Book Review: Mind Game: How the Boston Red Sox Got Smart, Won a World Series...

In this review, we will take a look at the book Mind Game, How the Boston Red Sox Got Smart, Won a World Series, and Created a New Blueprint for Winning, written by the writers of Baseball Prospectus and edited by Steven Goldman.

The book is actually a series of essays, in which the authors take a look at the Boston Red Sox run to the 2004 World Series title; what worked, what didn't, and how those things that didn't work were fixed. While a little heavy on Sabermetric-style statistical analysis, this is a book than can be enjoyed even if you don't have a strong interest in the numbers, and the "new age" stats it does use are well explained both in context and in the extensive index.

The book begins by looking at the Red Sox futility from 1919 to 2002, the famous stretch in which they failed to win a World Series. In an attempt to debunk the "Curse of the Bambino", the book looks closer at what the Red Sox did during that time period, their relative successes and failures, and ultimately, the real reasons why they didn't win a World Series during those years.

Interspersed among the chronological essays that bring us though the 2004 season are several short pieces that examine different well known baseball "truths" from a statistical analysis outlook, and give us additional history and background. These include looks at former Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette, the value of a team's best player, the draft, on base percentage, and Calvin Schiraldi, just to name a few. These do a good job of providing extra information without pulling the reader away from the flow of the chronological run through the season.

After the background information, we then move on to look at how the current Red Sox leadership came to power…the purchase of the team by John Henry and the hiring of Theo Epstein, and that group's building of the team that is highlighted by statistical analysis and looking for bargains where many other teams did not see them. The almost trade for Alex Rodriguez is discussed and examined in detail in an interesting essay that looks at what A-rod would have meant to the Red Sox vs. what he'd mean to the Yankees.

We then move into the 2004 season, starting in spring training and pre-season projections and roster moves made to get the team ready for opening day. A variety of other elements of the Red Sox season, from the bullpen's successes and failures, to injuries and depth, and winning and losing streaks are examined. The book also looks at individual players and the effect statistical analysis had on their career and playing time; pitch counts for Pedro Martinez , the emergence of David Ortiz from obscurity, and how an obsession with on base percentage helped the Red Sox see the value in players like Bill Mueller, Johnny Damon, Kevin Youkillis, and Mark Bellhorn.

The book also examines the injury, attitude, and eventual trade of Nomar Garciaparra, and team chemistry in general. Even the famous A-rod/Varitek brawl is looked at with an analytical eye, and its effect as a turning point to the season called into question.

The real fun starts when the playoffs start, and the Baseball Prospectus folks don't disappoint…with essays that look at the Red Sox history in pennant races and the playoffs, Curt Schillings ankle, and what changed during the Red Sox/Yankees series that helped the Red Sox mount their historic comeback. The Red Sox sweep of the Cardinals in the World Series is also explored, as well as the aftermath of the season and a look at the future.

The book also has a lengthy appendix that contains a look at every general manager since Tom Yawkey bought the team, and their best and worst moves, a list of baseball brawls, plus explanations of many of the statistics they use over at Baseball Prospectus, complete with all time, single season, and Red Sox leaders.

Overall, the book was well researched and well written, although because it is a series of essays by different authors, some of it was better written than other parts. The essay format led to some repetition of content and ideas, also…which at times seemed, well, repetitious. In some spots, the book goes go a bit far in it's glorification of Red Sox moves and vilification of moves by other teams, especially the Yankees. As a Red Sox fan, I enjoyed their look at the team and World Championship season from a different angle, but I think that any fan of the game would also enjoy the book.