Bøger af Keith Crane

This book is an in-depth analysis of the effect of the designated hitter (dh) on Major League Baseball. This book shows that there is not nearly as much difference between the American League(AL) and National League(NL) as most people think. The dh has not made the AL slower nor less reluctant to use strategy. Over the past 8 years (2009-2016), the AL has averaged more stolen bases per team per year (98 to 94), and the rate at which base runners took an extra base on a single or double has been the same in each league: 40%. Sacrifice bunts by the #1-8 slots of the batting order in 2016 was very close: AL 14.8, NL 16.4 per team. The NL gets more bunts at the #9 slot in the order due to the pitcher bunting more, but it amounts to only 1 extra sacrifice bunt every 8 games. This book will show how truly ineffective those extra bunts are. People have the false impression that the NL managers have to use their bullpen more than the AL. But in 2016, teams in both leagues averaged only 3 complete games per year, removed the starting pitcher after an average of 5 2/3 innings, and used an average of 3 relief pitchers per game. I believe the dh improves the game because of the fact that NL pitchers have had a batting average of only .135 over the last 8 years. The book explains how getting that .135 hitter out of the lineup increases strategy, action, and drama that counteracts the minor losses of strategy associated with having the pitcher bat. It also covers many other issues surrounding the designated hitter, such as the principles involved. I think anyone interested in the dh debate should learn the facts in this book in order to reach an informed decision on the issue.

The Maidan Revolution in Ukraine created an opportunity for change and reforms in a system that had resisted them for 25 years. This report provides an overview of recommendations for the reform of Ukraine's security and defense institutions.

RAND researchers developed a framework and metrics for examining vulnerabilities, opportunities, and risks to U.S. energy transmission, storage, and distribution systems through 2030 under a range of uncertainties.

Given Russia's annexation of Crimea and aggression in Ukraine, Europe must reassess the regional security environment. This report analyzes the vulnerability of European states to possible forms of Russian influence, pressure, and intimidation.

Proposes a system of quality of life indicators and identifies policy options to improve quality of life in the Pearl River Delta, a region of Guangdong Province in southeastern China.

This report uses energy services analysis (ESA) to examine possibilities for changing how a service is delivered. ESA is used to analyze how changes in two services--news delivery and personal mobility--might reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions.

This paper discusses using an oil tax to fund U.S. transportation infrastructure, identifies the decisions Congress would need to make in designing such a tax, and outlines some of the likely implications of adopting an oil tax.

Successful nation-building requires substantial investments of money, troops, and time--and this is likely to be especially true in Iraq.

Assess recent trends in China's 25-year-long effort to reform its defense industry 2.

Reviews UN nation-building efforts to transform unstable countries into democratic, peaceful, and prosperous partners, and compares those efforts to U.S. led missions.