The Phil Steele's of Major League Baseball...

[CollegeKingRex]

Anyone who bets on baseball needs to buy this book... myself included.

It's Michael Murray's "Betting Baseball"

He has a new edition each spring. It runs about $30... and is a must-read if you are an everyday baseball bettor.

I have not heard any signs of it being out yet, but I would expect release very soon if it's not out already. Anyone know anything?

Thanks in advance...

:cheers:

 

[MusicCityGambler]

Interesting I'll have to look into this. Rex, is it a book or magazine? Where do you typically find it? Online or can it be purchased at a store like Borders or BN?

 

[CollegeKingRex]

I believe you have to buy it online - unless you live in Vegas. The only place where I am 100 percent sure it is sold is at the Gambler's Book Club in Las Vegas - but it's not listed as being in yet (online)...

 

[E.T.G.]

bump for answers, i need some reading material

 

[CollegeKingRex]

ETG: Sent an e-mail to Maryann out at GBC...

here's what she came back with...

"
Hey...

I talked to Michael last week and he said his revised version was going to the printer next week (that would be the last week of Feb.) ... It is on order and I'll have it on the web tomorrow for pre-order ... that way people can pay for it and have it shipped as soon as it arrives in the store. He hasn't said anything about a price change so we will set it at last year's price. If it goes up then the pre-order people will be getting a bargain.

Best,
Maryann
"

Hope this helps...

 

[E.T.G.]

thanks a lot rex.


can you give me a little background on what the book covers

 

[JRose5]

I agree. Excellent book. Also, I've e-mailed the author, Michael Murray (I believe he lives in the KC area) before. A very friendly guy, who was very generous with his replies.

 

[frankiegotti]

very good stuff, i definitley will be ordering one

 

[JPicks]

thanks a lot rex.


can you give me a little background on what the book covers

Betting Baseball by Michael Murray is the best book on handicapping baseball published to date. This book is a must have for anyone looking to handicap professional baseball.

For the beginning bettor, Murray covers the basics of betting baseball by giving a thorough explanation of the money line, run line, and totals. Also included is a list of quality offshore sportsbooks to consider betting with.

With the basics covered, Murray begins to dive into the various aspects of handicapping a professional baseball game. Aspects such as home field advantage, measuring offense, dealing with injuries, and pitching are covered.

For measuring offense, Murray gives a solid explanation of measuring a player or team's offensive power rating. The power rating is fairly simple to calculate, and an explanation on calculating this power rating (OPS) using on base percentage (OB%), slugging percentage (SLG%), and expected at-bats is covered. Lastly, a section covering injuries is included to provide the handicapper with a method for adjusting the power rating due to injury.

Next, Murray dives into various aspects of pitching. Murray starts with uncovering the impact pitching has on a baseball game (it's less than what you might think). Next, he describes various pitching statistics useful to the handicapper. These statistics include ERA, expected ERA (xERA), WHIP, ground to fly ball ratio, and much more.

Lastly, Murray brings it all together for the reader. He describes how to create your own line with offensive and pitching statistics. He also goes on to describe other important factors the handicapper should take into account: how the weather affects the game, other park factors, and umpires.

If you only have time to read one book on handicapping baseball then this is the one you should read. It is well worth the price.

 

[EstreetPicks]

There are two books I get every year. One is Murray's "betting Baseball," and the other is Phil Erwin's Baseball Insight Annual. Not to be missed stuff.

 

[frankiegotti]

estreet, how have you been? I know spring training is your bread and butter, so good luck as you will be busy in a little bit.

 

[EstreetPicks]

Hey Gotti, I'll be doing a daily thread over here for the month.

 

[frankiegotti]

Hey Gotti, I'll be doing a daily thread over here for the month.

i sure am looking forward to it, GL man.

 

[CollegeKingRex]

E-Street: Tell me a little bit about the other book. I might invest if you think it´s worthwhile. What do you get out of it?

 

[EstreetPicks]

E-Street: Tell me a little bit about the other book. I might invest if you think it´s worthwhile. What do you get out of it?

Easy to use reference book that provides:

• Team records versus groundball/flyball/contact/power pitchers
• Breakdown of groundball/flyball/contact/power pitchers
• Team breakdowns using the following values and their combinations in quick read one page chart form(Home/away-Day/Night-Left/Right-Grass/Turf-opponent over .500/under .500-having a quality start/versus a quality start {also gives breakdown of units lost/won in fav-dog-pick situations and over/under breakdown by Day/Night-Home/Away-Left/Right}
• Back of page gives won/lost (plus/minus)breakdown versus every team last year (Home and Away)and for the past 3 years PLUS average score and over/under results prior year and last 3 years
• A full log from prior season follows the one page breakdown for each team
• THEN...it provides a breakdown for every pitcher who started 5 or more games the prior season. This breakdown includes all the bells and whistles that most have (Home/away-day/night-grass/turf-versus good opponents/bad opponents-run support-quality start percentages and previous year's record versus each opponent) but then adds what is called a "Game Rating," that neatly measures k's/walks/home runs yielded/innings pitched and hits in a 1-5 rating. Dominating starts were 4's and 5's disasters 0's and 1's. Every start was measured from the year beofre to provide an average Game Rating.

For example:
Jeremy Affeldt (2006) avgr: 1.1 Dominating starts 12% Disasters 67%
Josh Beckett (2006) avgr: 3.2 Dominating starts 52% Disasters 16%

The average for all starters in 2006 was a 2.7


The majority of this info can be found elsewhere, but this is the most user friendly time saving reference tool that I have found for this stuff.

There is more on totals and other little things that I didn't mention as I don't use everything in it but that should give you the jist.

Last year's price was $32.95 from the Gambler's Book Club.

 

[reNew Orleans]

bump, any word on the betting baseball book

 

[frankiegotti]

i haven't seen it posted yet, i think i may email Mary Ann @ GBC just to put on the pre-order list.

 

[chancedog]

Anyone have thoughts on Baseball Prospectus? They have been comming out with an anual book for 12 years now

 

[scdoggy]

Good info Rex and Estreet. Just three more weeks to go fellas.

 

[Vikingsguy]

Hey guys, I just read Betting Baseball 2008 by Murray and it is awesome. I didn't see this thread and started a new one in the MLB forum. Definately worthwhile reading. Has anyone created a spreadsheet they are willing to share? PM me if so...

 

[CollegeKingRex]

Good stuff, Vikings. I am going back to the states on Wednesday and my copy is sitting at my house as we speak. I told my mom to start filling in ump info, hahaha just joking...

 

[frankiegotti]

I told my mom to start filling in ump info

:36_11_6::36_11_6:

 

[Vikingsguy]

haha Rexy. That's good stuff. I'll PM you my email if you care to share. Better than me going through Excel and Access tutorials. :hang: