First published 1995
Keith Hernandez applies his seventeen years of major league experience to dissect baseball's hidden complexities. The former All Star examines two complete games from the 1993 season: a Phillies versus Braves matchup and an extra innings clash between the Tigers and Yankees. Hernandez reveals the strategic thinking behind every decision, from bullpen management to defensive positioning to plate appearances. He analyzes fielding techniques, base stealing tactics, lineup construction, and umpiring protocols. The book explores double steal scenarios, hit and run plays, team signals, and infield shifts. Hernandez pays special attention to the mental battles between pitchers and hitters, showing how each pitch changes the psychological dynamics. He shares his views on intentional walks, early inning sacrifices, and pitchers who throw fastballs to prevent stolen bases. The analysis covers outfield positioning and criticizes pitchers who nibble at the strike zone. Through these detailed game breakdowns, Hernandez transforms how readers understand baseball's strategic depth.
Genres: sports, non-fiction, baseball
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-analysis
Setting: Braves, Phillies, Tigers, Yankees
Period: 1993
259 pages · Paperback · Harper Perennial