The Complete Game: Reflections on Baseball and the Art of Pitching

great read!

this is such a great baseball book. you don't have to be a mets fan to enjoy darling's take on pitching. he completely breaks down the science of pitching by revisiting games from his playing and broadcasting careers.

A Unique Contribution: Revealing, Insightful, Yet Easy to Read

As advertized, this is not a traditional baseball memoir. Darling tells some important and revealing stories about himself, baseball and the thinking man's approach to pitching. The book is a bit uneven; there is no bad writing but some dry spots. He really hits high notes when approaching his own emotional/exstential angst and development. The book is best when Darling speaks eloquently and in a humble way about his expereinces. There are some revealing things about baseball strategy, not those that are shared by commentators, but things that go on in the mind and hearts of ball players. He is a good storyteller.
Actually, a traditional memoir about the seasons with the METS '83 forward might be an interesting read if he is so inclined. His writing definitely captures something unique in the field of baseball books.

Good For The Memories

I found the book enjoyable, particularly in reliving some of the moments in his Mets days that he reviews. As an amateur pitcher myself, while it was comforting to know that what I think about on the mound mirrors what he writes about, I was hoping/expecting to get some sort of new insight or perspective from the book, which I did not. Still, if you just enjoy a good baseball book, I recommend it.

BASEBALL FROM THE INSIDE

THIS BOOK TAKES AN "INSIDE THE PLAYERS HEAD" LOOK AT A BASEBALL GAME. IT SHOWS HOW THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING IN BASEBALL AND THAT IT NOT JUST A BORING WAY TO SPEND THREE HOURS.

Ron Darling is honest

No nonsense look at an art form. Pitching is a skill that is perfected over years of practice. Darling shows the mental side of the position. No slander, no name calling, no girls, drugs or shock me value....just plain old baseball for a baseball fan.

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