Synopses & Reviews
In a one of a kind look at the Toronto Blue Jays 2013 season, two seasoned sports journalists take readers behind the scenes as the team stocks up on stars, revitalizes its fans and embarks on a campaign of shocking disillusionment. Great Expectations begins with a detailed look at how general manager Alex Anthopoulos pulled off the blockbuster trade that acquired flashy shortstop Jose Reyes, potential pitching ace Josh Johnson and steady left-hander Mark Buehrle. Then came the delicate, frenzied negotiations with the Mets that landed erudite .knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, the National Leagues Cy Young Award winner in 2012. The book examines the challenges that Reyes, Buehrle and Dickey faced in their formative years and during the rocky 2013 season. It is also replete with details about Brett Lawrie, the team's lone Canadian, whose kinetic style of play is a double-edged sword; José Bautista, the two-time home-run champion whose crown began to slip during a difficult 2013 season; Munenori Kawasaki, the genial, quirky infielder who became an overnight fan favourite; and Anthopoulos himself, who, by seasons end, was inciting the fury of the same fans who had praised him as a genius a few months earlier. Featuring insightful analysis and a colourful collection of candid photos, Great Expectations is a fascinating tale of a season gone wrong.
Synopsis
The making of the Blue Jays' 2013 season.
After a disastrous 2012 season, the Blue Jays had a major makeover, adding an array of star players through trades and free-agent signings, including R.A. Dickey, the best pitcher in the National League last year, and ticket sales have since soared. Starting with a behind-the-scenes look at the offseason fallout that led to the roster upheaval, this book covers every aspect of the 2013 season with a particular focus on the personalities involved. The cast includes Alex Anthopoulos, the 36-year-old general manager from Montreal; R.A. Dickey, a sexual abuse survivor who also happens to be the only major-league pitcher to throw a knuckleball; Brett Lawrie, the team's lone Canadian, whose kinetic style of play is a double-edged sword; Jos Bautista, the two-time home-run champion bidding to revive his power after wrist surgery felled him last summer; and Melky Cabrera, whose 50-game drug suspension last year forced him to sign a free-agent contract with a new team for half the money he might otherwise have realized. Their guide is John Gibbons, whose challenge is to meld a diverse collection of newcomers and holdovers into a winning team in a city starved for a championship. For a generation of fans, 2013 is on the cusp of being a season like no other.
Synopsis
A one of a kind look at the Toronto Blue Jays 2013 season, two seasoned sports journalists provide readers with all they need to know as the team attempts to end their 20-year playoff drought. Beginning with a full look at General Manager Alex Anthopouloss busy offseason in the wake of a disappointing 2012 season—from the acquisition of Cy Young winner R. A. Dickey, a sexual abuse survivor who is the only active knuckleballer in the majors, to the blockbuster trade that brought in the electric shortstop José Reyes and aces Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle—Great Expectations is replete with details on the teams newly overhauled roster. The book also highlights other members of the team, including Brett Lawrie, the teams lone Canadian, whose kinetic style of play is a double-edged sword; José Bautista, the two-time home-run champion bidding to revive his power following wrist surgery; and Melky Cabrera, whose 50-game drug suspension in 2012 forced him to sign a free-agent contract with a new team for half the money he might otherwise have realized. Packed with insightful content, game-by-game analysis, and a bevy of photos, this is the only book Blue Jays fans need to commemorate the teams 2013 season.
About the Author
Shi Davidi is a baseball columnist and TV analyst with Sportsnet in Toronto, who has covered the Blue Jays since 2002. He lives in Toronto. John Lott is a baseball reporter for the National Post who has covered the Toronto Blue Jays since 2000. He lives in Aurora, Ontario.