Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.3570973
EAN: 9780783891866
ISBN: 0783891865
Label: Thorndike Press
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 174
Publication Date: 2000-11
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Studio: Thorndike Press

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Editorial Reviews:

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It's Costas unplugged--a provocative, no-holds-barred assessment of the troubled state of Major League Baseball, with innovative strategies for restoring the thrill of genuine competition and rescuing fans from the forces that have diluted the sheer joy of the game.

No one calls ballgames better than Bob Costas, and no one is more knowledgeable and eloquent about baseball and its timeless appeal. Now, from his ideal perspective as an authority and true fan, the renowned broadcaster shares his honest, unflinching views on the subversive forces that are diminishing the game for fans - and proposes realistic changes that can be made to protect and promote the game's best interests.

Taking a bold and refreshing stance, Costas examines the growing financial disparity which has resulted in more than two-thirds of the teams in major league baseball having no chance of contending for the World Series. He takes a hard look at how talent-starved teams are increasingly marketing themselves by promoting family entertainment at the ballpark over star attractions on the field. And he presents a withering critique of the wild-card system, the designated hitter and short-sighted league realignment proposals that are compromising the competitive flavor of the game.

Filled with stories of games and players as only Costas can tell them, and superbly balanced by his unbridled appreciation for what he calls the "moments of authenticity" that can still make baseball inspiring, FAIR BALL is a vision of our national pastime as it can be, a game that retains its traditional appeal while remaining a central part of American life for the next century.

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Customer Rating:

Summary: Good Points
Comment: This book gives some good suggestions on needed improvement in the MLB organization. During his speech at the Speaker Series he mentioned that a lot of the points that he brings up have been fixed since he wrote it back in 2000. I don't know baseball well enough to know what has changed, but I think that it is still obvious that there are franchises that cannot compete because of the amount of money demanded by the superstar/high quality players. Even though I am not a huge fan I remember when the Royals were highly regarded. Now, you hardly hear mention of them. This book is still relevant and some of Costas' points still need to be discussed and incorporated.

Customer Rating:

Summary: How to fix what is clearly broken
Comment: I am one of those fans of baseball that has left the game. My exodus started after the strike in the early nineties and the gradual decline continued over several years. I don't believe that I have watched the equivalent of a complete nine-inning game on television over the last year. Although I have enjoyed watching a few games played by the local minor league team.
Major league baseball simply has not learned any lessons from its past or from the other major sports leagues. The NFL and NBA, albeit after some serious difficulties, adopted a revenue sharing policy that will keep the league competitive over the long term. The franchise that is the butt of jokes this year often makes a playoff run after a few years.
However, for several major league baseball franchises, there is little hope that they will ever be seriously competitive. Smaller market teams such as Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Minnesota may make some occasional noise and surprise the baseball world, but the routine is to be at or near last place every year. Who can blame the fans if they lose interest when this is the reality?
Costas is the cream of the crop when it comes to the broadcast business because he not only understands the game; he truly cares about it. In this book he explains what is wrong with the game and what needs to be done to correct it. He places the blame on both the owners and players, showing that each is determined to pursue their own short-term interest while ignoring what is being done over the long term. I completely agree with him in his assessment of the wild-card playoff spot. That policy has destroyed the concept of a pennant race, where you must win to continue, so each play could be the difference between victory and defeat.
He also comes up with some real solutions and it is the hope of every true fan that those who are running major league baseball will finally understand what needs to be done. Without some form of true change in the structure, there are several franchises that will slowly wither and die. As they die, even the teams at the top will lose, for in a league, they all live or die together.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Six Years Later...
Comment: A well written, concise book about the problems in baseball today, Fair Ball is a book that is now old. Baseball has changed in the past six years and these six years of history has validated some of Costas' points. The main points of contention in Fair Ball are revenue sharing, salary cap, divisional alignment and the playoff wildcard. What drives Costas to desire change in baseball money comes from what he calls a "competitive imbalance." Since the book has been written, baseball has seen the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anaheim Angels, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox win World Series. The years that they won the world series the Arizona Diamondbacks had the 8th highest payroll, Angels the 15th highest , Florida the 20th highest, and the White Sox the 13th highest. This is a big change from the late 90's when the World Series almost always went to the top 5 paying teams. I believe the last five seasons have shown that the competitive imbalance is not quite as bad as Costas claims it is. However, there are still teams that have no chance thanks to their minuscule payroll. As lucky, or well coached as teams like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals are, they will not threaten to compete for the playoffs let alone a World Series. I believe something needs to be done about that, and some of Costas' ideas that he came up with in 2000 can still be used in today's game.

