tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post543340280681033043..comments2024-03-27T19:03:23.094-04:00Comments on The Armchair Squid: On the Coffee Table: Once More Around the ParkThe Armchair Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-89663958711098816622013-11-12T11:37:15.568-05:002013-11-12T11:37:15.568-05:00It's a fair point and Angell's primary cri...It's a fair point and Angell's primary criterion was realism. I do think Bull Durham can be enjoyed by someone who doesn't love the game. The writing is just so darn good!The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-11709984673999256362013-11-12T10:55:55.924-05:002013-11-12T10:55:55.924-05:00Baseball movies and books hinge on whether you lov...Baseball movies and books hinge on whether you love or hate the sport. Moneyball is an underrated movie, but I can't say anything about the book.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-33601192240282882942013-11-10T19:53:38.754-05:002013-11-10T19:53:38.754-05:00A couple of other strong recommendations, both boo...A couple of other strong recommendations, both books I've reviewed:<br /><br />The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski at http://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-coffee-table-joe-posnanski.html<br /><br />Moneyball by Michael Lewis at http://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/2011/05/on-coffee-table-michael-lewis.htmlThe Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-66977583146598779222013-11-10T19:50:18.070-05:002013-11-10T19:50:18.070-05:00I became a baseball fan very slowly...I was in my ...I became a baseball fan very slowly...I was in my early twenties, actually, when I first started learning the game. It's all Dwayne's fault. I was forced to watch baseball, and I didn't even know the most basic things, like the scoring, how many members on team, anything! What can I say? I'm from Kentucky - BASKETBALL is our religion. Why should I know about anything else, LOL?<br /><br />Anyway, I've grown to LOVE and appreciate baseball, but I believe I've only read one baseball book - Double Play by Robert B. Parker, which was very good. I will have to put Roger Angell on my list of authors to read, thank you!Remembering Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760441035721518260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-18611721931358284212013-11-10T18:08:54.467-05:002013-11-10T18:08:54.467-05:00You haven't seen Bull Durham?!!! Tony, you...You haven't seen Bull Durham?!!! Tony, you've gotta get on that!<br /><br />I have not seen Fever Pitch. Well, actually, I have but it's the British version based on the book which is about Arsenal rather than the Red Sox. That book was a big part of what made me an Arsenal fan.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-91487496078687162502013-11-10T16:31:07.098-05:002013-11-10T16:31:07.098-05:00I love to read about baseball, too. Sounds like s...I love to read about baseball, too. Sounds like someone worth checking out. I've never seen <i>Bull Durham</i>. Love <i>Field of Dreams</i>, though. I always like to recommend <i>Fever Pitch</i>, too.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-55192601048533341662013-11-10T16:07:06.787-05:002013-11-10T16:07:06.787-05:00I don't know about top 3 but it's way up t...I don't know about top 3 but it's way up there. The last scene is a bit of a clunker by my reckoning. The writing, in general, is top-notch.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-51051699351894124552013-11-10T15:22:55.170-05:002013-11-10T15:22:55.170-05:00I'd say you're more fluent in Trek than mo...I'd say you're more fluent in Trek than most!<br /><br />Someone was recently recommending BD. I know it wasn't you because their rec made me think, 'That's one of the Squidman's top picks.' Was I right about that? I think I remember you mentioning it in a Top 3 list at some point?Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-56244103725753591442013-11-10T15:04:11.420-05:002013-11-10T15:04:11.420-05:00Another piece, also in this collection, is "I...Another piece, also in this collection, is "In the Fire," first published in Winter 1984. I first read it in his collection Season Ticket. It's all about catchers. If you love baseball, read it. It will blow...your...mind.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-61819933652770069102013-11-10T15:00:12.994-05:002013-11-10T15:00:12.994-05:00Baseball is a language I speak very fluently. I&#...Baseball is a language I speak very fluently. I'm conversational in Trek but, especially in exploring the original series, I have a lot to learn.<br /><br />Yes, Eight Men Out is Shoeless Joe and also Mr. Cusack. He appreciated certain aspects of the film but found it was a bit too saccharine at times. Bull Durham, for all of its poetic lilt, is never sappy.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-66713281202322933822013-11-10T14:40:53.693-05:002013-11-10T14:40:53.693-05:00I read some of Angell's books in the 1980s. H...I read some of Angell's books in the 1980s. He is of another era and likable for that reason.Sultanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06506141014376919585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-38029628202162386992013-11-10T14:12:06.396-05:002013-11-10T14:12:06.396-05:00I saw Eight Men Out and remember rather liking it....I saw Eight Men Out and remember rather liking it. Shoeless Joe, yes? With John Cusack?<br /><br />This was very-nicely written, Squid. I can sense when the topic is something a bit closer to interests you're content to foster more or less alone (as opposed to something with a wider appeal like, say, Star Trek.)Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.com