Fantasyland

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:42 am

I was at Borders yesterday picking up a gift for my sister-in-law and while browsing around came across a book called "Fantasyland".

I bought it and got through a couple chapters last night before falling asleep. It's about a reporter who talked his way into Tout Wars a couple years back. So far, kind of interesting.

Anyone else ever read this book?

I'll let anyone who hasn't know if its worth the read when finished, but so far I'm enjoying it.

Glenn

[ October 18, 2009, 07:43 AM: Message edited by: Glenneration X ]

billywaz · Post by **billywaz** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:21 am

Is that by Sam Walker??

If so, I almost bought that once, but who has time to read while managing their teams/preparing for the next season??

Honestly, that book was on my agenda to read over Christmas break to get me fired up for fantasy baseball in 2010!

If you don't mind Glenn, shoot me a PM and let me know if it is worth the time before I invest...thanks!

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:35 am

It was a good book. Sam Walker ran an ad through Shandler a couple of years ago to play in Tout Wars. I don't remember if he was doing another book or something for TV.

751542 · Post by **751542** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:40 am

you said the book put you to sleep...not a ringing endorsement

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:43 am

Hollywood bought the rights to turn the book into a movie, and the following season, someone was chosen to enter the league much like Sam did and was given the same access to MLB teams like Sam. A film crew captured the draft and followed him around as well as many of the league's participants. The movie has been completed and is supposedly being shopped around film festivals in search of greater distribution. Sorry, I don't speak the "Hollywood language" but if it ever makes it to a local theater near you, I am sure you will hear about it.

[ October 18, 2009, 08:47 AM: Message edited by: ToddZ ]

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:45 am

.

[ October 18, 2009, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: ToddZ ]

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:45 am

Originally posted by billywaz:

Is that by Sam Walker??

If so, I almost bought that once, but who has time to read while managing their teams/preparing for the next season??

Honestly, that book was on my agenda to read over Christmas break to get me fired up for fantasy baseball in 2010!

If you don't mind Glenn, shoot me a PM and let me know if it is worth the time before I invest...thanks! You got it Billy.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:45 am

I found it a little basic, but a decent read nevertheless.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:46 am

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:47 am

Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

you said the book put you to sleep...not a ringing endorsement Ha! Too funny.

Actually I didn't start reading until around midnight. Probably an endorsement that my old body was able to make it through a few chapters before passing out.....

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:52 am

Originally posted by ToddZ:

Hollywood bought the rights to turn the book into a movie, and the following season, someone was chosen to enter the league much like Sam did and was given the same access to MLB teams like Sam. A film crew captured the draft and followed him around as well as many of the league's participants. The movie has been completed and is supposedly being shopped around film festivals in search of greater distribution. Sorry, I don't speak the "Hollywood language" but if it ever makes it to a local theater near you, I am sure you will hear about it. I think I heard about this movie....

Brad Pitt has a starring role as Shandler...

with Megan Fox as his romantic interest....or was it Jessica Alba?

I can't keep up with all this Hollywood stuff.

Glenn

huskyfan88 · Post by **huskyfan88** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:31 am

It's a good one to read in the winter to get you pumped for the season. He actually did win a Tout league the year after the one the book was about.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:28 pm

I read the book and enjoyed it. Best part for me was taking a closer look at many longtime Tout participants whose names will be familiar to fantasy vets.

MadCow Sez · Post by **MadCow Sez** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:30 pm

Good book. Worthwhile read for all stats obsessed fantasy baseball nuts.

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:27 pm

Yeah, I read it a couple of years ago. If you've never played fantasy baseball, then you might not enjoy it as much.

I think the whole idea for the book was to see if a journalist with insider info i.e. access to players, scouts, general managers, etc and a statastician (Nando), could beat the fantasy baseball touts. I love fantasy baseball (even more so than football) and this was a must read for me. Overall, a very good book. 8.0 out of 10.

ZackPhilly · Post by **ZackPhilly** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:27 am

Not sure how long you've been into Fantasy Baseball, I would be surprised at anyone in FB longer than 4 years that hasn't heard of the book.

There are many books on Fantasy Baseball, independent of the yearly revised "book like" Baseball Prospectus 2009, Shandler's Baseball Forecaster, Baseball Book, Rick Wilton's baseballinjuryreport.com Annual (? not sure if it is actually annual), "Bill James" named Handbook of stats, and of course the many yearly magazines with excellent analysis.

Simple search of Amazon turns up a bunch of recent publishing on fantasy baseball.

However, few have presented a compelling enough story, strategy discussion, and entertainment of a specific hobbyists experience to present a palatable book on one persons experience of the subject.

As far as I am aware, Moneyball and Fantasyland are the only two "stories" of specific people using baseball analysis for real or fantasy in a "year" like time frame. Probably one on Bill James, but not as specific a time frame.

Several NFBC members are mentioned in the book, Cory Schwartz (Fantasy 411 on MLB.com and Baseball Network), Gene McCaffrey (wiseguybaseball.com), & Jeff Erickson (rotowire.com) to name a few...

Hav Fun!

