This Ain't Brain Surgery

Wolf Hopper · 07-08-2003, 03:24 PM

Interesting piece -

http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/n...b/1577994.html

Has anyone picked this one up?
I did see it this weekend in B&N and I walked right by it.
Was that a mistake?

pathogan · 07-08-2003, 03:39 PM

...next week. A book actually written by a n ex-jock? What is the world coming to...it sounds terrific,BTW

Firpo Marberry · 07-08-2003, 04:37 PM

Well, Dierker was a teammate of the man who wrote the most controversial and best baseball book I ever read. Jim Bouton seemed to like Dierker, as I recall.

pathogan · 08-06-2003, 12:42 PM

...well written, not morbid about his seizure and subsequent surgery, sort of his story, told in easy going fashion, like you're sitting next to him on a train ride,or in a saloon. Its not mean spirited and it is surprisingly guileless,its funny and honest and a good read...

Wolf Hopper · 08-06-2003, 12:45 PM

Thanks for the feedback Pat!

sweaver · 08-06-2003, 02:50 PM

Rob Neyer gave it a very good review a week or so ago. It's on my to-do list.

Craig S. · 08-06-2003, 04:03 PM

I'm surprised at the good reviews both here and externally. I guess I was just expecting a piece of junk, with an ex-manager's rants against everything others do wrong.

At least now I'll give it a shot.

sweaver · 12-31-2003, 03:24 PM

Just finished this one after receiving it for Christmas. As Pat said months ago, it's a very good book. Dierker (or his editor) splits the book into chapters thematically rather than chronologically, so we get an overview of different aspects of the man's playing, broadcasting, and managing career. Chapters include "Spring Training," "Opening Day," "Pitching," "Managing," "Umpires," and others.

I found it quite insightful and even-handed. It's not beautiful prose, but it is an interesting guy telling interesting stories.

Wolf Hopper · 12-31-2003, 05:39 PM

It's in my "to read" pile - I'll move it up based on you guys. Thanks.

pieman · 01-05-2004, 01:03 PM

It's in my to read pile, too. I guess I better get to it!

Crash Course · 05-19-2004, 10:16 PM

Been reading this one on and off for a while now. Not finished yet. I like it. Took about 100 pages or so to get me really interested. He jumps around a lot on a topic - from his playing days, to the booth, to being a MGR. Took a while to get used to that style. He shoots from the hip yet takes a thinking approach to situations. Not a bad book at all. Glad I am reading it.

rpackrat · 05-21-2004, 06:02 PM

Dierker spoke at a Houston-area SABR meeting last summer. He seemed like a really nice guy, was very articulate and entertaining. I picked up an autographed copy of the book, but have not yet read it.

07-08-2003, 03:24 PM	#1
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	This Ain't Brain Surgery Interesting piece - http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/n...b/1577994.html Has anyone picked this one up? I did see it this weekend in B&N and I walked right by it. Was that a mistake? __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

07-08-2003, 03:39 PM	#2
pathogan william Blake's Innkeeper Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,828	Im getting it ...next week. A book actually written by a n ex-jock? What is the world coming to...it sounds terrific,BTW

07-08-2003, 04:37 PM	#3
Firpo Marberry All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 327	Well, Dierker was a teammate of the man who wrote the most controversial and best baseball book I ever read. Jim Bouton seemed to like Dierker, as I recall. __________________ "They're all nobodies until you have to pitch to them."

08-06-2003, 12:42 PM	#4
pathogan william Blake's Innkeeper Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,828	This book is excellent ...well written, not morbid about his seizure and subsequent surgery, sort of his story, told in easy going fashion, like you're sitting next to him on a train ride,or in a saloon. Its not mean spirited and it is surprisingly guileless,its funny and honest and a good read...

08-06-2003, 12:45 PM	#5
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	Thanks for the feedback Pat! __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

08-06-2003, 02:50 PM	#6
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Rob Neyer gave it a very good review a week or so ago. It's on my to-do list.

08-06-2003, 04:03 PM	#7
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	I'm surprised at the good reviews both here and externally. I guess I was just expecting a piece of junk, with an ex-manager's rants against everything others do wrong. At least now I'll give it a shot.

12-31-2003, 03:24 PM	#8
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Just finished this one after receiving it for Christmas. As Pat said months ago, it's a very good book. Dierker (or his editor) splits the book into chapters thematically rather than chronologically, so we get an overview of different aspects of the man's playing, broadcasting, and managing career. Chapters include "Spring Training," "Opening Day," "Pitching," "Managing," "Umpires," and others. I found it quite insightful and even-handed. It's not beautiful prose, but it is an interesting guy telling interesting stories.

12-31-2003, 05:39 PM	#9
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	It's in my "to read" pile - I'll move it up based on you guys. Thanks. __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

01-05-2004, 01:03 PM	#10
pieman Having A NetShrine Cup Of Coffee Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: China, Maine USA Posts: 12	It's in my to read pile, too. I guess I better get to it!

05-19-2004, 10:16 PM	#11
Crash Course NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 10,070	Been reading this one on and off for a while now. Not finished yet. I like it. Took about 100 pages or so to get me really interested. He jumps around a lot on a topic - from his playing days, to the booth, to being a MGR. Took a while to get used to that style. He shoots from the hip yet takes a thinking approach to situations. Not a bad book at all. Glad I am reading it. __________________ Steve, Forum Admin Hit Grass, Win Salad Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun. - Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, in The Sandlot I've been going to games since August 8, 1973....and on August 22, 2004, finally, a foul ball came my way. I had to reach for it, and it deflected off the tip of my right index finger. Shoot, if I was only 4 inches taller! Have you read The Baseball Same Game?

05-21-2004, 06:02 PM	#12
rpackrat NetShrine Rookie Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 61	Dierker spoke at a Houston-area SABR meeting last summer. He seemed like a really nice guy, was very articulate and entertaining. I picked up an autographed copy of the book, but have not yet read it.

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