Intangiball: The Subtle Things That Win Baseball Games

Plenty of baseball books focus on sabermetrics and the application of statistical analysis to evaluate players. Far fewer are dedicated to such player intangibles as hustle, leadership, professionalism and passion—character traits that elevate teams yet are impossible to quantify. Wheeler (who has collaborated with Hank Aaron and Mike Piazza on their autobiographies) explores how intangibles matter by tracking the Cincinnati Reds’ transformation from a struggling team, revolving around selfish superstars Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn, to champions of the National League Central Division in two out of three seasons. Wheeler attributes that success to the arrivals of Joey Votto and Scott Rolen, less renowned but more team-focused players. He uses the acronym TEAMSHIP (toughness, execution, accountability, moxie, supportiveness, history, intensity, and passion) to define his target “intangibles.” Not surprisingly, Derek Jeter is the subject of an entire chapter, and the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, and Baltimore Orioles receive nearly as much attention as the Reds. Despite long-winded passages and an overemphasis on validating his premise, there’s no denying Wheeler’s found fertile ground here with a thoughtful companion to Michael Lewis’ Moneyball. (Aug.)