{"product_id":"a-damn-near-perfect-game-joe-kelly-9781635768893","title":"A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America's Pastime","description":"\u003cb\u003eBaseball's most outspoken fireballer brings the high heat--calling out\u003cbr\u003e the hacks, cheats, and ridiculous rules that have tarnished the \u003cbr\u003egame--and pitches a-plus stuff on how to make baseball pure, fun, and \u003cbr\u003edamn near perfect.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBaseball has an image problem. The \u003cbr\u003echorus of nonbelievers gets louder every year, and the Major Leagues \u003cbr\u003ehave made an art of tuning them out. Enter Joe Kelly: a walking, \u003cbr\u003etalking, fast-ball-throwing embodiment of why baseball matters. He and \u003cbr\u003ehis All-Star team of athletes and celebrities have some things to say \u003cbr\u003eabout what's gone wrong with our once great game and how to fix it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Damn Near Perfect Game\u003c\/i\u003e is the loudest insider's exposé of the laws and culture of Major League Baseball since Jim Bouton's classic \u003ci\u003eBall Four\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e From Kelly's perspective as a two-time World Series champion and \u003cbr\u003ebaseball's most memeable player according to ESPN, he takes readers on a\u003cbr\u003e house-cleaning tour of the clubhouse, the field of play, the bullpen, \u003cbr\u003ethe front office, the commissioner's office, and a ballplayer's \u003cbr\u003erestricted life off the field. Kelly has something to say about \u003cbr\u003ebaseball's rule changes (pitch clocks, limiting defensive shifts, the \u003cbr\u003edesignated hitter); hacks (overused analytics, sign-stealing); stale \u003cbr\u003epromotion to new fans; and encouraging players' emotions (let them \u003cbr\u003efight, bat-flip, and talk sh*t!). Plus, he details how he aired his \u003cbr\u003ecomplaints in an illuminating meeting with commissioner Rob Manfred. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAnd\u003cbr\u003e to show what happens when baseball has some piss and vinegar, Kelly \u003cbr\u003egives the inside scoop on his legendary exploits--starting a \u003cbr\u003ebench-clearing brawl with the Yankees' Tyler Austin, his famous \"pouty \u003cbr\u003eface\" scene when calling out the notorious sign-stealing Houston Astros, \u003cbr\u003e and wearing a mariachi jacket to visit the White House with his World \u003cbr\u003eSeries champion LA Dodgers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Joe Kelly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1635768896\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781635768893\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Diversion Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/28\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.20w x 1.10d","brand":"Joe Kelly","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44077721026815,"sku":"9781635768893","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_afe8cb89-85a6-4756-9721-f0945384bc7b.jpg?v=1685471433","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-damn-near-perfect-game-joe-kelly-9781635768893","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}