| A reader said earlier, if someone other than James wrote this book, no one would care. This is probably true. However, that James had the determination to write it is in itself amazing. He is basically saying we need to take a step back from baseball statistics (and much of what he himself has worked on before) and get a better feel for what these statistics really mean. In this book James provides an outline of how statistics should properly be analyzed. Much of his analysis (especially fielding formulas) is subjective. He explains that many values are estimates. However, James always is sure to explain the logic for his analysis. Furthermore he states that he hopes and expects better estimates and methods of analysis to be found to evaluate players. Win Shares is not the grand masterpiece many readers were hoping for. Instead it is a retraction of much of the previous statistical work of the last decades, to much of which James contributed, and an explanation of a better approach. This book shows James' determination to find truth within statistics, no matter what limitations there are on the system. Win Shares MUST use a lot of subjectivity and estimates to get at the truth of the statistics. It is sacrifice that is well worth the price. |
Win Shares Books In Print, Audio Books.