Changing of the guard and a list of must-read baseball books

They’re starting to finalize the roster that’ll represent Canada at the men’s Olympic qualifier and got some good news yesterday when point guard Cory Joseph was cleared to play.

(He should be able to go Saturday and Sunday against Belgium; one last shameless plug for them, get tickets through this link.)

Now, I don’t think the addition of a young point guard making his senior international debut should be construed as automatically making Canada a favourite to get one of two Olympic berths from the qualification tournament. I still say they really need to focus on being in the top five so that they at least get a last-chance shot next summer to get to the London Games.

But for years – and I truly mean close to a decade – there’s been a crying lack of depth at that key spot and Joseph should be settling in for a long run getting used to running the show.

That’s not to take away from Jermaine Anderson, who’s hit some big shots and made some big plays, but you need depth of talent to compete against the men they’ll be facing and having Joseph on board solves that problem quite nicely.

I’m sure there will be times when he finds it difficult and there will unquestionably be growing pains. This, however, is a big first step.

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Let me get this straight:

There’s supposed to be some guy in the Rogers Centre stands with binoculars who figures out the catcher’s signals, relays them to The Guy In The White Shirt who then signals to a hitter 450 feet away what pitch is coming all in the time in takes a major league pitcher to get a sign and throw a ball.

And this was found out by four guys in the Chicago White Sox bullpen, who had to be looking sideways and up just to figure out what was going on?

What are they smoking out there while they wait to get called?

Really, that might be one of the more ridiculous scenarios I can imagine.

Now, if the Jays are somehow stealing signs by using runners on base or first- or third-base coaches, all the power to them. That’s what you’re supposed to do and it’s a tradition as old as the game itself.

If you’re not trying to steal signs – from catcher to pitcher or from manager to third base coach to batter – you’re not doing your job.

Heck, we figured out when a Dastardly Opponent of the Mighty Rockies was going to bunt and felt a great sense of accomplishment when we told the kids.

But from centre field? Two guys in cahoots eventually getting some signal to a hitter? As a wise man once said:

“This whole thing is stupid.”

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Remember the other day when we were lamenting the lack of cool nicknames these days?

Well, I think we need to start calling that Lawrie kid Hobbs.

As in …

Sure, he doesn’t hit left and as far as I know they don’t let ‘em play when there’s lightning in the vicinity and I’m pretty sure the young fella’s never caused a power outage but what the heck.

Hobbs it is.

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Hmm.

Day game.

Middle of summer.

Nice day out.

Gonna be loud down at the yard.

IGBT will be going around 12:30 for you laggards who are dodging work.

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List time?

It is impossible to come up with a list of the five best baseball books because the game simply lends itself to brilliant writing and storytelling and has for decades.

But I was asked in the mail for a list and, dammit, a list you shall get.

The qualifier: This is a list culled from books I’ve actually read over the years, not ones I’ve heard of, and my reading of baseball has fallen off over the years.

So I’m waiting to hear yours; these are mine, in no particular order:

Eight Men Out, Eliot Asinof

The 1919 Black Sox scandal wasn’t just about players and gamblers, the team’s ownership was complicit and this is an outstanding look at the sorry saga. Better than the movie.

Glory Of Their Times, Lawrence Ritter

An oral history of the game told through the voices of some of the true greats to ever play.

Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game, Jimmy Breslin

The 1962 Mets lost 120 games, they introduced us to Marvellous Marv Throneberry and were managed by Casey Stengel. Toss in Breslin’s style and it a great one.

Shoeless Joe, WP Kinsella

Sure, you know it better as the book that spawned Field of Dreams but the movie can’t hold a candle to the book. Really, it’s that good. Yes, I know, the Iowa Baseball Confederacy should be on this list probably but there’s a one-book-per-author limit.

Bang The Drum Slowly, Mark Harris

Baseball, friendship and a unique style. Helluva story, some make it the best baseball book ever done. Not sure about that but it’s good.

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Speaking of mail …

You know the drill and you really have to work this week. If we’re going to do two on the weekend we are so far behind it’s not even funny.

I’ve got an afternoon in Niagara somewhere on Friday, and maybe a night tonight so get cracking.

Click. Write. Send.

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How many are hoping for a Sunday afternoon PGA pairing of Tiger Woods and Adam Scott?

How good would that be?

Might be the only reason I’ll even sneak a look at the PGA this weekend it’s so far the fourth major it’s not even funny.

In fact, I’d suggest the Players or even the Memorial have supplanted it on the most-anticipated list of annual golf majors.

If you ask me, I’d rank the traditional four as:

British Open

Love the different courses and conditions.

US Open

Isn’t it nice to see then humbled a little bit.

The Masters

I’m waiting for the year Jim Nance actually cries.

(Pause, long pause)

The PGA

They still count it as a major, right?

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Comments

[Kerry O]

Doug -- still enjoying the blog and thanks for (somewhat) reigniting my enjoyment of baseball. However, I'm dying for some NBA related content. Not necessarily news (there's none out there right now, I know), but maybe more lists? Top 5 at each position? Top 5 surprising stars/surprising busts? I

[Nate]

Great List! I'll add:
The Dixon Cornbelt League - A book of short fiction from the master Kinsella, which includes the GREATEST baseball story I've ever read aside from Shoeless Joe: A man on vacation, sitting alone on a Caribbean beach when a solo traveller on a raft pulls up - who happens to be Roberto Clemente. (This one includes a shout out to the Blue Jays)

And Say Hey: Biography of Willie Mays really helps me appreciate old Brooklyn Dodgers references I wasn't alive for.

