Book Review
Copyright (c) 1994, Steve Powers
All rights reserved

    Pure Baseball - by Keith Hernandez and Mike Bryan
(HarperCollins $21.00)

As sure as the return of the swallows to Capistrano, the coming of
spring brings a flood of baseball books. One such book is Pure Baseball.
Most baseball books stay with tried-and-true topics.  They may be
biographies of superstars, accounts of championship seasons or a foray
into the golden past. Pure Baseball dares to be different. 

Keith Hernandez, a former major league baseball player with 17 seasons
of experience behind him, offers his candid insights into the game of
baseball. A front page blurb promises "pitch by pitch for the advanced
fan," and the book delivers on that promise.  This is, indeed, for the
advanced fan, the fan who honestly desires to delve beneath the surface
to understand the reason for every pitch selection, to understand
managerial strategies in certain situations, to understand why the
fielders move around against particular batters and to understand many
other subtle and not-so- subtle nuances of the game.  This book moves
beyond the world of the casual fan, who observes a baseball game largely
on the surface, although they may understand some very broad strategies
that "everybody in the park knows". 

Keith Hernandez, with his inner knowledge of baseball and the ability to
simplify even the most complex baseball decisions, teaches the advanced
fan to do more than just watch a baseball game. He shows fans how to
observe it, to notice all the little things that can make a big
difference in the ultimate outcome of the game. 

Hernandez focuses on two games played in the early part (June) of the
1993 season: Philadelphia versus Atlanta and Detroit versus the Yankees.

His pitch-by-pitch analysis of both games is fascinating, at times
zeroing in on the smallest detail. For instance, in describing
Philadelphia catcher Darren Daulton's pursuit of a behind-the-plate foul
ball, he explains why Daulton waits until the last minute to yank off
his catcher's mask (to make sure he doesn't trip over it). 

The depth of his explanations are, at times, astounding.  Baseball may
be only a game, but it's a very complicated one, criss-crossed with
multiple layers. Take the situation of bringing the infield in on a
certain hitter. Hernandez shows that this sets off an entire chain of
reactions. The opposing manager must respond with a move of his own and
has several to choose from, depending on who's at bat and the status of
the game. However, Hernandez doesn't allow the reader to become
confused; he gives clear, concise explanations of the intricate
reasonings of all involved. 

Hernandez's observations are totally straightforward and honest. He does
much more than explain strategy; if he disagrees with a manager's move,
he doesn't hesitate to voice his feelings.  This candidness is present
throughout the pages of Pure Baseball; it makes for a lively and
entertaining book, keeping it from falling into the yawning trap of dry
statistics so many baseball books fall into. 

This effort stands head and shoulders above the current crop of baseball
books. Dedicated baseball fans will come away with a new understanding
which will greatly enhance their viewing of the game.