[mabrowndog]

There's a thread in Members Only on this, in which our esteemed founder Lanternjaw posted:

Quote

Phenomenal job to Jim and the supporting cast -- you folks wrote one helluva book. Someone should start a thread on the main page for public consumption and exposure.

Kudos.

OK. Done.

I was honored and thrilled to be asked to contribute to this, and Jim Walsh (aka ZachCrouch) did a fantastic job on the editing, layout, and the overall quality of this publication. He also solicited work from a cavalcade of talented and knowledgable writers, and amh03's great photos are prominently featured throughout the pages.

Yeah, I'm biased, but tough crap. Them's the facts.

So discuss the book here -- good, bad or otherwise. I found all the content terrific but my favorites were Rough Carrigan's piece on the moneyball approach, Vermonter At Large's statistical breakdown, Smastroyin's look at Theo's reign, and Vince Gennaro's thorough examination of the Sox' financial side.

This post has been edited by mabrowndog: 21 March 2006 - 01:44 PM

[LahoudOrBillyC]

In case you don't know what 'Dog is talking about ...

SoSH Maple Street Press Red Sox Annual

It is a great book, attractive, filled with good writers, great analysis, nice pictures, artwork. Buy several.

[Paul M]

I wanted to add that I purchased two copies myself, and what was in there exceeded my expectations. A good summary of the off-season, some hard-core statistical work, some well-written essays, historical entries, interviews of top prospects, and several other nice pieces.

It reminds me of the early SoSH off-season threads, except this was edited well and packaged---plus there are some pictures that you won't find anywhere else.

Well done, guys.

[ookami7m]

I'm just barely into this so far (had to finish reading "Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty" before I could start this one). But wow. This is the stuff that baseball books should be made of.

Well done by everyone involved. Sign me up for next year's already.

[scotian1]

After a lifetime of reading annuals from Street and Smith, the Sporting News , etc, what a change to have a publication devoted completely to the Red Sox. Plus the fact that it is the most up to date annual I have seen as far as the current roster is concerned. Too often you buy one of the others and it is totally out of date by the time it hits the stores. Whether you want to see analysis of the upcoming season for the team and players,examine the Red Sox farm system or take a trip down Red Sox memory lane, there is something for everybody.
My thanks go out to Maple Street Press for producing what is a must have for all Sox fans.

This post has been edited by scotian1: 21 March 2006 - 07:18 PM

[EricM80]

If a book previewing the 2006 team can get published, would a book written about the 2006 team get published as well?

Would anyone be interested in writing a book on the 2006 team? Would there be any interest buying a copy of it?

I am not sure exactly how it could work. Perhaps we could get eight or so writers and each writer could take a month and write about everything that happens Red Sox related, highlighting some games, news, anecdotes, etc.

I would be interested in contributing to something like this, but this may be a stupid idea.

What do you think?

[Vermonter At Large]

scotian1, on Mar 21 2006, 08:17 PM, said:

Plus the fact that it is the most up to date annual I have seen as far as the current roster is concerned. Too often you buy one of the others and it is totally out of date by the time it hits the stores. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well Scotian, that was true until yesterday.

This post has been edited by Vermonter At Large: 21 March 2006 - 09:33 PM

[mabrowndog]

Quote

Would anyone be interested in writing a book on the 2006 team? Would there be any interest buying a copy of it?

Many of us are voracious readers of all things Red Sox. But the answer to your question may not be known until the season ends. Will anything compelling occur over the next 6+ months? What would it be? And would such a book be economically viable?

I'm not in the publishing business so perhaps Jim or others would be better able to address this. But I've always seen season preview books as capitalizing on the ramp-up in interest as the season draws near. Sales of a season recap book, released sometime in November, would be reliant on marketing efforts as winter sets in and interest in baseball by "non-voracious" fans wanes.

This post has been edited by mabrowndog: 22 March 2006 - 08:05 AM

[ZachCrouch]

mabrowndog, on Mar 22 2006, 09:00 AM, said:

I'm not in the publishing business so perhaps Jim or others would be better able to address this. But I've always seen season preview books as capitalizing on the ramp-up in interest as the season draws near. Sales of a season recap book, released sometime in November, would be reliant on marketing efforts as winter sets in and interest in baseball by "non-voracious" fans wanes.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

'Dog has it pretty well covered with this. The other problem I would see is that the season recap book was done ad nauseum after the '04 season, to the point that many were not very popular.

I do think there is room for a contributed baseball book for a pre-holidays release, however, and have been trying to come up with a theme to tie it together amongst a group of writers. I have had some initial thoughts, but if you are interested in contributing to such an effort, please PM or e-mail me so that we can discuss ideas further. Material would have to be ready in July.

I knew we were going to get clipped by at least one transaction here in spring training. Not much that can be done, but I still think having Coco and Alex G. in there is a big step up from the many other publications listing Stern, Cora, or TBD at those positions.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

ZachCrouch, on Mar 22 2006, 06:25 AM, said:

I knew we were going to get clipped by at least one transaction here in spring training. Not much that can be done, but I still think having Coco and Alex G. in there is a big step up from the many other publications listing Stern, Cora, or TBD at those positions.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Be sure to check out my prescient preview in Baseball Prospectus, in which I discuss such relevant topics as the co-GMs, the status of Andy Marte, and the holes in center field and shortstop. And our deadline, December 31, is actually later than many other annuals.

