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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
The Ideas Make Sense, So It Will Never Happen, June 7, 2001
I have listened to Bob Costas announce sports for probably over 20 years. When he isn't trying to wax poetic about sports, he is a knowledgeable and entertaining broadcaster. With that in mind, I decided to read his book "Fair Ball" which is his manifesto as to how the game of major league baseball can be improved in the future.Much of his book concentrates on the issue of revenue sharing, which has been a bone of contention among owners for years. His plans for sharing local broadcasting money and for sharing ticket money are solid ideas, but they've been suggested before and little has been done over the years because the teams that rake in the most money through these are not likely to want to part with them. Costas says that the big-market teams need to look at the long-term impact that revenue sharing will bring to the entire league, but doesn't really address that it will be very hard for owners of those teams to do that. His arguments for realignment, interleague play and scheduling are great ideas. I liked the concept of interleague play when it was adopted in 1997, but did not know that the same divisions were always going to play each other each year. Major league basball has agreed to follow one of his suggestions as it is following an unbalanced schedule this year (where teams within a division play more games against each other than against the rest of the league). So maybe they will look at the bigger picture someday. I agree with his positions on mostly everything else, including allowing Pete Rose to be eligible to enter the Hall of Fame, the elimination of the designated hitter and a day World Series game (the latter will never happen, however, because of the money that will be lost from advertisers). Costas has written a concise argument for baseball. I hope the powers that represent the owners and players read it before the end of the collective bargaining agreement at the end of this season!
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
Costas For Commissioner, May 7, 2000
Bob Costas presents an intelligent, well reasoned, and objective analysis of the state of baseball. From revenue sharing and realignment to the barber shop debates over the DH, Pete Rose, and the size of the strike zone, Costas outlines a prescription to both revitalize the great American pasttime yet keep it in balance with its long tradition. Fans of the big market teams will find his pill hard to swallow; but having grown up around Kansas City and St. Louis baseball, it seems medication worth considering. Costas steps away from the passioned positions of owners and players to present a plan that will, in the long run, make The Game better. I highly recommend this short, readable book. You may not agree with Costas or like him, but anyone who respects baseball will find his ideas worth consideration. Hey, Bud Selig, are you out there?
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13 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
A lazy fly to left, April 26, 2000
This slim volume of Bob Costas' observations is really two books. When he's talking about the DH, divisional play or the wildcard, Costas is an eloquent, informed fan whose opinions are as valuable as any and more informed than most.But when he's talking about the economics of baseball, Costas is on far shakier ground. He favors greater revenue sharing among the owners (a relatively uncontroversial recommendation), but also demands that the players accept a hard salary cap, and says that if he ran MLB he'd force another prolonged strike if necessary to get the players to yield on this issue. As economists have noted, greater revenue sharing would alone reduce the disparity among club payrolls without a nasty, destructive labor dispute. Costas also insists that the gulf between "large market" and "small market" teams has never been greater. Tell that to anyone who rooted for the Athletics, Phillies, Browns, Senators or Pirates during the so-called "Golden Age" of baseball, when those teams went decades without contending. Costas's laments are the latest in a long line of "sky is falling" predictions. 25 years ago, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn predicted that free agency would mean "bankruptcies, sharp retrenchment of franchises and great dissatisfaction among the players themselves as the money gravitates to the top -- to the super stars -- at the expense of the majority of the players." Less than 10 years ago, Bill James lamented that the Cleveland Indians would never again be able to afford a competitive team. There's no reason to believe that Costas is any more prescient, or more accurate.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Costas Pitches Relief For Pastime's Future In "Fair Ball", July 10, 2001
In "Fair Ball," longtime NBC-TV sports journalist Bob Costas has written a succint, numbers-soggy, yet unsentimental look at how far baseball's on and above-field stewards let its image and financial management slip.But unlike Mike Lupica's mad, mindless manure spreading in "Mad As Hell," Costas aims facts and proposed solutions at baseball's hard numbers: on the schedule (his criticism of interleague play) at the gate (everything from a proposed revenue sharing plan to the constant between inning noise; he cites the Montreal Expos' and Texas Rangers' star-crossed, strike-shortened seasons as examples), on TV (the disastrous "Baseball Network," wild card folly destroying September pennant game-by-game tension), World Series games starting too late for younger fans and peppered with commercial messages. His description of 1997's Marlins-Indians World Series accurately descibes how interminable and unapproachable the game had become in less than a decade. Costas outlines his plan to address baseball's large and small, money and image issues: Pete Rose's Hall of Fame induction (he favors it while strongly opposing that gambling that got Rose suspended) the DH (he opposes it despite its extending the careers of stars like Eddie Murray) radical, georgaphical realignment (a disaster still discussed but earlier dismissed). Costas' book is welcome because, unlike more emotional stories like David Halberstam's "October 1964" or Lupica's "Summer of 98" (both chronicling World Series which changed baseball's image) you don't smell the green grass and hear the bat crack. "Fair Ball" is the work not of a baseball poet (Costas' writing is broadcast-tight, although more charts and graphs would have made his revenue sharing plan more accessible ). Costas here is a baseball doctor diagnosing a decade's baseball owner obesity and union player gluttony, prescribing diet and weight redistribution. Bob Costas' book is recommended reading for fans, those they cheer for (everyone should read Chapter Three, "The Nature of Sports Leagues," among the most accurate descriptions of player perks and pressures), and all deriving employment, profit or pleasure from the national pastime.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
As others have said: Costas For Commish!!!!!! NOW!!!, July 18, 2005
This book is only really slightly dated as MLB baseball is slightly different now - A) the "luxury tax" system penalizes big money teams who go over a certain limit (and the system is set up to funnel more money to the low payroll teams as the big money teams stay over the 'cap', but then some of those teams promptly mismanage those funds), and B) there is now an unbalanced schedule, where teams play division foes much more often than other teams in the league. Nevertheless, these are SMALL developments and the big problems Costas discusses still exist. So, it's still relevant. Bud, Gene, Don - read this!
