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"This
book has a little something for every baseball fan. Each player pair are
compared statistically, then Mr. Lombardi provides a nice narrative
detailing the history of each player and his conclusions on why they're
similar. So the statheads get their stats, the historians get some
history, and for those of you like me who are both, you get a ton of
useful information."
- - - TigerBlog.net,
May 19, 2005
"By
adjusting the career numbers of players to the same baseline -- so a
hitter for the Rockies in the 1990s doesn't have an automatic edge over a
hitter from the Dodgers in the 1960s -- Lombardi comes up with some very
interesting and surprising comparisons.
Lombardi
makes dozens of "matches" between players of all different
sizes, shapes, and eras, and mixes in some history about each duo and
plenty of personal anecdotes.
.........the
book is a very enjoyable read and well worth picking up."
- - - The
Hardball Times, June 3, 2005
".......for
everybody, reading the Same Game cases will introduce you to
several players you’ve either never heard of before or have forgotten
about (like Shane Mack). If you’re looking for a baseball book that’s
the perfect medium between Win Shares and I Was Right On Time,
this is it."
- - - Kauffman
Confidential, June 5, 2005
".......an
interesting new book out that compares players we might not necessarily
associate with one other. Employing Sabermetric statistical principles
like runs created against average (RCAA), new author Steve Lombardi has
come up with 65 pairings, including some that are sure to raise
eyebrows—at least upon first appearance."
- - - Cooperstown
Confidential, June 8, 2005
"......Steve
Lombardi uses several methods of statistical analysis to find the most
compelling - and several of the strangest - comparables in baseball
history. Then using these pairings as a point of departure, Lombardi takes
us on a romp through baseball history. From Willie Mays and Honus Wagner
to Bobby Bonds and Jimmy Wynn (trust me - it works), Lombardi connects the
numbers and the dots.
Lombardi’s
love for the game flows off the page, and offers the reader a unique
perspective on some of the greatest players to ever live. But Same
Game is as much about the events as it is about the players – which
makes it a worthy read for historians and statheads alike."
- - - Pearly
Gates, June 9, 2005
"In the book Stephen presents 65 "cases", each comparing two players who had very similar career statistics.
As for the cases themselves there are some very interesting ones. I especially enjoyed seeing the similarities between Tom Seaver and Christy
Mathewson, Mark McGwire and Johnny Mize, George Brett and Sam Crawford, Fergie Jenkins and Eddie Plank, and Barry Larkin and Jim Rice. These are especially interesting when the players made their contributions in very different ways as in the case of Larkin and Rice and even seen in Mize and
McGwire. In each case Stephen provides a brief synopsis of the two careers and often uses the chance to discuss the relative merits of one or the other player for the Hall of Fame or makes a point about some other aspect of their careers that contributes to a fan's perception of these players - for example, in the case on Willie Hernandez and Jeff Reardon discussing the value of the Save statistic. I enjoyed the readability of the book and found lots of nuggets of info I hadn't heard before."
- - -
"Stephen
Lombardi brings us The Baseball Same Game, a fun romp through the
history of baseball. He uses comparisons to league averages to find
players of similar career lengths and statistics.
So
pick up a copy of The Baseball Same Game and take a trip down
memory lane. You'll meet old friends and make some new ones."
- - - Baseball
Musings, July 17, 2005
"...the
book is interesting to read for baseball fans who love to crunch numbers.
It may not settle a lot of debates, but it will re-ignite some serious
discussion."
- - - BookIdeas.com,
August 28, 2005
"Still,
the game’s the thing… looking for interesting comparisons, and then
commenting on same… and Lombardi does a fine job of that. While the
pairings and the statistical comparisons in the book are often intriguing,
what really gives The Baseball Same Game extra pizzazz are Lombardi’s
editorial comments. In addition to dissecting the numbers, The Baseball
Same Game also provides some background and commentary on each pair,
making this far more (and far more interesting) than just a stats book."
- - - John
Shiffert's "19 to 21", September 6, 2005
Other websites
where The Baseball Same Game has been mentioned include:
Bronx
Banter, on June 10, 2005. "Fun for the baseball nyerds
everywhere."
Brian
Kamenetzky's Full Count, on June 29, 2005.
"....an interesting perspective on classic baseball history arguments."
The
Futility Infielder, on July 8, 2005. "...I've enjoyed
browsing through the comparisons..."
Also, here are
links to newspaper interviews regarding The Baseball Same Game:
"It’s
the same game, different players - Author makes statistical comparisons of
baseball pros from different eras" By Dan Newman, as it appeared
in The
Independent, on July 20, 2005.
"Local
author's first work not your same old baseball book" By Tony Senk,
as it appeared in The
Monmouth Journal, on September 16, 2005.
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