Anthony Castrovince’s A Fan’s Guide to Baseball Analytics is a valuable resource for baseball fans looking to understand the complex world of modern baseball statistics. This book breaks down complicated concepts into easily digestible chapters, making sabermetrics accessible to everyone.
The author of this article reminisces about aspiring to be an MLB beat writer, admiring Anthony Castrovince’s work covering the Cleveland Indians. While career paths may change, Castrovince’s writing remains engaging, now as a national writer for MLB.com. His book, A Fan’s Guide to Baseball Analytics, exemplifies his unique and approachable style, demystifying baseball statistics for the average fan.
Inspired by a skeptical emailer, Castrovince tackles acronyms like WAR, wOBA, and wRC+ with clear explanations and relatable examples. The book prioritizes accessibility, focusing on “what’s embraceable, relatable, and easily accessible.”
While detailed sabermetric information exists on websites like Baseball Reference, Baseball Prospectus, and FanGraphs, Castrovince presents the information in a user-friendly way. A Fan’s Guide to Baseball Analytics is an easy read, suitable for cover-to-cover reading, piecemeal consumption, or as a reference guide. It appeals not only to those new to analytics but also to seasoned fans.
Even those familiar with baseball analysis can benefit from this guide. Understanding these stats is essential to understanding modern baseball.
Knowing how to calculate OPS or WHIP is one thing, but the book’s detail, examples, and references justify the purchase. As Castrovince mentions in the embedded interview, this book makes a great gift, especially for those who might not be as familiar with baseball analytics.
A Fan’s Guide to Baseball Analytics is available now through Sports Publishing. Order a copy from an independent retailer through Bookshop.org or Indie Bound.
This book is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to dive deeper into baseball analytics and gain a better understanding of the modern game.
