The Entitled

The Entitled follows veteran baseball manager Howie Traveler as he finally achieves his lifelong dream of becoming a major league manager with the Cleveland Indians. After decades in the minor leagues, Howie must navigate the challenges of managing superstar player Jay Alcazar and the complex politics of a major league clubhouse. When an incident involving Alcazar and a woman in a hotel room threatens to derail both their careers, Howie faces difficult decisions about loyalty, truth, and personal integrity. His choices force him to confront questions about fame, power, and responsibility in professional sports. A baseball novel that extends beyond the diamond, The Entitled explores how privilege and celebrity status affect behavior and accountability in modern society. The story examines the moral compromises people make to protect their positions and the true cost of looking the other way.

Readers found this baseball novel entertaining but not particularly memorable. Many praised Deford's knowledge of baseball culture and his portrayal of relationships between players, managers, and the media. Readers liked: - Authentic baseball details and insider perspective - Strong character development of the manager Hank Vizetti - Fast-paced storytelling - Humorous dialogue and interactions Readers disliked: - Predictable plot elements - Too much focus on sex and relationships - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Characters occasionally falling into stereotypes One reader noted: "Deford nails the small details of clubhouse life but the story itself feels formulaic." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (211 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (54 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (28 ratings) Several reviews mentioned this book works better for casual baseball fans than serious followers of the sport who might find the plot devices too convenient.

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📚 Frank Deford drew from his extensive sports journalism experience at Sports Illustrated, where he worked for over 50 years, to create the authentic baseball atmosphere in "The Entitled." ⚾ The book's protagonist, Howie Traveler, is partly inspired by real-life baseball managers who struggled to handle superstar egos while trying to prove themselves worthy of their position. 🏆 Frank Deford was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame and received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2012. 📖 The novel explores the changing dynamics of professional baseball, particularly the shift from team-focused play to individual star power and entitlement in the modern era. 🎯 The book's central conflict mirrors real-world tensions in professional sports between old-school management styles and the modern athlete's increasing autonomy and influence.