Sometimes You See It Coming Explained

Sometimes You See It Coming
Author:	Kevin Baker
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Genre:	Fiction
Publisher:	Crown Publishing
Media Type:	Print
Pages:	326
Isbn:	0-517-59088-3
Oclc:	142536982
Dewey:	813.54
Congress:	PS3552.A43143

Sometimes You See It Coming is a novel by Kevin Baker. The novel follows several fictitious members of the modern-day New York Mets, particularly right fielder John Barr. The book portrays the Mets as a perennial pennant contender, and follows the team through one particular season, with flashbacks.

Characters

Mets

• C Spock Feeley
• 1B No-Hit Hitt
• 2B Roberto Rodriguez (aka Bobby Roddy)
• SS Lonnie Lee
• 3B Terry White/Stillwater Norman
• LF Maximillian Duke (aka The Emp'ror)
• CF Rapid Ricky Falls (aka The Old Swizzlehead)
• RF John Barr

Pitchers

• Moses Yellowhorse

Coaches

• MGR Charlie Stanzi (aka The Little Maniac)
• Coach Plate

Press Corps

• Barry Busby
• Ellie Jay

Others

• Evan Barr (John's father)
• Wanda Falls (Ricky's wife)

Reception

Publishers Weekly noted that while the book had a predictable ending and "uneven", awkward writing, Baker had "an undeniable feel" for the interactions between the baseball players, and was capable of "flashes of quick wit".^[1] Kirkus Reviews stated that while the book was "baseball as it's meant to be", Barr's backstory was "somber, overripe [...] Freudian glop" that did not fit the theme.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sometimes You See It Coming. Publishers Weekly. 1993-02-01. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160803041307/http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-517-59088-1. 2016-08-03. 2022-04-20.
2. Web site: Sometimes You See It Coming. Kirkus Reviews. 1992-11-15. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201024070206/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kevin-baker/sometimes-you-see-it-coming/. 2020-10-24. 2022-04-20.