{"product_id":"a-damn-near-perfect-game-reclaiming-americas-pastime-hardcover","title":"A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America's Pastime - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJoe Kelly\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRob Bradford\u003c\/b\u003e (With)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\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 \u003c\/p\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\n        \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.1 x 9.1 x 6.2 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 28, 2023\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42760890548359,"sku":"9781635768893","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/1bbfb9bbec0b73ceb569902b2976fbb8.webp?v=1749024295","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/a-damn-near-perfect-game-reclaiming-americas-pastime-hardcover","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}