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Skipper

Why Baseball Managers Matter and Always Will

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Skipper

By: Scott Miller
Narrated by: Bob Souer
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About this listen

From the award-winning baseball writer and coauthor of Ninety Percent Mental, an unprecedented look at the job of Major League Baseball managers—showing how they shape the game, and how the ever-changing game shapes them.

Skipper takes on an ambitious Moneyball-esque premise: a deep dive into the ongoing struggle for control that often takes place behind the scenes between Major League Baseball managers and the ownership groups, and now, their data analysts. In a culture still attempting to come to terms with the Digital Age, there’s a bigger story behind the evolution of authority of managing inside the major leagues.

Packed with baseball history, interviews with dozens of MLB's current stars and veterans, and an exclusive, inside look at the day-to-day life of manager LA Dodgers’ Dave Roberts, Skipper is a fascinating look into the highs, the lows, and the inner workings of the changing world of professional baseball.

©2025 Scott Miller (P)2025 Hachette Go Baseball & Softball Coaching Sports Inspiring Game

Critic Reviews

“Skipper is one of the best baseball books in years, but it’s really much more—a lively look at leadership in a public pressure cooker. Scott Miller, one of baseball’s most gifted and trusted reporters, goes far beyond the press conference to reveal the humanity in a job that everyone thinks they can handle, but few truly understand.”—Tyler Kepner, author of K and The Grandest Stage
“This captivating narrative takes readers behind the scenes, revealing the heart and soul of the sport we all love. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this book invites you to discover how the spirit of the game endures through the ages.”—Torii Hunter, five-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner
“Skipper addresses an important but sometimes overlooked topic—the impact of technology on the evolution of the baseball manager. Scott Miller makes a powerful case for why managers remain vital, but in different ways than before. Former Yankees manager Joe Torre once told GM Brian Cashman, ‘Don’t forget that this game has a heartbeat.’ Skipper is a lively and richly detailed reminder, superbly crafted by Miller.”—Ken Rosenthal, senior baseball writer, The Athletic
All stars
Most relevant  
Thorough and well researched with lots of “first person quotes” from both current and not so current managers and executives from MLB. A book for the true Baseball fan young or old (like me)

Very well written and so pertinent as to how baseball is now managed (or not) in the modern age

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