I visited my local B&N yesterday to do the pre-order and lock in the discount. No dice; they said they had no way of entering the code. Anyone else try it that way?
It is hard not to think, while watching Jose Ramirez strut off the field after being ejected on Saturday (for a one-punch knockdown of Tim Anderson), that Ramirez is the coolest man in America. Goddang, I wish he were on my team.
I did the Rainy Day Books preorder... but I'm waiting for a Twin Cities bookstore appearance; as much as I'd enjoy seeing Joe and Michael, I've got too much travel on my plate in the next month already, dammit.
Two things that I love (baseball and books) are dying right before my eyes. Sad. (Of course, Joe is contributing to the death of a third (newspapers) by shifting his writing brilliance online.)
I would counter that newspapers were already dead, mostly from the internet, but also by their own actions as they tried to join the internet.
I actually ended my KC Star subscription when Joe left the Star. But he was not the impetus for it, only the final straw, perhaps my last reason for getting the paper.
Prior to that, for several years, the paper had been getting thinner by the year, with the price constantly rising, paying more for less. The percentage of ads in relation to actual stories in what you did get jumping up in leaps and bounds.
In addition to that, for at least a few years, they had teaser articles where they had a headline or little bit about the subject and then told you to go to the website to read the rest of the article, I guess to drive traffic to the site. This was extremely annoying to me, as I was late to the internet. (I didn't get a computer and internet until late 2008) While doing that, they were also letting go the highest paid (often the best) writers and ending local beats that were an important part of the paper. Things that I used to pay less for, and was now paying more without getting at all.
The internet was probably going to be the death knell of newspapers eventually. The way that the newspapers tried to handle that definitely hastened that end.
Actually, I don't really have a social media presence, other than commenting on a couple of sports sites that have actual mostly coherent comments about hings I feel passionately about.
Also, even if I was a social media type, when Twitter first came out (I know the structure has change somewhat) I knew it wasn't for me, because it was all about brevity at the time. Heck, I can't say anything in 140 characters.
What evidence do you have that baseball is dying? Let me guess: you loved baseball when you were a kid but now you just don't like it as much, it's all about the money, analytics are killing the game, bWAR and fWAR and spin rates and exit velo are too confusing for you to understand, you loved collecting and flipping baseball cards when you were a kid and now it's all about the money, there's too many teams, you hate the DH, you hate the ghost runner, you hate Rob Manfred, you long for a simpler time when the world was better. Do I have it right?
It’s misdirected. He’s a puppet with 30 hands inside him. There is no “Rob Manfred.” When you hate Rob Manfred you’re doing exactly what the owners want you to do.
Years ago, while on our yearly baseball trip (The Outdoor Baseball Extravaganza), we had shirts made up with a logo on the front. On the back were numbers, the positions each of us would play. The names above them were the names of the players from the routine. As we were walking up the ramps at Wrigley, a youngish woman suddenly exclaimed, "I KNOW WHAT THOSE SHIRTS MEAN!" It was a great moment for us.
Were you at a game recently? I saw a group with those names. I can’t remember where, but I think Chicago. Either Wrigley or the Rate/Comiskey (what I call it).
My wife was a professor of engineering and had Chinese students named Yu and Du, which led to similar “Who’s on first” conversations with her, including “Du, Yu, and I remember it differently” and “Yu failed that test.”
I can watch that routine over and over and still laugh hysterically! My kids loved seeing it when they were little! I hope you’ll be doing a Poscast with Michael at y’all’s Kansas City date! I would love to be there but I’ll be in the throes of teaching!
CLASSIC routine, truly never gets old, especially to us baseball fans!
another thing that never gets old is your phenomenal writing, Joe-
i'm sure your book will be a HUGE success, i only wish i had the scratch to buy it, but as a musician just barely recovering from the worse than lean Covid years, during which many clubs closed and didn't reopen (and awaiting the mixing/mastering/release of my album, as well as myriad other irons in the fire that have not yet translated into geld) my purse is very light even if my heart and mind are rich!
I visited my local B&N yesterday to do the pre-order and lock in the discount. No dice; they said they had no way of entering the code. Anyone else try it that way?
Joe, any chance that you can get C-Span books to cover one of your bookstore adventures?
Speaking of small bookstore, will you be doing an event at Park Road Books in Charlotte?