[David in Oakville]

What I really want to know, how did your colleague Mr. Cox get scooped by ESPN on this? You got to ask the question right?

A wise man also said, if only common sense was more, well, common.

[LeeZ]

Oh good God, Doug, what have you done, what have you done! By crowing about how you guys let the Mighty Rockies know when a bunt is coming, you've opened yourself up to every moralistic, p.c. self-righteous twit out there to flood you wilth comments like: How COULD you teach these innocent young kids to cheat and steal signs! You're helping destroy the moral fabric of our society! And blah blah blah, yada yada yada. Fasten your seatbelts, Doug. It's gonna be a bumpy ride! As for your list of baseball books, your omission of Ball Four means one of three things: 1) You've never read it (to which I say, FOR SHAME, DOUG, FOR SHAME!); 2) You read it, but you had a senior's moment and forgot to include it (we of a certain age have all been there, so you're excused); or 3) you read it but don't consider it one of the all-time great books on baseball. And if THAT'S the case, my friend, you and I will have to do the whole pistols-at-dawn thing, because Ball Four is not only the greatest book about baseball EVER, but one of the best and most important sports books of all time, and an especially monumental book for you members of the press, because without Ball Four, you guys would still be compelled to write about ball players in every sport in hagiographic, reverential terms. So, what is it, Doug? Door Number One? Door Number Two? Or (I shudder to even think it) Door Number Three?

Blogger's note: Oh, I've read it; let's say it's tied for sixth

[LeeZ]

Ball Four tied for SIXTH? Grrrr...That's it: I'm starting a motion to have you impeached and me replace you as King of this blog!
As for the man in the white shirt thing, let's say for the sake of arguement that it's true. In that case, why wouldn't a player traded from or let go by the Jays tell his new organization what the Jays are doing, in which case that team would tell the league and get them to punish the Jays? Or would that break some code of silence? ie. what happens in this dugout stays in this dugout?

Blogger's note: That was Alex's point exactly

[Lorie]

@LeeZ: Wow! I'm as passionate about books and reading and literacy as the next bibliophile, but CHILL, DUDE!!! Each to their own or "chacun a son gout" as they say in Dubreuilville (French-speaking village whose inhabitants provided an excellent repast - not to mention directions back to Wawa - to wayward moose-hunters). But seriously, Doug, I CAN'T BELIEVE you've omitted the marvellous book by David Halberstam, "Summer of 49"! And for a virtual trip to Italy (which is always a good thing) with molto baseball content, "Baseballissimo" by Dave Bidini is a terrific read. Cheers! And All Hail Hobbs!!!

[jc]

This inning's got Hero Lawrie written all over it
by dgsmith 9:10 PM yesterday
And here we go, one out, bases load, Lawrie hitless in Canada
by dgsmith 9:12 PM yesterday
Holy crap!
by dgsmith 9:13 PM yesterday

The baseball live blog may have a bit of a slower pace but those three lines are priceless. They made an already entertaining game that much more entertaining. As for the nickname...I think he's got to do it for a bit longer before he gets the honour of "Hobbs". Besides, a literary guy like you probably remembers the that Hobbs on paper struck out. Here's another less steeped in baseball lore...with those forearms and the unintended enthusiastic bashing of his teammates....."Bam Bam"! (he could still keep the "B"). Any takers?

[Peter in Italy]

@LeeZ
I agree with you about Jim Bouton's "Ball Four" - great book! I read it back in the early '70s and still remember it fondly. I especially loved the ballplayer's quick-witted retort to the woman heckling him. Something like:
Woman: "If I was your wife, I'd give you poison."
Ballplayer: "If I was your husband, I'd take it!"

[Penguin]

How about Jim Bouton's "Ball Four"?

[Gordo]

A big thank you to the Hamilton Spec for, at least, writing an article about Canada's senior men. By the way, to those interested, Brady Heaslip will be with Baylor this weekend and don't forget to stick around for the Baylor Ryerson game after the Belgium game on Saturday. By the way, I agree with the above writer: Summer of 49 is one of the most interesting and well written sports books I have read. David is sorely missed!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

@jc, you nailed it! That string was live blog perfection. I'm willing to buy into calling the Boy Wonder Hobbs if we can also agree to call the Esteemed Grunt Karnak. Cheers.

[Jim Rootham]

Some additions. Leave us not forget that Mark Harris wrote several books using Henry Wiggen as narrator, "The Southpaw", "Ticket for a Seamstitch", and "It Looked Like Forever" are the others.

More locally John Craig wrote "Chappie and Me", a fictionalized account of a black barnstorming team in the late 30's. That got turned into the stage play "Ain't Lookin".

At the risk of triggering Doug's allergies, all of Bill James is very fine. He explores baseball. It was not an accident that Boston started winning championships after they hired James.

[m]

"remember it fondly. I especially loved the ballplayer's quick-witted retort to the woman heckling him. Something like:
Woman: "If I was your wife, I'd give you poison."
Ballplayer: "If I was your husband, I'd take it!"
That quote is Winston Churchill to Lady Asquith.

[Andre]

I very happy to see Canada finally getting a PG. Its time to move anderson out and let the youth run things. I hope tristan jumps on board too.

[doug]

a few weeks ago there was a discussion on here about Sabonis and his worthiness to be a HOF'er here is a excellent article on Sabonis...well written and insightful..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jack_mccallum/08/11/arvydas.sabonis.hof/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a1