[ October 19, 2009, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: ZackPhilly ]

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:27 am

Originally posted by Glenneration X:

quote:Originally posted by ToddZ:

Hollywood bought the rights to turn the book into a movie, and the following season, someone was chosen to enter the league much like Sam did and was given the same access to MLB teams like Sam. A film crew captured the draft and followed him around as well as many of the league's participants. The movie has been completed and is supposedly being shopped around film festivals in search of greater distribution. Sorry, I don't speak the "Hollywood language" but if it ever makes it to a local theater near you, I am sure you will hear about it. I think I heard about this movie....

Brad Pitt has a starring role as Shandler...

with Megan Fox as his romantic interest....or was it Jessica Alba?

I can't keep up with all this Hollywood stuff.

Glenn [/QUOTE]That's Moneyball which was meant to have Brad Pitt as Billy Beane.

As far as I know that project is dead. The Fantasyland movie was a *documentary* starring nobody famous for obvious reasons.

Fantasyland was probably about as good of a book as you can write on Fantasy baseball, but as books go it was not as good as Moneyball.

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:28 pm

i thought "fantasyland" was a fun book to read. if you've played fantasy baseball for years, it could be a little redundant, but overall, it gave good insight to anybody curious of what goes on in the fantasy baseball world.

billywaz · Post by **billywaz** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:50 pm

Originally posted by bjoak:

quote:Originally posted by Glenneration X:

quote:Originally posted by ToddZ:

Hollywood bought the rights to turn the book into a movie, and the following season, someone was chosen to enter the league much like Sam did and was given the same access to MLB teams like Sam. A film crew captured the draft and followed him around as well as many of the league's participants. The movie has been completed and is supposedly being shopped around film festivals in search of greater distribution. Sorry, I don't speak the "Hollywood language" but if it ever makes it to a local theater near you, I am sure you will hear about it. I think I heard about this movie....

Brad Pitt has a starring role as Shandler...

with Megan Fox as his romantic interest....or was it Jessica Alba?

I can't keep up with all this Hollywood stuff.

Glenn [/QUOTE]That's Moneyball which was meant to have Brad Pitt as Billy Beane.

As far as I know that project is dead. The Fantasyland movie was a *documentary* starring nobody famous for obvious reasons.

Fantasyland was probably about as good of a book as you can write on Fantasy baseball, but as books go it was not as good as Moneyball. [/QUOTE]Is Moneyball about Fantasy Baseball?? If not, what is it about??

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:54 pm

Originally posted by billywaz:

quote:Originally posted by bjoak:

quote:Originally posted by Glenneration X:

quote:Originally posted by ToddZ:

Hollywood bought the rights to turn the book into a movie, and the following season, someone was chosen to enter the league much like Sam did and was given the same access to MLB teams like Sam. A film crew captured the draft and followed him around as well as many of the league's participants. The movie has been completed and is supposedly being shopped around film festivals in search of greater distribution. Sorry, I don't speak the "Hollywood language" but if it ever makes it to a local theater near you, I am sure you will hear about it. I think I heard about this movie....

Brad Pitt has a starring role as Shandler...

with Megan Fox as his romantic interest....or was it Jessica Alba?

I can't keep up with all this Hollywood stuff.

Glenn [/QUOTE]That's Moneyball which was meant to have Brad Pitt as Billy Beane.

As far as I know that project is dead. The Fantasyland movie was a *documentary* starring nobody famous for obvious reasons.

Fantasyland was probably about as good of a book as you can write on Fantasy baseball, but as books go it was not as good as Moneyball. [/QUOTE]Is Moneyball about Fantasy Baseball?? If not, what is it about?? [/QUOTE]"Moneyball" is the Billy Beane story (GM of the Oakland A's). Your first read by this author should be "Liar's Poker."

Schwks · Post by **Schwks** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:37 am

As posted last year, Moneyball, in my opinion, is a phenomenal read. Although it is not about fantasy baseball per se, it is one that you cant put down if you love fantasy baseball. It is about Beane's changing the philosophies of general managing. Lets face it, who here does not dream of becoming a GM...or reinventing strategies. Like pure crack cocaine to an addict and a great way to pass the next painful 5 months.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:00 pm

So far, I'm enjoying the read.

By the way.....In case anyone else who's read this book didn't notice or doesn't remember, a certain outfit familiar to some of us is mentioned in an early chapter on the history & growth of rotisserie.

To quote....."There's a national fantasy-baseball draft contest in which the winner pockets one hundred thousand dollars."

Hmmmm....I wonder what contest this might be and if they're taking registrations????

Glenn

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:21 am

Finished the book the other night....

Recommendation: Read it, anyone who enjoys playing fantasy sports will relate and enjoy.

Glenn

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:28 am

The Book was alright. The attempt to make a movie was suspect. The year the movie was shot, a HQ part time writer was picked to play the part of Sam Walker. Lets see Tout Wars and Baseball HQ that could be a problem. As that year finished up Sam Walker wins the league. Go figure the odds.

Sam Walker book turned to movie and Sam Walker wins the league. Hey I'm just saying???

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:17 am

The gentleman that "played the part of Sam Walker" was not, I repeat was ABSOLUTELY NOT, a part-time BBHQ writer.

Furthermore, I served as SWAT (Secretary of Waivers and Transactions) and Sam's win was 100% earned, and to suggest otherwise is out of line, uncalled for and downright disrespectful. It is a disservice to Sam and it is certainly not fair to the other 11 league members who would have had to "lay down".