Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
scott@scottlongonline.com
My copy showed up at my doorstep about noon, a couple hours after I got quizzed on it by a national radio show. I'm digging through it just like you are, but want to hear your thoughts.
So it's like an open thread.
(REMINDER: It's okay to be critical. It's not okay to be an asshole. I'm the only one that gets to do that here. And Scott.)
- - - J/K Will! :-)
First impressions:
Yay on the alphabetical listing of the teams (regardless of league).
Nice to see Christina get front cover special props, and that she got to write the foreword.
But Will, you (at least in presence) are NOWHERE to be found. Not in the bios, not on the back cover. Just a mere mention in the "cost of injuries" essay.
Whatsamatter, are they kicking you out of the club? ... have you indeed crossed over to the dark side (Football)?
Sniff .... sigh.
One anticipatory (and maybe unfair) complaint. I understand that the White Sox writeup is about how lucky they were. I know they don't fit the BP model of success, but the Red Sox win in 2004 with a monster payroll and get a 320 pages hagiography. A year later the White Sox lead wire to wire, win 11 of 12 playoff games sweeping the 'smart' Red Sox in the process, and get 4 or 5 pages on how lucky they were. Nothing can take away from the joy of the 2005 season for me of course, but I was very much looking forward to the BP writeup on the Sox before I heard about its theme, and now I'm almost dreading it.
Regardless of whether they were "lucky" or not, the White Sox are wearing rings now, and those shine forever. In the scheme of things, that's significantly more important than what an analyst might spend 2,000 words writing for his chapter in a book.
Not to get all preachy, but BP shouldn't have to change its views on performance if they sincerely believe -- and demonstrate that -- the evidence leans that way, and you shouldn't need their approval to enjoy your favorite team's World Series sweep.
It'd be like waiting a long time - years and years - for your favorite band's next album, and then when it comes out instead of being something you were hoping for or even expecting, it is a bunch of tepid show tune covers. Or like when REM released Out of Time.
I've only read a couple of essays, but once again, interesting stuff...
Great publication but to keep the ol' professional veneer, you have got to hire better proofreaders next time around.
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