Gauging Interest For A Brew Crew Ball Book Club

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 11, 2011 4:03 PM CST in Site News

Hey folks,

I wanted to take a moment on a somewhat quiet day today to see if anyone is interested in being a part of a project we're considering putting together, the Brew Crew Ball Book Club.

I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of book clubs, but here's the basic premise in case you're not:

The group comes together and selects a book to read as a community. I've got some suggestions below, but feel free to add your own in the comments.
Periodically (once weekly?), those of us who have chosen to participate come together to discuss the parts of the book we've read so far.

I think that's more or less it. Amazin Avenue seems to have a working model down for the project. If you have suggestions for how ours might work, drop them in the comments.

EDIT: Since I've been asked a couple of times now, I guess I should point out that discussions would happen here on the site, not in any specific physical location. So you don't need to be in Milwaukee to participate.

Personally, I could use the encouragement to spend a little more time reading and a little less screwing around with other things this winter. Maybe you could too.

So, given the list of these possible books to choose from, how many of you would be interested in taking part?

Poll

Would you be interested in being a part of a Brew Crew Ball Book Club?

Yes, and I'd like to read Jonah Keri's "The Extra 2%."

13 votes

Yes, and I'd like to read Tobias J. Moskowitz's "Scorecasting."

4 votes

Yes, and I'd like to read Daniel Okrent's "Nine Innings."

10 votes

Yes, and I'd like to read Howard Bryant's "The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron."

6 votes

Yes, and I'd like to read David Maraniss' "Clemente: The Passion And Grace Of Baseball's Last Hero."

5 votes

Yes, but I'm not interested in reading any of the books above.

7 votes

Yes, and I don't care what we read.

33 votes

No, but I'll go ahead and vote in this poll anyway.

56 votes

134 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Bookclub

I think this is a great idea. I’ve read Howard Bryant’s “The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron” and it was excellent. Would be happy to read whatever as long as it’s baseball related, also happy to discuss the Henry Aaron book.

by TMac83 on Nov 11, 2011 4:09 PM CST reply actions

I'm up for this

I’ve read “Nine Innings” but would be up for reading it again or any of the other books.

How are meetings held? Would it just be a thread here?

REWIND YOURSELF!

by drezdn on Nov 11, 2011 4:29 PM CST reply actions

I'm open to suggestions on that, but I think the easiest way would just be a comment thread.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 11, 2011 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

Great idea

Hoping the ‘get together’ part takes place on the website

by nullacct on Nov 11, 2011 4:48 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, I've edited the post to clarify that.

The meetings would happen here, on the site.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 11, 2011 4:49 PM CST up reply actions

Unless lots of you really want to meet at my house, in Appleton.

But I’m guessing the site will be a more popular option.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 11, 2011 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

We're also talking about maybe doing

a “live blog” on Cover It Live where we can have an ongoing discussion at a set time. Maybe we could do that once at the end of each book. It might make for a smoother conversation?

Just a thought

by Nicole Haase on Nov 11, 2011 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

I like Book Club better than the alternative...

which would be ‘Boo Club.’ No Boo Clubs… ‘Boo Cubs’ works, I guess.

How about a Boo Cubs Book Club?

FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.

by Jess'HittheBall on Nov 11, 2011 5:29 PM CST reply actions 3 recs

Simply genius.

"People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."- Rogers Hornsby

by icecreamman on Nov 11, 2011 7:39 PM CST up reply actions

Great idea

Can’t wait for the Mr. Goldenhands book review

by Chuckiehacks83 on Nov 11, 2011 5:43 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I like the idea....

but on thinking it through, a “on-line book club” sounds like writing a book report. :)

My book preferences would be toward anything non-sabermetrical.

by jimf on Nov 11, 2011 6:54 PM CST reply actions

Jose Canseco's "Juiced"

Heh.

A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.

by TwoShoesMcGooze on Nov 11, 2011 8:15 PM CST reply actions

I voted

“Yes, but don’t care what we read.”

Just let me know, and I’ll pick up the book o’ the month. My wife does two book clubs. They get together and drink and ‘discuss’ the books. I’m guessing you aren’t going to want to actually talk about Julie’s affair and get smashed, but the content of the books, which I’m all for.

"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."

~Doug Melvin

"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."

~RRR

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 12, 2011 12:55 AM CST reply actions

I want to join your wife's book club.

I got goons.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Nov 12, 2011 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

Personally

I’d tend towards the Clemente or Okrent books (preferably the Okrent). Of course, this has nothing to do with these books costing significantly less at Amazon and my personal desire to live up to national stereotypes.

Extra 2% didn’t get the glowing reviews I thought it might – haven’t read it myself, but a few reviews said it read more like a set of articles with frequent repetition rather than a cohesive volume. Still wouldn’t be against it though…

"I love it when any team called 'The Brew Crew' wins": Tad Kubler
"LOLOL I LOVE YUNI!!!!": ThroughBeingCool

by MrLeam on Nov 12, 2011 2:02 PM CST reply actions

Would be quite cool if people could recommend baseball books in general

My favourite is “Lords of the Realm” which I think I mentioned a couple of months ago. Wouldn’t be the best book for a book club as is historical rather than the type of analytical work that would create debate but is such a good read. Think I heard Keith Law or someone recommend it the other day. Its a history of the relationship between players and bosses which sounds incredibly dull and about the worst book possible but is just fantastically well-written. Explains everything really well and just full of amusing anecdotes. Just about the best book I’ve read in years…

"I love it when any team called 'The Brew Crew' wins": Tad Kubler
"LOLOL I LOVE YUNI!!!!": ThroughBeingCool

by MrLeam on Nov 12, 2011 3:42 PM CST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Cincinnati Red Reporter	25	20	.555	0	Lost 1
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	25	21	.543	0.5	Lost 2
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	22	23	.488	3	Won 4
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	21	24	.466	4	Won 1
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	19	26	.422	6	Won 2
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	15	30	.333	10	Lost 10