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The small introductory paragraphs for each chapter would have provided a much more entertaining look at the subject if Walker could have found a few hundred of those, as it is, the only real entertainment value from this book is discovering that Matt Berry really doesn't know what he's talking about, but has managed to sell himself as a fantasy expert anyway.which kind of sums up the whole subject really. The people he plays against in the book are to all intents and purposes Fantasy Sports Professionals.I don't consider hiring a stats genius and a scouting guy for the season, then spending 40,000 dollars on watching spring training and various other road trips as representing anything that most fantasy players can identify with. Although its clear from the editorial blurb here on Amazon that Sam Walker is NOT your 'everyman' type rotisserie player, thats not how this book was originally marketed and I can't believe how gushing the praise is for something that isn't at all what it purports to be.I would not call the 'Lunatic Fringe' of fantasy baseball the 'Tout Wars' players, who mostly earn their livings from analysing baseball stats and selling their research in book form or through website subscriptions. Sam Walker himself is a sportswriter, albeit for the Wall Street Journal,whose access to the inner sanctums of baseball front offices and clubhouses is a million miles removed from the experience of fantasy baseball for 99.9 percent of its participants.
I suspect he used creative license to produce a successful book. First, I admit I am a fantasy baseball fanatic. I have more fantasy baseball knowledge in my little finger than he will ever have in his lifetime. He approached his subject like a writing assignment and not an adventure. As such, I looked forward to reading this book. I was very disappointed by this arrogant author's obvious style of embellishing the stories in the book.
Walker's exploits into building an AL only fantasy team to go against some of the top Fantasy Owners in the world is a great read, especially if you are a big baseball fan like myself. I laughed out loud countless times.
Now, should I take the best available RB, or go for the top WR or QB from that spot. I have the 8th pick. And my fantasy football league is drafting today.
In 2004, he played in a high-level Rotisserie league with no prize money, spending an estimated $65,000 to finish. Although the one year I played a Rotisserie-style league I didn't like it, this book makes me want to try it again. Lunatic, just like the subtitle.
But not today, I have to go check the standings in my baseball points league. Hmmm. 8th.
He captures the insane feeling of team ownership with the added fillip of professional sports- writer access to "his" players.
His moments with the players themselves are excellent, and I walked away from this book with a few new favorite big leaguers, for many different reasons.I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who plays fantasy baseball or is just curious as to why those who play it are so fanatical about it. It makes for good reading, but to me, not as interesteing as if he would have went it alone or with advice from buddies. Sam Walker traces the origins of the game, profiles the super geeks who advise the rest of us, and gives insight into playing in the most competitive fantasy baseball league. The one downer, I think, is that Walker emptied his bank account to have a staff of two full timers, an actress/temptress and a psychic.
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