More Book Reviews

What Factors Help Pro and College Football Teams Cover The Spread? These Books ExplainThe nagging question of which factors impact whether or not a team might cover the spread is asked each year by beginners and old pros alike. Not everyone will agree about the answer, but Andy Iskoe's two annuals, the Pro Football Statistical Pattern Report and the companion work, College Football Statistical Pattern Report should help clarify it for everyone. 40,000 Spins - Excellent Guide to Cluster Progression Roulette StrategyAuthor J.R. Freeman, a 40 year veteran to Roulette, discloses all the details of his approach and philosophy to the game with a new system called Cluster Progression Roulette (CPR). Crapshooters Flock to Books That Explain Dice ControlIn the past few years the controversy about whether a shooter can control the dice and produce advantageous numbers has increased. Authors and experts now offer lessons, seminars, DVDs and books on the subject.

Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2009

by America Prospect

Billed as the 'Secret Weapon for Fantasy League Success', this book profiles the top 30 prospects in each organization - 900 prospect reviews in all! Top-50 prospects list included. The handbook also ranks each organization's talent and provides in-depth analysis of every team's draft. Whether you want to win your fantasy league or just study your team's future stars, this book can help you get there. 510 pages, indexed, paperbound, February 2009.

Get it at Gambler's Book Shop!

Baseball America Directory 2009

by America Prospect

The definitive reference guide for the upcoming season. The Directory features major, minor, and independent league schedules, ballpark directions, and how to get in touch with anyone in the game-by phone, fax or on the web. From schedules to personnel to addresses to phone numbers and websites, the Directory is the guide to finding information in baseball, from the majors to the minors to college, high school, and amateur baseball."

Get it at Gambler's Book Shop!

Gambler's Book ShopThe Gambler's Book Shop (or Club) is the world's oldest and largest shop devoted to gambling and all its related topics. Open since 1964, The Gambler's Book Shop has thousands of books covering over 30 different areas of gambling related subjects. Besides the usual topics that include all the casino games, poker, and horse racing, you will find books about math, probabilities, biographies and novels. If you can't visit in person, you can request a copy of their FREE Catalog (CALL 1-800-522-1777) or shop online from their web site. They also offer a free monthly electronic newsletter that features new arrivals.

Getting Ready to Bet Baseball? Several Fact-Filled Books on Baseball Betting

by Howard Schwartz

Okay, you know how to bet baseball; you understand the money line, totals, parlays. But with the season less than a month away, how do you get a good start while linemakers are still trying to figureHoward Schwartz, the "librarian for gamblers," is the marketing director for Gambler's Book Club in Las Vegas, a position he has held since 1979. Author of hundreds of articles on gambling, his weekly book reviews appear in numerous publications throughout the gaming industry. Howard's website is www.gamblersbook.com <a rel='nofollow' href='http://www.readybetgo.com/phpadsnew/adclick.php?n=abcc77e6' target='_BLANK'><img src='http://www.readybetgo.com/phpadsnew/adview.php?n=abcc77e6' border='0' alt='Advertisement'></a> out who the "aces" are and who might disappoint? Luckily, there are some excellent resources to speed up your information-gathering efforts and what they contain.

Baseball America Prospect Book (510 pages, paperbound, $30.95). This is a fine reference source for those entering fantasy league play as it rates the top 50 prospects (Tampa Bay's David Price, a southpaw pitcher tops the list along with catcher Matt Wieters of Baltimore). The book analyzes vastly-improved farm systems, breaks down top prospects by team, projects "breakout" players and "sleepers" as well as best pure hitters and best power hitters. Simply, the book alerts you to players about to blossom or have the potential to "carry" a team.

The Baseball America Directory (311 pages, paperbound, $27.95) tells you how to contact each major and minor league team by mail, phone, Internet, which are the farm teams for every club, where to call about or order tickets, what the 2009 schedule is and starting times for games. All sixteen minor leagues are profiled including their ballpark dimensions and how to get tickets with directions to the parks should you like traveling and visiting some. One of the more valuable sections for those who can't get enough statistics contains National Media Information from the highly-regarded Elias Sports Bureau and Stats Inc. to ESPN, Fox Sports, radio networks, news organizations, press associations; museums, the Society for American Baseball Research and baseball card manufacturers. (Minor league schedules are included as are college teams, lists of agents and where to buy baseball gear.)

Finally The Bill James Handbook (503 pages, paperbound, $23.95), which contains statistics on every major league player, team and manager through last season and includes batting, pitching and fielding histories of players. Starters and relief pitchers are profiled, along with pitchers' ability, a statistical profile of each ballpark looking back at last season and combined for the past three seasons (home and away)-including how right-handed or left-handed batters did for average and homers. A vital section for fantasy league players are projections for hitters and pitchers and how compiler James sees them performing in 2009.