth Story”.
You know, I tried throwing curveballs before, and mine was awful. It made me appreciate what the guys in the big leagues do.
Kill-Schill(ing),
Did you read “The Greatest Game” by Richard Bradley? Also a quality book about the ‘78 season, and the playoff game between the Sox and Yankees.
I’ve read The Physics of Baseball. Great Book! It was central to my senior high school project about 8 years ago. That book explains a ton about the game and gives truths and myths about how the game works.
Actually Why A Curveball Curves is really easy to read and comprehend. They go into many other sports so it’s not just a baseball book. But there is a break down on PED and what they do.
“Beckett, though, hasn’t been as effective in the regular season at Yankee Stadium, going 2-2 with a 6.86 ERA while serving up five homers and allowing the Yankees to hit .345 in four starts there.”…from ESPN.com….look for our favorite Horse’s Keester to get his butt smacked tonight ! Oh yes…It is going to be fun to watch !
I fixed the link, sorry about that
YEA Sweet Lou’s chapter on how to hit a homer should be required reading on the one on Babe Ruth’s home run secrets. He did it without steroids. Only booze and broads!
I can make a wiffleball curve pretty good.. Does that count for anything? =]
I threw the weirdest slow curve when I was around years old. It wasn’t your usual curve, but it dove in the zone and I threw it at about 65% effort. I have no idea why this pitch worked, but I struck out almost as many pitchers with this as I did with my fastball.
My coach was having me throw it without touching any of the seams of the ball and just using the front, middle, and thumb fingers. No other fingers touched the ball. I wonder if this book mentions that pitch or not, or if anyone knows what it is.
I needed that pitch when my 4-seamer had way too much movement on it =)
*Around 15 years old.
Dman…yes, yes it does !
Wow, it must be early. I made a whole mess of mistakes in that…
struck out as many ***hitters*** not pitchers..
Kill Schill,
Did you read The Bronx Zoo?
WTF we’re a white blog now ?
all I see is blue and white on my screen, is it just me ?
ok nevermind back to normal…
they made a change.
Pete,
What’s your thought ons Springsteen’s endorsement of Obama. Should celebrities endorse candidates? Just curious.
myrtlebeachfan –
I don’t know if 2 bounces on the way to the plate can be considered ‘way too much movement’ …
Actually, if I could still reach the plate on only 2 bounces I’d be happy.
Thanks Fernando I just purchased Bradley’s book via Amazon.
Yeah, years ago, Buchholz stole your laptop. Amusing but after reading October Men Sparky Lyle is not a guy for whom I can summon all that much sympathy.
Copies from a previous thread would appreciate some thoughts:
Ortiz and PEDs.
I have a legitimate question – this is not meant to just throw a rumor out there.
is it possible the Ortiz was a PED user. The history is that he couldn’t hit, was released by the Twins and then a bit later in his career becomes one of the best sluggers in the game. When MLB starts cracking down on PEDs the last two years, Barry’s knees start hurting and is out, other alleged users start breaking down, David Ortiz starts breaking down.
Mo Vaughn had similar trajectory. They had a similar body type although Mo was probably a foot shorter.
Again, not to spread rumors, but it sure seems like Ortiz would fit the profile.
Kill-Schill(ing),
I gotta say that 1978 team really fascinates me. I read a lot about the 50’s and early 60’s teams of the Yankees that had all those hero’s. The ‘78 team had some stellar players, but none that resounded like the names of Mickey Mantle, or Yogi Berra. They were an embattled group of guys that accomplished something big that season.
And I really liked the book. The book revolves around the playoff game, but covers the regular season of both teams as well. Just reading stories like Guidry having to get pulled out of a game because he swallowed his chewing tobacco and it made him nauseus, makes me realize how different baseball was back then. That team had some rag tag guys.
In reference to Papi, who knows what he did. To tell you the truth, I don’t care as long as he continues to slump.
jason,
No. Ortiz was a big guy, like Ryan Howard, who finally put the pieces together, (also like Ryan Howard). Bonds was tiny and then became huge. Ortiz has kind of always been hefty. Also, you can’t conclude much from their bodies breaking down. This is around the age it starts happening, and for people as big as Ortiz, the legs, especially the knees will be the first to go.