Any mention of that routine makes me think of the Kids in the Hall skit about the worst Vaudeville straight man ever.
https://youtu.be/jFhvmCgs_L4?t=111
Did I take advantage of the B&N discount to buy a birthday present for my best friend? Yes
Did I also spend $15 more on my own copy just to support Rainy Day? Also yes
It is hard not to think, while watching Jose Ramirez strut off the field after being ejected on Saturday (for a one-punch knockdown of Tim Anderson), that Ramirez is the coolest man in America. Goddang, I wish he were on my team.
Preordered from Rainy Day Books and requested tickets!
I did the Rainy Day Books preorder... but I'm waiting for a Twin Cities bookstore appearance; as much as I'd enjoy seeing Joe and Michael, I've got too much travel on my plate in the next month already, dammit.
Two things that I love (baseball and books) are dying right before my eyes. Sad. (Of course, Joe is contributing to the death of a third (newspapers) by shifting his writing brilliance online.)
I would counter that newspapers were already dead, mostly from the internet, but also by their own actions as they tried to join the internet.
I actually ended my KC Star subscription when Joe left the Star. But he was not the impetus for it, only the final straw, perhaps my last reason for getting the paper.
Prior to that, for several years, the paper had been getting thinner by the year, with the price constantly rising, paying more for less. The percentage of ads in relation to actual stories in what you did get jumping up in leaps and bounds.
In addition to that, for at least a few years, they had teaser articles where they had a headline or little bit about the subject and then told you to go to the website to read the rest of the article, I guess to drive traffic to the site. This was extremely annoying to me, as I was late to the internet. (I didn't get a computer and internet until late 2008) While doing that, they were also letting go the highest paid (often the best) writers and ending local beats that were an important part of the paper. Things that I used to pay less for, and was now paying more without getting at all.
The internet was probably going to be the death knell of newspapers eventually. The way that the newspapers tried to handle that definitely hastened that end.
Khazad, do you have a Twitter account? I would love to follow it.
Actually, I don't really have a social media presence, other than commenting on a couple of sports sites that have actual mostly coherent comments about hings I feel passionately about.
Also, even if I was a social media type, when Twitter first came out (I know the structure has change somewhat) I knew it wasn't for me, because it was all about brevity at the time. Heck, I can't say anything in 140 characters.
Ah, too bad. But thanks for the reply. I can always read you here.
What evidence do you have that baseball is dying? Let me guess: you loved baseball when you were a kid but now you just don't like it as much, it's all about the money, analytics are killing the game, bWAR and fWAR and spin rates and exit velo are too confusing for you to understand, you loved collecting and flipping baseball cards when you were a kid and now it's all about the money, there's too many teams, you hate the DH, you hate the ghost runner, you hate Rob Manfred, you long for a simpler time when the world was better. Do I have it right?
No.
Is there something wrong with hating Rob Manfred?
It’s misdirected. He’s a puppet with 30 hands inside him. There is no “Rob Manfred.” When you hate Rob Manfred you’re doing exactly what the owners want you to do.
I am reminded of when Chin Lung Hu was with the Dodgers, got a hit, and Vin said, "I have waited my entire life to say this. Hu's on first."
Who’s in Right Field?
Where.
Right Field?
Where!!!
My copy has been on preorder since December.
ok, I preordered- thanks for your explanation of the importance of preordering, Joe
Years ago, while on our yearly baseball trip (The Outdoor Baseball Extravaganza), we had shirts made up with a logo on the front. On the back were numbers, the positions each of us would play. The names above them were the names of the players from the routine. As we were walking up the ramps at Wrigley, a youngish woman suddenly exclaimed, "I KNOW WHAT THOSE SHIRTS MEAN!" It was a great moment for us.
Were you at a game recently? I saw a group with those names. I can’t remember where, but I think Chicago. Either Wrigley or the Rate/Comiskey (what I call it).
That actually happened back in 2008, so it wouldn't have been us.
My wife was a professor of engineering and had Chinese students named Yu and Du, which led to similar “Who’s on first” conversations with her, including “Du, Yu, and I remember it differently” and “Yu failed that test.”
I can watch that routine over and over and still laugh hysterically! My kids loved seeing it when they were little! I hope you’ll be doing a Poscast with Michael at y’all’s Kansas City date! I would love to be there but I’ll be in the throes of teaching!
CLASSIC routine, truly never gets old, especially to us baseball fans!
another thing that never gets old is your phenomenal writing, Joe-
i'm sure your book will be a HUGE success, i only wish i had the scratch to buy it, but as a musician just barely recovering from the worse than lean Covid years, during which many clubs closed and didn't reopen (and awaiting the mixing/mastering/release of my album, as well as myriad other irons in the fire that have not yet translated into geld) my purse is very light even if my heart and mind are rich!