If They Don't Win It's a Shame: The Year the Marlins Bought the World Series Book

Q:  Have you gotten any feedback about the book from the Marlins or from Major League Baseball?

A:  No feedback from Major League Baseball, although friends of Leyland in MLB have responded (Orioles manager Ray Miller, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa), and, as is to be expected in an old boy's network, they have supported Leyland. As for the Marlins' front office people, most of them are publicly against the book, but privately they tell me it wasn't hard enough on Leyland. I saw team president Don Smiley a few weeks ago, and his only comment was, "Nice book title." I assume he meant The Year the Marlins Bought the World Series. They're very touchy about that. Anyway, the Marlins won't credential me anymore, but when I call, they do offer tickets. Good ones, too.

Q:  Are you at all surprised that Leyland is now the manager of Colorado?

A:  Yes and no. Surprised because Colorado doesn't seem to be his kind of place; not surprised because he wants to go to a team that will spend money. If Detroit was closer to contending, he would have gone there. If Cleveland lost to the Red Sox in the first round and Hargrove got fired, he might have gone there. He definitely isn't a Los Angeles kind of guy.

Q:  What to you was the most difficult part of writing this book?

A:  Combining the obvious and natural excitement of a team winning the World Series with the raw truth of what baseball players and teams are all about. Somehow, though, it's possible to get excited for players who are, basically, jerks. Being cynical and excited at the same time isn't easy for an author, at least this one. I guess it proves that even the players can't ruin baseball.

Q:  What are your three favorite books?

A:  Sports books: Ball Four, Field of Dreams, Seasons In Hell. Books in general: Great Expectations, The Bonfire of the Vanities, Crime and Punishment.