A unique and refreshing ode to the “little things” that represent baseball’s heartbeat—the player who, in countless ways, makes other players better.
Intangiball tracks the progress of the Cincinnati Reds through five years of culture change, beginning with the trades of decorated veterans Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey, Jr. It also draws liberally from such character-conscious clubs as the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Rays. Author, sportswriter, and eternal fan of the game, Lonnie Wheeler systematically identifies the performance-enhancing qualities (PEQs) that together comprise the “communicable competitiveness” that he calls “teamship.”
Intangiball is not designed to debunk Moneyball, but rather to sketch in what it left out: “What order is there to a baseball world in which a struggling rookie benefits not a bit from the encouraging words of the veteran who drapes his arm around the kid’s shoulders; in which Derek Jeter’s professionalism serves none but him; in which there is no reward for hustle, no edge for enthusiasm, no payoff for sacrifice; in which there is no place for the ambient contributions of David Eckstein, Marco Scutaro, or the aging, battered Scott Rolen; in which shared purpose serves no purpose?”
Intangibles, as it turns out, not only ennoble the game; they help win it. And this is the book every fan must read.
“Wheeler's been writing outstanding books for nearly 30 years. . . . [Intangiball is] a well-sourced, well-researched, well-reported, largely anecdotal treatise on the importance of important qualities that can't be, or haven't yet been, measured. As such, I believe it's the only book of its kind.”
”An absolute must read for any fan of the beautiful game. . . . Wheeler’s knowledge of and great affection for the storied denizens of the dugout make this book a grand slam.”
“If you’ve been around the game long enough, this is how you see it. Physical tools get you there, but intangibles help make the difference."
"Lonnie Wheeler, who himself has all the intangibles, has written a relentlessly entertaining inside look at what makes the game of baseball so fascinating. He unlocks the secrets of winning that most fans aren't even aware of. If you liked Moneyball, you'll love Intangiball."
