With 162 games a year, the playoffs, and an active offseason, baseball fans almost never stop thinking about their team. And Howard Megdal is no exception: A lifelong and feverish Mets fan, he has been there through thick and (more often) thin. And yet-year in and year out, the Mets seem to find ways to disappoint him. The almost-victories, the mistakes, the lost years: It's all too heartbreaking. And so, mustering his energy, heart, and sportswriter's pedigree, Megdal decided to do something about it. Like become the General Manager of the Mets. It's not an elected office, but that doesn't mean you can't campaign to do it.

One part baseball history and one part personal narrative, Taking the Field is at heart the story of a fan who decides to take control. Staging public rallies to gain support, and hustling for interviews and opportunities, Megdal rewrites the rules for being a fan: If you want a championship so badly, maybe it's time for more than praying at the television and buying merchandise. Maybe it's time for action. As he tells his half-crazy and half-inspiring story, Megdal intersperses the narrative with a history rooting for his team: the Tom Seaver trade, the Doc Gooden saga, the highs and lows, the mistakes, and the moments that made it worth the pain. At the same time, he learns the lessons of this history, outlining for the public his campaign pillars: logic, transparency, and passion. And he is determined to make his impact on the team.

This book has the unstinting passion of A Fan's Notes, the humor and business smarts of Moneyball, and the elbow-grease appeal of Julie and Julia. In the end, it's a love letter to baseball, and a totem for every tormented fan who has ever felt like a part of the game.