Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction: WHY BASEBALL MATTERS

PART I Inside Baseball

Chapter 1 WE’VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE GAME

PART II It All Begins with a Pitch

Chapter 2 PITCHERS

Chapter 3 PITCHES

Chapter 4 PITCHING STRATEGIES

PART III The Batter Swings!

Chapter 5 THE PRIMARY SKILL

Chapter 6 HITTING IT WHERE THEY AIN’T

Chapter 7 HITTER’S COUNTS

Chapter 8 BUNT, SQUEEZE, AND HIT-AND-RUN

Chapter 9 PINCH HITTERS, DHS, AND BP

PART IV Around the Horn

Chapter 10 THE INFIELD

Chapter 11 DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES IN THE INFIELD

Chapter 12 THE FIRST BASEMAN

Chapter 13 THE SECOND BASEMAN

Chapter 14 THE SHORTSTOP

Chapter 15 THE THIRD BASEMAN

Chapter 16 PITCHERS AS INFIELDERS

Chapter 17 CATCHERS

PART V Against the Wall

Chapter 18 THE OUTFIELD

PART VI On the Base Paths

Chapter 19 RUNNING THE BASES

PART VII The Fields of Dreams

Chapter 20 LOOKING AROUND THE PARK

PART VIII They’re Only Human

Chapter 21 THE MENTAL SIDE OF THE GAME

Chapter 22 SLUMPS, STREAKS, AND ERRORS

Chapter 23 COMING UP TO THE BIGS

Chapter 24 LINEUPS, SUBSTITUTIONS, AND THE BENCH

PART IX The Bosses

Chapter 25 MANAGERS

Chapter 26 COACHES AND TRAINERS

Chapter 27 THE FRONT OFFICE

PART X In My Humble Opinion

Chapter 28 2004: THE CURSE IS frn_fig_003.png

Chapter 29 THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

PART XI Return to the Promised Land

Chapter 30 2007: SOLID ALL THE WAY

Chapter 31 WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ WILD CARD

Chapter 32 DAYS OF MY BASEBALL LIFE

Appendix: JERRY REMY

About the Authors