{"product_id":"9780879465674","title":"The Bill James Handbook 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eBill James and the Baseball Info Solutions team of analysts continue to pack in new content, including a fresh look at the continued rise and effectiveness of The Shift and a new breakdown of home runs and long flyouts. And, as always, the book forecasts fresh hitter and pitcher projections for those looking to get an early jump on the next season. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBaseball is still “The National Pastime,” and one of the reasons is that there are many different ways to enjoy the game. Some people are captivated by the pure physical beauty of ballparks—whether in the major or the minor leagues, on a college or high school campus, or just at a local park or playground. For example, when people see the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field—especially if it is in October when the leaves have already turned and baseball is still being played—they are transported to a magical place indeed. For others, the enjoyment of baseball is in watching one of the greatest games ever invented. There is nothing better than the drama of a close play at the plate, the grace of a fielder diving and catching a ball, or the excitement of a runner taking off to steal second base in a close game. For many of us, however, it's the numbers of the game that provide our greatest enjoyment. Whether it is just keeping our own scorecard or understanding the nuances of On-base Plus Slugging (OPS) or Wins Above Replacement (WAR), baseball lends itself to statistical analysis perhaps better than any other human endeavor—or at least any other human endeavor that is so much fun! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e-- John Dewan, co-author, The Fielding Bible \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBill James and the team at Baseball Info Solutions are dedicated to producing the best stats, and the best analysis of those stats, which is why baseball fans and professionals alike study The Bill James Handbook as soon as it comes out each year—the first-to-market, most comprehensive, and most fun baseball annual for 28 consecutive years. Here is the 2017 edition, complete with: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNew! Hits Gained and Lost to the Shift \u003cbr\u003eExclusive! The Annual Fielding Bible Awards \u003cbr\u003eUpdated! Leader Boards, Defensive Shifts, Pitch Velocity, Managers, Park Indices \u003cbr\u003eNew! Long Fly Out \u0026amp; Home Run Breakdowns \u003cbr\u003eComplete! Career Data for Every 2016 Major Leaguer (and a few bonus players) \u003cbr\u003eUnique! Win Shares, Career Targets, Hall of Fame Monitor, Instant Replay Analysis\u003cbr\u003eFirst! Hitter \u0026amp; Pitcher Projections for 2017 \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ACTA Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47022480261360,"sku":"9780879465674","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780879465674_p0.jpg?v=1763851467","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780879465674","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}