Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780425192047
ISBN number: 0425192040
Label: Berkley
Manufacturer: Berkley
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: September 02, 2003
Publishing house: Berkley
Release Date: September 02, 2003
Sale Popularity Level: 72479
Studio: Berkley
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
'Showtime' Charlie Stoddard blew out his phenomenal pitching arm- along with the rest of his life. Now, the only cheers he gets are from boozing and one-night stands-until a mysterious physical therapist hands him a second chance at the big time.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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This fictional novel detailing the life of Showtime Charlie Stoddard was an excellent portrayal of the life of a major league baseball player. Lupica kept me on the tip of my toes anxious to know what would happen next. Using several different minor characters, he was able to create great character interaction and really show what a major league athlete goes through every day. In addition, he showed the great determination and dedication needed to make a successful comeback. All in all, this was a terrific combination of realistic baseball and the issues that Charlie Stoddard encounters every day.
Rated by buyers -
This book is great! Lupica tells the story of an old Mets pitcher trying to make a comeback. His use of real players and baseball history makes this story seem like a non-fictional biography. For anyone that was a ball player and loves this great game will relate to everything the main charactor (Charlie Stoddard) goes through. From the pains of throwing a baseball your entire life to the night life of a pro ball player; his interaction with other teammates, the great pitcher/catcher relationship and the infamous Red Sox Vs Yankess rilvary. This book is a page turner and is extremely difficult to put down once you've started. Any true baseball fan will love this book.
Rated by buyers 
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Lupica will never be considered a great writer of fiction, but this novel is a huge step in the right direction. This novel has a pretty good story and a couple of well-developed characters. Unlike his two basketball novels (Jump and Full Court Press), this novel kept me reading because I actually wanted to see how it would turn out.
I have a few problems with Lupica's writing in general. He tends to use the same type of characters in every book, it is impossible to get through 50 pages without ending up in a strip club, and every 20 pages guarantees a bar scene.
Having said that, I did enjoy the story in this one. It helps that I love baseball and suffer as all Red Sox fans do. I have to give credit to Lupica for giving us one great season even if the Red Sox have yet to match it.
Rated by buyers -
I thought this book was absolutely wonderful. After being introduced to Lupica's earlier work, I have been hooked. When I heard he was writing a book about baseball, I patiently waited until the release date, and bought it the minute came out. I was not disappointed, as this book brings to life real sports life. As someone who grew up a sports fan, and spent five years with a collegiate team, his characters are perfect, as I can see people from my own experiences in the book. Although some have complained about too much of a happy ending, I feel that the story flowed really well, and the ending wasn't as cheesy as people made it out to be. As a fledgling sports reporter and sports fiction writer, Mike Lupica is definitely someone I can look up to and shoot for.
Rated by buyers 
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A few years ago I bought "Bump and Run" mainly because it came highly recommended; particulary by Don Imus. As I struggled through it, I kept waiting for the laughs, which never came, not even a smile. I find it hard to believe, but "Wild Pitch" is even worse!! A book this size is usually a two stitting read for me, but it took me over a week to finish....
In sum, the book was boring and unfunny. The events predictable and the characters so poorly drawn that I didn't care what happened to any of them.
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