Buzz Saw Audiobook By Jesse Dougherty cover art

Buzz Saw

The Improbable Story of How the Washington Nationals Won the World Series

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Buzz Saw

By: Jesse Dougherty
Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
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The remarkable story of the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals told by the Washington Post writer who followed the team most closely.

By May 2019, the Washington Nationals—owners of baseball’s oldest roster—had one of the worst records in the majors and just a 1.5 percent chance of winning the World Series. Yet by blending an old-school brand of baseball with modern analytics, they managed to sneak into the playoffs and put together the most unlikely postseason run in baseball history. Not only did they beat the Houston Astros, the team with the best regular-season record, to claim the franchise’s first championship—they won all four games in Houston, making them the first club to ever win four road games in a World Series.

“You have a great year, and you can run into a buzz saw,” Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg told Washington Post beat writer Jesse Dougherty after the team advanced to the World Series. “Maybe this year we’re the buzz saw.” Dougherty followed the Nationals more closely than any other writer in America, and in Buzz Saw he recounts the dramatic year in vivid detail, taking readers inside the dugout, the clubhouse, the front office, and ultimately the championship parade.

Yet he does something more than provide a riveting retelling of the season: he makes the case that while there is indisputable value to Moneyball-style metrics, baseball isn’t just a numbers game. Intangibles like team chemistry, veteran experience, and childlike joy are equally essential to winning. Certainly, no team seemed to have more fun than the Nationals, who adopted the kids’ song “Baby Shark” as their anthem and regularly broke into dugout dance parties. Buzz Saw is just as lively and rollicking—a fitting tribute to one of the most exciting, inspiring teams to ever take the field. Baseball & Softball Biographies & Memoirs Sports

Critic reviews

"This well-timed audiobook details what it took for the Washington Nationals to overcome a more than sluggish start and turn into a cohesive unit that became the first team to win four road games in a World Series. Angelo Di Loreto brings gravitas and a genuinely interested tone to his narration. He provides emotion when appropriate—so when a player shouts over a controversial play, Di Loreto raises his voice. When someone is introspective, his tone shifts quietly. The book's strength is the author's knowledge of the background of the players—Dougherty covers the Nationals for THE WASHINGTON POST. These short biographical portraits, coupled with Di Loreto's deep, serious voice, help the interested listeners understand what this team is about."
Comprehensive Content • Engaging Storytelling • Talented Narrator • Insider Details • Well-crafted Interviews

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You will laugh, you will cheer, and yes, you will cry!

As a baseball fan and a fan of the Washington Nationals, I was so excited for this book. But, I did not think it would be so detailed, so wonderful. If you are a true baseball fan, love the ins and outs of the season (trades, transactions, an inside look), you will LOVE Buzz Saw.

Awestruck - No Way Around It

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The book speaks for itself, it’s comprehensive and engaging with well-crafted interviews and anecdotes. The narration is fine, but uninteresting. It’s extremely nitpicky and inconsequential, I know, but a few blatant mistakes like “Joe Pederson” instead of his name, Joc. Or doing a weird shrill tone for a woman’s voice, without ever changing his tone for a man. Just a little off putting, otherwise a decent narration.

Great book, mediocre narration

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An amazing ride full of adventure ups and downs emotional pivots the works!!
A must read or must listen!

Amazing read👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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A fitting tribute to the players and managers who worked and played together to bring home a World Series victory to the whole MD, DC and VA area. Insight into players thoughts and feelings was well described . Enjoyed immensely from start to finish!

Captivating

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Of course I finished it, but there were a lot of inacuracies. This surprised me. Dougherty could've done a little more research into earlier Nats history.

Love the subject!

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