Change Up: How to Make the Great Game of Baseball Even Better

by Buck Martinez, Dan Robson

Overview

In the spirit of Moneyball, the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays offers cutting insights on baseball

Buck Martinez has been in and around professional baseball for nearly fifty years as a player, manager and broadcaster. Currently the play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays, Martinez has witnessed enormous change in the game he loves, as it has morphed from a grassroots pastime to big business. Not all of the change has been for the better, and today’s fans struggle to connect to their on-the-field heroes as loyalty to club and player wavers and free agency constantly changes the face of every team’s roster.

In Change Up, Martinez offers his unique insights into how Major League Baseball might reconnect with its fanbase, how the clubs might train and prepare their players for their time in “The Show,” and how players might approach the sport in a time of sagging fan interest. Martinez isn’t shy with his opinions, whether they be on pitch count, how to develop players through the minor-league system, and even if there should be a minor-league system at all. Always entertaining, ever insightful, Martinez shares brilliant insights and inside pitches about summer’s favourite game.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781443440752
Publisher:	HarperCollins Canada
Publication date:	03/29/2016
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

BUCK MARTINEZ has spent nearly fifty years in professional baseball, including twenty years as a catcher (six years as a Toronto Blue Jay), twenty-five years in broadcasting, and two as a manager. Martinez is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays on Rogers Sportsnet.

 

Dan Robson is Head of Features and a Senior Writer at The Athletic Canada. An award-winning journalist, he is the bestselling author of Quinn, Bower and co-author of Change Up, The Crazy Game and Killer. Robson lives in Toronto. Visit him at danrobsonstories.com

Editorial Reviews

A fun and fascinating look back at what made baseball great, and how that former glory might be recaptured” — Quill & Quire

“Buck Martinez is as knowledgeable about what is going on in the baseball world as anyone I know. Between playing, managing and broadcasting, Buck has been around the game forever, and has a keen eye for what is really important.” — Dan Shulman, commentator, ESPN and Sportsnet

“I’ve always admired Buck Martinez’s baseball career from afar but during my time as the general manager of the Blue Jays I had the opportunity to watch, observe and learn from Buck on so many levels. His passion and insight into the game is unparalleled.” — Alex Anthopoulos, former General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays

“Buck told me long ago that he wasn’t a great player, but he knew what one looked like. As you read the pages that follow, know that you are joining a baseball lifer who only wishes that baseball, in its next life, is better than baseball in its current life.” — Chris Berman, ESPN

“Buck Martinez brings a unique blend of old school baseball thinking mixed with the new statistical mind which is so prevalent in today’s game. Buck has played, coached, managed and broadcasted the game of baseball through many different eras, his love and knowledge of baseball is second to none.” — Dan Plesac, former Toronto Blue Jay, broadcaster for the MLB network

From the Publisher

Buck Martinez brings a unique blend of old school baseball thinking mixed with the new statistical mind which is so prevalent in today’s game. Buck has played, coached, managed and broadcasted the game of baseball through many different eras, his love and knowledge of baseball is second to none.

Dan Plesac

Buck Martinez is as knowledgeable about what is going on in the baseball world as anyone I know. Between playing, managing and broadcasting, Buck has been around the game forever, and has a keen eye for what is really important.

Dan Shulman

A fun and fascinating look back at what made baseball great, and how that former glory might be recaptured

Quill & Quire

Buck told me long ago that he wasn’t a great player, but he knew what one looked like. As you read the pages that follow, know that you are joining a baseball lifer who only wishes that baseball, in its next life, is better than baseball in its current life.

Chris Berman

I’ve always admired Buck Martinez’s baseball career from afar but during my time as the general manager of the Blue Jays I had the opportunity to watch, observe and learn from Buck on so many levels. His passion and insight into the game is unparalleled.

Alex Anthopoulos

For a guy that grew up in my time, Buck was one of ‘the’ voices of baseball. It’s an honor to have had him broadcast games I’ve played in.

Chris Colabello