As far as his views on the wildcard, I am skeptical. He has a good point that I had never thought of, the wildcard takes some drama and worth out of the pennant race. It is sad that the regular season means so little to the Red Sox and the Yankees because they know that the loser of the regular season will be granted a pass to the playoffs with the wild card. On the other hand, this year (2006) presents a very interesting wildcard race in the National League which still includes most of the teams. My Atlanta Braves had a horrible start and have virtually lost the NL East, but they are only 5 games out of the wildcard race. As a fan I can still hope.

All in all, the book is a great baseball book. Bob Costas not only knows his sports, but he has a passion for them and this book is his attempt to see baseball brought to its best. Even though it is a bit dated, I would recommend this book to any baseball fan.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Thoughtful look by a devoted fan
Comment: Kostas critiques baseball and proposes several common-sense changes. He attacks extended playoffs, and shows how the current revenue disparities make it difficult for many small-market teams to compete effectively. Kostas also calls for a combined salary cap and salary floor. Actually, a decent salary floor makes lots of sense, and probably should be applied to the minor leagues, where (unbeknownst to many) lots of players and umpires barely make enough to live on. But I was surprised by the author's call for taking the players down a notch, and the last couple years have seen some teams with modest payrolls (Minnesota, Houston, White Sox) attain success.

This is a concise and readable book, a bit dated, but clearly an intelligent look by one of baseball's most thoughtful fans.

Customer Rating:

Summary: As others have said: Costas For Commish!!!!!! NOW!!!
Comment: This book is only really slightly dated as MLB baseball is slightly different now - A) the "luxury tax" system penalizes big money teams who go over a certain limit (and the system is set up to funnel more money to the low payroll teams as the big money teams stay over the 'cap', but then some of those teams promptly mismanage those funds), and B) there is now an unbalanced schedule, where teams play division foes much more often than other teams in the league. Nevertheless, these are SMALL developments and the big problems Costas discusses still exist. So, it's still relevant. Bud, Gene, Don - read this!

Costas' passion for baseball is evident, and it's clear that he's given these problems a lot of thought. Let me move through the book and offer my thoughts on some of his thoughts.

Chapters 1 - 3 discuss the nature of the situation we are currently in (the debacle of 1993), as well as what sports leagues actually are - they are atypical organizations that rely upon quality among all participating businesses (clubs), which is qualitatively different from the capitalist model.

Chapters 4 - 7 discuss a VERY REASONABLE revenue sharing plan, together with "floor" and "ceiling" salary caps. The whole thing stands or falls on its own, and frankly, I can't see how it wouldn't work. Of course, the union probably would still sabotage it even though its benefits for the average MLB player would be much improved. What will it take for the union to agree to such a sensible plan??????

Chapters 8 - 9 discuss realignment. Thankfully, nobody is talking about 'radical re-alignment' anymore. Costas' plan is to move Houston to the AL West, thereby having 2 15 team leagues and one interleague match going on through the season. This makes sense!!!! As he puts it, why do we have to some big "Mardi Gras" of interleague play!!!! I used to mull over these realignment possibilities myself, but never thought of moving Houston over. IT is so clearly the best!!!

Chapter 10 - 11 discuss pennant races, the 'wild card' system, and Costas' alternative for playoffs (division leaders play, with the best record team getting a bye). I'm not sure I buy all of what Costas is selling here. Wild card possibilities do increase interest. And with 3 divisions, an AL East team that works its tail off, creams most of their other opponents, but still comes in second in the league should not have to sit home while some second-rate AL Central team gets in to the playoffs again. My fix to the 'wild card problem' would be to simply make the WC play all of its first round games away, at the park of the team with the best record, whether they're from the same division or not.

In Chapter 12, Costas discusses the minor issues (and they are minor issues) such as the DH, commercialism, Pete Rose, etc. Thoughtful discussion, and I agree with most of his stances.

He then concludes, and you can tell, his really is a "fan's case for baseball".

MLB - listen! Respond!

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