To Jason:
Keep in mind that PED’s do not make anyone a better hitter. Mechanics and practice help the hitter, so a good coach would help. What the PED’s do is providing consistency in along the days of a long season. So provided you can hit, you can hit longer into the season with PED’s. That’s why they are “Enhancements”
It would not surprise me if Ortiz took PED’s the same way it would not surprise me if Manny does. For that matter we fool ourselves thinking that only the superior players are on the juice, I think it’s a lot more and I would never blame since MLB and the Union doesn’t act to stop them.
jason,
I think it was schilling that came out a few years ago and said around 70% of baseball players are on some type of performing enhancements. So IMO he was not nearly as big with the twins as he is now. So i would say he is or was. Lets just hope he doesnt find more to take.
It might sound crazy but i also think that maybe Soriano was as well. He seems to be breaking down before our very eyes. I guess we’ll never know.
I will definitely check out both the Physics & Curveball books.
Jason,
You’re not starting rumors. This is a case where stats and your eyes don’t lie. Just like they didn’t in Barry’s case.
Ortiz has even set up his own “flaxseed oil” defense. Last year or so, David said he doesn’t drink the protein shakes in the DR anymore b/c you don’t know what’s in them. Thus if it comes out that he juiced, he’s already got his defense.
It’s gotten to the point where you’re not even mad or upset about it. So many of them have done it, you’re going to let it kill your love of the game? My views are probably shaped by the fact that Giambi was the first to come out and it was years ago.
What I don’t get is Frank Thomas. No modern man should look like the American folk hero John Henry. He was questioned, but gets a pass. Is he the one who came forward to the commissioner and escaped the report?
KillSchilling,
I just recently finished reading “October Men”. Great book and although it’s been a long time since I read it I think it was better than “The Bronx Zoo”.
A trio of Yankee video clips.
1) Alex hits a homerun off the astronaut
2) Erin Andrews postgame with Jeter-Man he could distract anyone interviewing him.
3) The astronaut gave a cool speech before throwing the first pitch. Gave a shout out to the bleacher creatures, but he missed the blog.
http://sports.espn.go.com/broa.....Id=2521705
Frank Thomas is actually one of the more outspoken ant-steroids players around. He’s just a big friggin dude. Always was.
No not mad or upset at Ortiz or any particular player. More that it seems some get a free pass because the media like them, and Ortiz is a very likeable figure and is a legend in Boston.
I don’t know if PEDs make you a better hitter, anyone who can make it to the big leagues has got to have a basic level of fundamentals. But they sure will add some extra feet which will make a fly ball a homerun.
I think the worst part of the issue is what is most overlooked. I for the most part, and looking back on it, couldn’t care if a PED pitcher is pitching to a PED hitter. It somewhat levels the playing field. But reading how prevalent steroids are in high school and younger is scary. With two girls 5 and 3, I shudder to think what pressure might be placed on them in the next 10 years to succeed in really any given sport.
This is not a baseball issue, although it has gotten the press (and Congress) recently. I read an article in SI a bit back about a youth in line skater whose father hooked him up so he can excel. That is the cary part.
I like this idea of your doing occasional short book reviews. I look forward to seeing these.
Added benefit: authors and publishers will love you and send you more free books!
“But reading how prevalent steroids are in high school and younger is scary.”
You make a good point. I know several college ballplayers that use steroids and its overlooked by pretty much everyone; coaches, scouts, teamattes, etc. Some of them even got drafted, teams really don’t care I guess.
Patrick,
I would probably suggest that in the past (maybe still now), teams facilitated the process. One of the items in the Mitchell report was an email from Theo about Gagne in which he openly discusses Gagne as a PEDs guy.
The overwhelming pressure to succeed, the amazing lure of millions of dollars at virtually any professional level, and the apathy for so long from teams and fans was a perfect storm.
Hopefully the new attention being paid to the issue, however gratuitous by the powers that be will lead to real change. The skeptic in me thinks that the players and facilitators will always be one step ahead.
I’ve read the Physics of Baseball and used it for research. Pete, any previews on titles of the other books you have lined up?
I love all those people who claim a curve ball is an optical illusion.