I’ve never been a big fan of books that focus on one game. I prefer my subjects broader, but I was glad I had the opportunity to read The Last Nine Innings by Charles Euchner. For those that don’t know, this work profiles Game seven of the 2001 World Series. We all remember that game as the game where Luis Gonzalez won the game in the ninth inning off of Mariano Rivera. Euchner does a good job breaking down even the most seemingly insignificant events and giving them a new significance most fans wouldn’t notice.
Euchner is at his best when he uses his refreshing access to the players and coaches from the game to gain new insights into preparation and performance. In particular, the focus on the game’s starting pitchers (Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens) was refreshing and enlightening for this baseball fan. Euchner goes on to talk about how different players prepare for the game and the season and how they deal with success and failure.
If there was any area that was underdeveloped, it was the significance of this game in recent history. Some time was spent at the end of the book talking about it, but Game seven of the 2001 series was a such a huge turnaround for the Yankees and the rest of baseball. If the Yankees would have won that game they likely would have kept Tino Martinez and maintained their philosophy of using homegrown talent as much as possible. Unfortunately for them, their defeat prompted the Boss to add as many high priced free agents as possible. Surprisingly, the Yankees perceived invincibility has waned with each huge signing.
The Yankees were a well oiled machine that seemed to work perfectly between the lineup, rotation, and bullpen. Now, they are a roster of bloated overpriced veterans that are seemingly five years past their prime. The fruits of change came from this game and the ultimate disappointment from losing. The Diamondbacks for their part have served the role of the one-time winner. I think most baseball fans prefer it that way.
However, that is only a minor point in an otherwise well written book. Euchner even delves into the debate between traditional scouting and sabermetrics. The section talking about Derek Jeter’s fielding was inspired. He broke down one play Jeter made and showed how this one play illustrates the wide range of opinion on Jeter’s defense. Of course, the traditional vs. sabermetric argument is not limited to Jeter, but he seems to be the center point of so many discussions on the issue.
The influx of foreign born players was an important part of the book as well. With each issue that comes along, Euchner treats it with the same care. There is no shortage of experts used to bring the point across. More than anything, you get the idea that baseball is a difficult game to play and a complex game to watch. Baseball fans will enjoy the book and casual fans will get hooked with the human interest stories that come along in every chapter.
The Last Nine Innings was published by Sourcebooks, Inc. and can be found at Barnes and Noble, Borders, or any other major book provider. As always, the book can be purchased through Amazon.com as well. The $22.95 is a good price for nearly 300 pages of fascinating information. It would be hyperbole to say this is the best baseball book I’ve ever read, but it is well worth the price.
Scott Barzilla is the author of “Checks and Imbalances,” “The State of Baseball Management,” and is looking forward to his release of “On the Outside Looking” at the end of 2006.
