Baseball record keeper should keep you sharper

26 March 2009

By Howard Schwartz

With more than 2,000 baseball games in 2009, it's imperative the serious or even occasional bettor look at streaks and scheduling to measure team performance and the fatigue factor. With that in mind, the 2009 Major League Baseball Schedule & Record Keeper fits the bill (179 pages, spiralbound, $21.95). With this handy item, you'll be able to record each team's performance from April to October, including what the line was on what date; what the total was; the final result; whether the game went over or under; who the starters were for each team; any additional notes, such as the umpire; key hits, errors, number of pitches made; bullpen support. There's even room for rescheduled games due to rainouts.

For those who got a late start on baseball because of the usual obsession with March Madness in basketball, here are three magazines and a bit of what each contains to get a quick look at rosters, schedules, some material to help you in fantasy league play and a look at last year's statistics:

Lindy's Baseball Preview (192 pages, $7.99) does a nice job analyzing starting pitchers and relievers; which prospects may blossom into stars in 2009; the predicted divisional finishes; projected batting orders; some analysis of the intelligence of each team's organization and management; plus names to watch on the collegiate and high-school level for the future.

Sporting News 2009 Baseball Yearbook (200 pages, $7.99) shows possible 2009 pitching rotations; rates each team by pitching, defense, etc., projected starting lineups; has rosters with dates of birth; reviews strength of farm systems and players to watch; reviews top college and high-school prospects.

Athlon Sports 2009 Previews (208 pages, $7.99) has projected rosters; players to watch; a look at the crazy highlights of the 2008 season should you have missed it; makes 2009 predictions by division; projects MVPs; Cy Young winners; World Series winner; the top 100 for fantasy leaguers.

All magazines have schedules and last year's statistics.