Review: I'm Fascinated Past Times Sacrifice Flies (2016)

By Tim Kurkjian

It doesn't accept long to know what you're going to read when you lot aspect at the encompass of this book. "I'm Fascinated past times Sacrifice Flies" tells you lot correct away that the writer is a human being who loves, loves, loves baseball game in addition to all its quirks.

Then Tim Kurkjian goes virtually proving it over the 232 pages inwards the book.

It's baseball game majority No. ii for Kurkjian, the fine baseball game reporter for ESPN. The outset was "Is This a Great Game, or What?" That was an slow read alongside stories in addition to facts virtually the game.

Now he's back, virtually nine years later, alongside a repeat performance. Kurkjian goes through the notebooks in i lawsuit over again inwards search of stories in addition to information.

The championship of the majority comes from a remark Kurkjian made inwards 2007 on "Baseball Tonight" on ESPN. Carlos Lee had his 13th sacrifice wing of the season. That broke the gild record, in addition to it looked equally if Lee was headed to suspension the major league tape of xix laid past times Gil Hodges. That's a launching indicate for a serial of facts virtually this narrow purpose of baseball game history. Chili Davis in i lawsuit drove inwards 112 runs inwards 1993 without a sacrifice fly, piece 10 players create got hitting iii of them inwards a game. By the way, Lee didn't create got about other sacrifice wing for the residual of the season.

For purpose of the book, Kurkjian names a plain of study in addition to devotes the residual of the chapter on stories on that detail expanse from a serial of people. What's it similar to larn hitting past times a pitch? What produce players intend of superstitions? What sounds are made during a game that the players notice? There are a few chapters devoted to about statistical oddities of the sport, in addition to fifty-fifty i on the fascination of box scores. If you lot haven't figured out that this majority is designed for BIG baseball game fans, you lot belike are on the incorrect website.

Kurkjian's best travel inwards the majority comes at unexpected times. The outset chapter is virtually how hard the game is to play. Anyone who has been cutting from a Little League squad or gave upwardly the sport inwards frustration knows something virtually that, simply it's tough for the big leaguers too. Then there's a tribute to baseball game personalities similar Earl Weaver, Tony Gwynn in addition to Don Zimmer who are no longer alongside us. It's a squeamish contrast to the iii paragraphs in addition to out approach of much of the residual of the book, in addition to Kurkjian's feelings come upwardly across nicely.

One to a greater extent than fundamental indicate - this mightiness live on the outset review inwards this infinite to criticize the foreword. George Will is the writer inwards question, in addition to his approach is to quote several of the items contained inwards the book. This has the upshot of making the reader inquire the question, "Haven't I read that already?" when it comes upwardly inwards the actual text. At to the lowest degree Will read the book, simply it's an annoying technique.

"I'm Fascinated past times Sacrifice Flies" comes off equally a fleck unfocused, simply there's plenty skillful data in that place to decease on the reader going through it at a brisk pace. Kurkjian's skillful nature in addition to his admissions virtually how he's a truthful "baseball nerd" assistance equally well. His latest majority mightiness non live on a keeper forever, simply it volition travel out fans entertained.

Three stars

Learn to a greater extent than virtually this book.

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