{"product_id":"the-new-ballgame-the-not-so-hidden-forces-shaping-modern-baseball-9781637272268","title":"The New Ballgame: The Not-So-Hidden Forces Shaping Modern Baseball","description":"\u003ch2\u003eUnderstanding the Forces Reshaping Baseball\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003eWatching a game of baseball today means witnessing phenomena that would have been novel, if not completely unheard of, not so long ago.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\nStarting pitchers sling 100 mile-per-hour heat for just four or five innings before departing; third basemen often station themselves much closer to second (to say nothing of the shortstop's whereabouts); home runs and strikeouts dominate at-bats; all while the length of contest tips toward the four-hour mark.\n\nThere's no getting around it: the game looks different now. And as Major League Baseball scrambles with rule changes, equipment modifications, labor negotiations, and more, fans are left grasping for the true essence of this beloved pastime among the moving pieces.\n\n\u003ch2\u003eStatistical Analysis Meets Baseball History\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nIn \u003ci\u003eThe New Ballgame\u003c\/i\u003e, Russell Carleton (\u003ci\u003eThe Shift\u003c\/i\u003e) deftly identifies and examines the many levers and inflection points that have shaped the game into what we see on the field today. Through a singular blend of statistical analysis, history, and cognitive science, readers will trace the rapid evolution of the modern game while contemplating the sport in an entirely new way.\n\nCarleton brings his expertise as a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eBaseball Prospectus\u003c\/i\u003e since 2009, where he writes about advanced statistical analysis in baseball with an emphasis on the gory mathematical details. His background includes a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from DePaul University and statistical consultation work with several Major League Baseball teams.\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Makes This Baseball Book Different\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nThis hardcover edition delivers more than traditional baseball commentary. It combines rigorous research with accessible storytelling to explain why pitching strategies have changed, how defensive positioning has evolved, and what drives the current emphasis on power hitting. The book addresses the rule changes and equipment modifications that have transformed America's pastime while helping fans understand the sport's trajectory.\n\n\u003cb\u003eBlending incisive research with affable storytelling, Russell Carleton delivers a kaleidoscopic view on modern baseball in this welcome, revelatory work.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003eRussell A. Carleton\u003c\/b\u003e is a baseball writer, researcher, and fan, living in Atlanta. He has been a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eBaseball Prospectus\u003c\/i\u003e since 2009, writing about advanced statistical analysis in baseball, with an emphasis on the gory mathematical details. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from DePaul University in Chicago, and has provided statistical consultation to several teams in Major League Baseball. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Shift: The Next Evolution in Baseball Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e.","brand":"Triumph Books (IL)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680373674258,"sku":"9781637272268","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5dd6420b-0c26-47e0-a042-0bc74730a80a.jpg?v=1734905806","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-new-ballgame-the-not-so-hidden-forces-shaping-modern-baseball-9781637272268","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}