"If it has long been a mystery why so many writers have argued that baseball explains life, Keith Law's The Inside Game addresses its corollary: why life explains baseball. Inside these pages the senior baseball writer for the Athletic website examines the assumptions that animate baseball--both on the field and in the opinionated realms of fandom." -- Wall Street Journal "Law's take is as entertaining as it is informative. This intelligent and accessible work is a grand slam." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "In a market saturated with baseball books, Law's stands out by exploring key decisions in the game. Highly recommended for serious followers of baseball and readers interested in how statistical analysis and trends can be applied in any sport." -- Library Journal "Smart Baseball is an engaging account of the evolution of baseball metrics. His experience and insight make him uniquely qualified to answer the driving question in MLB today: how best to account for everything that happens on the field.

This look is a must-read for the serious fan." -- Billy Beane, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, Oakland A's, on Smart Baseball "Law provides necessary insight into how front offices have come to evaluate talent. Smart Baseball is an essential and accessible primer on how data and analytics shape America's Pastime, and where it's headed. " -- Sean Doolittle, pitcher, Oakland A's, on Smart Baseball "No flawed statistic is safe from Keith's insights in this clear-eyed, data driven tour of the bases. Smart Baseball gives us a preview of the future as Keith introduces the stats that really matter in a way that all fans will enjoy." -- Molly Knight, author of the New York Times bestseller The Best Team Money Can Buy, on Smart Baseball "Smart Baseball can help any baseball follower evolve along with the game. It provides an insightful and thorough look at how this great game is being viewed now and into the future. Definitely a great read for anyone who loves baseball.

" -- A.J. Hinch, manager, Houston Astros, on Smart Baseball "Mr. Law's book will increase any fan's enjoyment of the sport." -- Wall Street Journal on Smart Baseball "A new perspective on the intricacies of the sport.smart and savvy, The Inside Game is a gem." -- The Main Edge.