{"product_id":"a-damn-near-perfect-game-reclaiming-americas-pastime-9781635768893","title":"A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America's Pastime","description":"\u003cb\u003eBaseball's most outspoken fireballer brings the high heat--calling out\u003cbr\u003e the hacks, cheats, and ridiculous rules that have tarnished the \u003cbr\u003egame--and pitches a-plus stuff on how to make baseball pure, fun, and \u003cbr\u003edamn near perfect.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBaseball has an image problem. The \u003cbr\u003echorus of nonbelievers gets louder every year, and the Major Leagues \u003cbr\u003ehave made an art of tuning them out. Enter Joe Kelly: a walking, \u003cbr\u003etalking, fast-ball-throwing embodiment of why baseball matters. He and \u003cbr\u003ehis All-Star team of athletes and celebrities have some things to say \u003cbr\u003eabout what's gone wrong with our once great game and how to fix it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Damn Near Perfect Game\u003c\/i\u003e is the loudest insider's exposé of the laws and culture of Major League Baseball since Jim Bouton's classic \u003ci\u003eBall Four\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e From Kelly's perspective as a two-time World Series champion and \u003cbr\u003ebaseball's most memeable player according to ESPN, he takes readers on a\u003cbr\u003e house-cleaning tour of the clubhouse, the field of play, the bullpen, \u003cbr\u003ethe front office, the commissioner's office, and a ballplayer's \u003cbr\u003erestricted life off the field. Kelly has something to say about \u003cbr\u003ebaseball's rule changes (pitch clocks, limiting defensive shifts, the \u003cbr\u003edesignated hitter); hacks (overused analytics, sign-stealing); stale \u003cbr\u003epromotion to new fans; and encouraging players' emotions (let them \u003cbr\u003efight, bat-flip, and talk sh*t!). Plus, he details how he aired his \u003cbr\u003ecomplaints in an illuminating meeting with commissioner Rob Manfred. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAnd\u003cbr\u003e to show what happens when baseball has some piss and vinegar, Kelly \u003cbr\u003egives the inside scoop on his legendary exploits--starting a \u003cbr\u003ebench-clearing brawl with the Yankees' Tyler Austin, his famous \"pouty \u003cbr\u003eface\" scene when calling out the notorious sign-stealing Houston Astros, \u003cbr\u003e and wearing a mariachi jacket to visit the White House with his World \u003cbr\u003eSeries champion LA Dodgers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Diversion Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50628946395410,"sku":"9781635768893","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_70c730e7-58d6-4a67-a2da-90acbab30a1b.jpg?v=1732714014","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-damn-near-perfect-game-reclaiming-americas-pastime-9781635768893","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}