[smastroyin]

LahoudOrBillyC, on Mar 22 2006, 10:10 AM, said:

Be sure to check out my prescient preview in Baseball Prospectus, in which I discuss such relevant topics as the co-GMs, the status of Andy Marte, and the holes in center field and shortstop.  And our deadline, December 31, is actually later than many other annuals.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My original draft was submitted on January 2. See if you can figure out where the cut-ins are for Theo and Coco.

Maybe next offseason will be a little less tumultuous.

This post has been edited by smastroyin: 22 March 2006 - 11:43 AM

[Chico Walker and the Man]

scotian1, on Mar 21 2006, 07:17 PM, said:

After a lifetime of reading annuals from Street and Smith, the Sporting News , etc, what a change to have a publication devoted completely to the Red Sox. Plus the fact that it is the most up to date annual I have seen as far as the current roster is concerned. Too often you buy one of the others and it is totally out of date by the time it hits the stores. Whether you want to see analysis of the upcoming season for the team and players,examine the Red Sox farm system or take a trip down Red Sox memory lane, there is something for everybody.
  My thanks go out to Maple Street Press for producing what is a must have for all Sox fans.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've read several of the entries, and think the article on the true definition of Moneyball is excellent reading, particularly in light of the current thread that exists discussing this same subject.

If it had delved into Isolated Power instead of defensive metrics, particularly in light of the Pena acquisition, I might have been able to intelligently discuss the most recent trade. Right now, I'm reduced to "He can platoon with Nixon, and the dude is HUGE."

[Montana Fan]

This is a great mag. Mastroyin's breakdown of Theo's tenure has been a pleasure to read, a great summary of 3 years of moves.

The section (Gennaro's?) on the financial health of the Sox was very interesting. It seems as though the Sox might be the healthiest team financially in the league. Moves like Choi and Pena will likely only bolster them furhter.

Is the mag available in any bookstores in NE? I ordered one for my brother and myself and want to steer my brother in-law to it.

[Vermonter At Large]

LahoudOrBillyC, on Mar 22 2006, 11:10 AM, said:

Be sure to check out my prescient preview in Baseball Prospectus, in which I discuss such relevant topics as the co-GMs, the status of Andy Marte, and the holes in center field and shortstop.  And our deadline, December 31, is actually later than many other annuals.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FWIW, I'll be doing an update of the projections I used in my article once the smoke has finally cleared from the last minute wheeling and dealing and the 25-man roster is set, for Zach to post on his website. It will also include the projections for the other A.L. East teams as well. That will get us caught up to opening day.

[amh03]

Montana Fan, on Mar 26 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

Is the mag available in any bookstores in NE? I ordered one for my brother and myself and want to steer my brother in-law to it.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I saw it at the Charlesbank Bookshop in Belmont. I've also seen it at various Barnes & Noble stores. Plus, if you check out their website, they offer same day delivery in Manhattan...of all places! I found that rather humorous!! But, your brother in law could always order it from the website:
Maple Street Press

[boxos]

i just picked one up in the barnes & nobles in dartmouth, ma. they had 6 or 7 copies. so i'm assuming the b & n's around ne have them.

they also had a copy of win it for...

[Talon]

Barnes & Noble in Worcester (Lincoln Plaza) had a whole stack full at the door last night, along with other Sox books. They also had more as a part of another Sox display. Maybe about 30-45 total copies. Bought mine and it is a very good read

good work guys.

[Montana Fan]

Perfect, I'm gonna have my sister pick up a copy tomorrow. Thanks!

[ZachCrouch]

I'm glad to hear that copies are getting into the stores and into various people's hands. It is available in all New England B&N, as well as some locations in NYC and DC. In addition, it should be available at Martin's News Shops and Sulgrave News (both have locations around Boston and in some MBTA stations) now, and within a couple weeks or so at various White Hen Pantries, Hudson News (at Logan), and select Shaw's, Stop & Shop, etc. There are also various independent stores and shops that are carrying it. It's getting out there more with each passing day, so hopefully if you haven't come across it yet-and have been looking for it-you will soon. On-line you can get it at the Maple Street Press web site, Amazon, and barnesandnoble.com among others.

Also, not sure if anyone heard it but there were a couple of spots on the Baseball Show this past Sunday on WEEI. Those will continue to run on the Sunday-only Baseball Show for the next several weeks.

Thanks for the kind words in reaction to the publication.

[mabrowndog]

Jim and I were discussing his distribution approach the other night, and frankly he's being modest. He and his production crew have been out beating the bushes and leaving no stone unturned.

In addition to the spots on the Baseball Show, he's gotten copies of this book to nearly every Sox beat writer, the ESPN stat geeks, and the WEEI show hosts.

Maple Street Press is also sponsoring the 2005 Sox page at Baseball-Reference.com. Here's the listing at Barnes & Noble, and they've even placed ads on the tickets pages at Craig's List. There's also a listing at Amazon.

Not too shabby for a debut publication from a startup firm.