Fair Ball

Emmy Award-winning sports announcer Costas is a natural for audio; his confident, animated voice is enjoyable to listen to (though the rapid-fire speed of his delivery takes a little while to get used to), and he's comfortable behind the microphone. His passion for baseball comes through in every line. This audio is a soapbox for Costas, allowing him to present his strong opinions about exactly what's wrong with baseball today. Like a lawyer presenting his final summation, he intelligently argues his case. He believes 1993 was the turning point: the year that Major League Baseball made radical (and in Costas's opinion, misguided) changes, including the realignment of the divisions, that allow weaker teams to enter the playoffs and potentially end up as World Series contenders. Costas also argues strongly for salary caps and revenue sharing to lessen the unfair advantage currently enjoyed by wealthy, large-market teams. This audio's conversational pace and clear production make it a sure bet for baseball fans interested in the future of the game. Based on the Broadway hardcover (Forecasts, Mar. 27). (Apr.)