Costas' passion for baseball is evident, and it's clear that he's given these problems a lot of thought. Let me move through the book and offer my thoughts on some of his thoughts.
Chapters 1 - 3 discuss the nature of the situation we are currently in (the debacle of 1993), as well as what sports leagues actually are - they are atypical organizations that rely upon quality among all participating businesses (clubs), which is qualitatively different from the capitalist model.
Chapters 4 - 7 discuss a VERY REASONABLE revenue sharing plan, together with "floor" and "ceiling" salary caps. The whole thing stands or falls on its own, and frankly, I can't see how it wouldn't work. Of course, the union probably would still sabotage it even though its benefits for the average MLB player would be much improved. What will it take for the union to agree to such a sensible plan??????
Chapters 8 - 9 discuss realignment. Thankfully, nobody is talking about 'radical re-alignment' anymore. Costas' plan is to move Houston to the AL West, thereby having 2 15 team leagues and one interleague match going on through the season. This makes sense!!!! As he puts it, why do we have to some big "Mardi Gras" of interleague play!!!! I used to mull over these realignment possibilities myself, but never thought of moving Houston over. IT is so clearly the best!!!
Chapter 10 - 11 discuss pennant races, the 'wild card' system, and Costas' alternative for playoffs (division leaders play, with the best record team getting a bye). I'm not sure I buy all of what Costas is selling here. Wild card possibilities do increase interest. And with 3 divisions, an AL East team that works its tail off, creams most of their other opponents, but still comes in second in the league should not have to sit home while some second-rate AL Central team gets in to the playoffs again. My fix to the 'wild card problem' would be to simply make the WC play all of its first round games away, at the park of the team with the best record, whether they're from the same division or not.
In Chapter 12, Costas discusses the minor issues (and they are minor issues) such as the DH, commercialism, Pete Rose, etc. Thoughtful discussion, and I agree with most of his stances.
He then concludes, and you can tell, his really is a "fan's case for baseball".
MLB - listen! Respond!
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
All business, no game, June 5, 2000
I've long considered Bob Costas one of the best sportscasters ever - right up there with Vin Scully and a handful of others. The wit and insight he brings to his commentary are unrivalled among his peers in the profession. I'm also a huge baseball fan (BoSox, sadly), so Fair Ball was a must-read for me. I was severely disappointed, however. He spends almost the book's whole length talking about what's wrong with the BUSINESS of baseball, and barely touches on what's wrong with the GAME. Bob doesn't seem to grasp that it won't matter if you align the teams in proper divisions, change the revenue structure, or any of the other things he proposes, if the game itself has so many inherent problems. With games now averaging about three hours long, Bob's suggested changes won't help with the lengthy delays when batters constantly step out or pitchers step off the rubber, etc. And what about the growing disparity between offense and pitching in the majors? The business side is undeniably very important, but Bob's discussion makes for boring reading, especially when it's written like a Master's thesis.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Ultimately, he is right..., January 8, 2005
Costas' book is far from perfect, however his ultimate conclusions (though not original) make sense. And he is right. As we see a .267 hitter like Carlos Beltran make over $100 million (okay, maybe he is much better than that) and a medicore pitcher like Kris Benson make $7 million a year (not mention Jaret Wright's contract) in 2004 (oh and Russ Ortiz for $32 million?), Costas' ideas ring even truer. Some of the arguments are dated--esp. his section on the wild card. He was right about the unbalanced sked. which has come into being. The major flaw in the book is that Costas simply repeats himself too much. We get it Bob--a salary cap is good. So is revenue sharing. Etc....this is a big criticism when a book is under 200 pages. The last work stoppage was avoided and that was good. Costas was again right in blaming the players who look worse today than ever (although owners are still not so great)--esp. in light of steroid issues. Baseball is moving toward a salary cap (Bud wants one)...So, overall Costas case is compelling. The one other issue I have is with Costas condemning "traditionalists." He claims not to be one and then spends 20 pages or so decrying the wild card and "destruction" of the pennant race. That is a bit much. And sounds like a traditionalist to me. He slams people who love the poetic, transcendent, and Kinsellaian (I made up a term) nature of the game. Considering the steroid scandal, for example, I'll take W.P. Kinsella anyday. Overall, though, I give Costas 4 stars and it was cool to see him stand up for the fans.
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Interesting Suggestions for Reviving Baseball, March 27, 2002
As most baseball fans are painfully aware, our sport is slowly losing market share to football and basketball, and perhaps even hockey. Much of this degradation is due to the sport's inability to adapt to the changes brought on by free agency and the gradual separation of teams into large and small markets. Bob Costas has sat down and put together a modest plan to resolve these problems and start making baseball fun again.Costas correctly identifies the major problem facing baseball today: that there are three groups of interested parties, rather than the two that negotiations always assume. Rather than just owners and players, owners further subdivide into large-market and small-market owners, and the large-market owners have different interests than small-market owners. Costas recommends first getting the owners on one sheet of music, then asking the players and owners each to make sacrifices to improve the overall system. His suggestions seem logical, and might work very well to make baseball America's National Pastime again, but I doubt either the owners or the players would be willing to make the sacrifices necessary, even when they're in their best interests. Costas writes in a relaxed, conversational style, so much so that you can almost hear his voice as you're reading. It makes for a pleasant read you can complete in an hour or so, and the material will certainly make you think. Even fans who've lost interest in baseball might well find Costas' views interesting, and certainly all fans who would like to see competitiveness return to baseball would be well served to assess Costas' argument and make their own decisions about his ideas.
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