The Machine: A Review

Posted: September 2nd, 2009 | Filed under: Media | 15 Comments »

I know what you’re saying: “Are you REALLY going to post every positive book review you get for The Machine, that ridiculous Reds book you’ve been jamming down our throats for MONTHS now?”

No. I won’t. I promise.

But if you think I’m not posting a review from someone who gave the book a 19.3 on a scale of 1 to 5, you’re out of your mind. Also, this is a cool independent book review site worth a link even if he had only given the book, you know, a 12 rating on the scale of 1 to 5.

15 Comments on “The Machine: A Review”

  1. 1: Ant Bham said at 8:41 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    Duly noted, and site bookmarked. Thanks, Joe.

  2. 2: Rob V said at 8:44 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    Joe,

    Sure, the rating was great – but I’d rather you waited and published reviews that were actually, you know, worth reading. I have no doubt you’ll get some.

    Sorry not to pump up the numbers, but I look forward to walking into my local bookstore (yes, it still exists) on the ninth and buying the book in person. Looking forward to it.

  3. 3: jay said at 9:13 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    Good for you, Joe! The excerpt was great, so I’m psyched to read the book.

    I think it’s great that you’re blogging like this, versus going the media personality route (even if you change your mind on that eventually)…this blog is kind of like if a couple of great NBA players that I happen to (possibly irrationally) like a lot more than others–say Ray Allen and Steve Nash–played 1-on-1 in my high school gym.

    Keep up the great work, Joe. And for a future book idea (not like you need any), there’s a great book to be written about Buffalo fans…quick, before we win something (yeah, right)! The bonus is that half the people in WNY also have names ending in “ski.”

  4. 4: JM said at 9:27 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    Joe -
    I’m going to be honest. I love your writing, but haven’t considered buying your book, because I can’t stand Joe Morgan and anything to do with him (except for the late, great FireJoeMorgan.com). I’m too young to know him as anything but the worst baseball announcer I’ve ever heard (well, maybe not Tim McCarver, but no one’s writing a book about him).
    Help me, Joe. Help me to realize that it’s worth putting aside my irrational (I can admit it) hate for this man so that I can read your book.
    Thanks.
    -J

  5. 5: Mikey said at 9:31 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    “I love your writing, but haven’t considered buying your book because I can’t stand Joe Morgan”

    Congratulations on posting the single stupidest comment ever made on this blog.

  6. 6: Shaun said at 9:44 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    JM- Joe Morgan may be an idiot talking about baseball on broadcasts, but he was an amazing 2B in his time (and would be in ours). The irony in all of this is that what he rails against (taking walks and OBP) was the best part of his game. Once he got to CIN, he walked 100 times in 6 straight seasons, with and OBP of .429 over those years.

  7. 7: Spud said at 10:12 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    JM – use the mute button when you watch ballgames. It will add years to your life.

  8. 8: jay said at 10:42 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    Yeah, Joe Morgan’s playing career (most amazing 2b ever) outweighs his announcing career (biggest dumbass ever), unlike, for instance, Tim McCarver. But incredibly, he’s now been an absolutely gadawful announcer for *longer* than he played.

    My dad tells me that O.J. was the most amazing football player he’s ever seen, but really all I know him for is a guy who* chopped people up.

    *for legal purposes, please whisper “allegedly” right now

    Not equating the two, just sayin’ that JM has a point. Heck, this year the Sox replaced Remdawg with a rotating cast of characters and — even though they had no idea what they were doing…e.g., the Eck described a replay as “Masturbate, er, Masterson is playing with him” — they were *all* better than Morgan. Hell, my wife is a better color commentator than Joe Morgan…which is why, per Spud, mute is mos def the rule for ESPN games.

  9. 9: schooner said at 11:54 am on September 2nd, 2009:

    I think he liked the book.

  10. 10: VoiceOfUnreason said at 1:14 pm on September 2nd, 2009:

    “Help me to realize that it’s worth putting aside my irrational (I can admit it) hate for this man so that I can read your book.”

    Oh, that’s easy – just read the “interview” with Joe Morgan in _Ball Four_.

  11. 11: Tom said at 2:38 pm on September 2nd, 2009:

    Voice of Unreason – It would be amazing if Morgan started talking about the difference between a regular curve and a m.f.-ing curve on Monday Night Baseball.

  12. 12: JM said at 8:03 pm on September 2nd, 2009:

    VoiceofUnreason: found that interview. Amazing. Almost makes up for everything he’s subjected us to in the years since.
    To those who recommended the mute button: I’ve already started doing that for Tim McCarver. Of course, now I’m listening to Sutcliffe on ESPN and thinking I just need to do it for everyone on ESPN.

  13. 13: Vanessa said at 8:16 pm on September 2nd, 2009:

    I placed my order. Stop hounding me!

  14. 14: Mike in Hawaii(ABR) said at 12:01 am on September 3rd, 2009:

    Small sample size?

  15. 15: dtro said at 6:00 am on September 3rd, 2009:

    Ok fine. I’m ordering it, sheesh.

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