Then there won't be chocolates or cards or any of those other pre-fab presents for Bauxites this February 14. Nope. It will be a book. There are so many good choices.
First, there is the magnum opus of Tangotiger, MGL and Andy Dolphin, The Book (Playing the Percentages in Baseball). This title covers managerial strategic decisions, from the use of one-run strategies to batting order selection. There will undoubtedly be statistical heavy lifting, but I am looking forward to that workout.
Yesterday, I arrived home to find the Baseball Research Journal published every year by SABR. There's something for every taste in the Journal, from historical pieces on the Boston baked beans story and the naming of the shortstop as 6 on scorecards, to fascinating statistical analyses by Tom Ruane on clutch hitting and batters reaching on errors and Bill Deane on normalized winning percentages. Ruane employs an interesting process of comparing the actual distribution of situational hitting and reaching on error frequency over a career with simulations to get a handle on the role of luck. His method may find use soon in evaluations of DIPS over the long haul. A true Valentine would definitely consider a SABR membership for their beloved.
For prospect watchers, there is John Sickels' Baseball Prospect Book 2006. John will be stepping into da Box again soon with his usual insightful look at the minor league scene. At the same time, Baseball America has its 2006 Prospect book.
Single? No problem. Nothing is better for a baseball fan's state of mind, and self-esteem, than a good book.