Quick message for USSM Server Fund contributors
Hey, if you made a donation either in round 1 or round 2, I have a note for you. Read more
I’m on NPR today
Day to Day, at or about 1 pm. Check it out on your local affiliate, where applicable.
Please note that’s not when Day to Day runs, that’s when I’m on.
Opening Day USSM Chill-o-thon
Tomorrow, Pioneer Square Saloon (73 Yesler), 1-3ish. I may show up even earlier. Short version of directions: walk down your north-south avenue of choice (1st, 2nd, whatever) until you get to Yesler Way. Look to the water. It’s on the south side of the street.
If you’ve managed to get your hands on the book, I’ll be happy to sign, if you don’t, I may be able to strike a deal to provide one for you. Elliot Bay and your local bookstore should have them in stock, and if they don’t, you should raise a fuss.
Come! Hang out! Pre-commiserate! Get excited for the game! Enjoy a delicious beverage!
USSM redhot book giveaway!
Hey, I’ve got a paperback copy of “Baseball Between the Numbers: Why Everything You Know About the Game Is Wrong
One rule: you must have registered before today. I will check. If I pick you and you registered today, I’ll pick again.
You may wonder “Derek, it seems like if I could somehow show that I purchased or gave a nice review of your book, the excellent Cheaters Guide to Baseball, that my chances of winning this seemingly unrelated giveaway would dramatically increase.”
And I would say “With that kind of mindset, I know just the book for you: a Cheaters Guide to Baseball. But you’re welcome to try to influence the outcome that way.”
The expansion, retraction, clarification of Dave’s post
Hi. You may note that Dave’s post, below, was for a time missing a paragraph, marking the first time I’ve ever substantially edited another author’s post. There was discussion of legal action, and, to be clear, as I noted elsewhere, this was not a BP thing.
I’ve written the story of what it was like to write the Rose story elsewhere. The story’s not fabricated, had sources beyond any one BP author, and I (as you can read) stand by the decision to run it, and so on. I entirely disagree with any statement to the contrary.
That said – I declined in the previous post to talk about my own conversations with responsible parties for the Ibanez comment. In particular, I talked to Steve Goldman, one of the editors, about this before Dave posted, and Steve, and I’m paraphrasing only a little–
– took responsibility for the comments
– insisted it wasn’t meant to refer to me
Further, the 2004 comment was in the Royals chapter, which I had no hand in. Insomuch as it could be a slam on anyone specifically, it’s not me. The person who wrote the 2004 Royals chapter is still writing for BP, I believe. So you can, as I did initially, read it as a crack on the guy you’d think wrote that, who did leave, or you can, as the BP guys did, it’s just a joke that clanks, and clearly has no basis in reality or making fun of anyone specifically.
I’m entirely willing to assume that the impression I and others got from the comment is, as Steve said, unintentional, and no slight was intended.
I’ll keep the rest of our conversation private, as much good as that does now. I have the utmost respect for Steve, and I should have posted, at least, that I talked to Steve about the comment in as a follow-up to Dave’s post, if not at the time I talked to him, before Dave posted.
After talking to Dave, we’ve decided to take down his post entirely.
I’ve tried, as much as possible, to admit error as publicly as I make the error, so – I had a couple of opportunities to prevent this from flaring up. I screwed them all up, and I apologize.
USSM Labs, innovating for you
Update: the look I was testing had a bug that prevented commenting more than once, so I swapped back. Read more
USSM breaks new ground, maybe
I’ve heard the inclusion of my piece “Bugs Bunny, greatest banned player ever” in the next Best American Sports Writing Annual makes USSM the first baseball blog and possibly the first blog of any kind to break into that hallowed series. I’d have to hit the library and look through the archives to check, and it’s strange to think that might be the case, but looking through the table of contents available for the last couple of editions, there’s ESPN.com and Slate, but I don’t see anything… this being the internet, I’m sure if that’s not true someone will be here to break up the party momentarily.
Excuse my dust
I’m working on something (obviously)
If you want to play with the different themes, there’s a picker on the left-hand side. Please keep in mind that I’m at work in public, so “x looks like ass” is not helpful, while “x is a nice feature” is. Thanks.
— update: done for now
Free advance copy of The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball
I hold in my hands one rare advance uncorrected reader’s copy of The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball. I’m going to give it away to a USSM reader today.
If you’d like it, autographed or not, leave a comment below and I’ll randomly select someone and send it to them. The one caveat: to prevent mass registrations, your account must have been registered before today. Long-time lurkers, apologies, but your day will come.
Also, a reminder – March 3rd, Peoria. Meet two major league GMs, Jonah Keri, me, and get a Cheater’s Guide bookmark or something similarly exciting. Check it out.
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First review for Cheater’s Guide to Baseball
From the Feb 1 Library Journal:
Zumsteg, Derek. The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball. Houghton. Apr. 2007. 256p.
ISBN 0-618-55113-1 [ISBN 978-0-618-55113-2]. pap. $13.95.
It’s been said that an athlete who “ain’t cheatin’ ain’t tryin'” and that “rules are made to be broken.” Zumsteg (coauthor, Baseball Prospectus) has written a lively and challenging account of cheating as part of America’s pastime, whether it’s the habits of particular notables, such as Gaylord Perry and his spitball, or modern day pharmaceutical legerdemain. He also ponders such issues as whether it’s cheating to try to bunt to break up a no hitter. No, it ensures that the game evolves and progresses! This one’s a sure hit.
Pre-order now, folks. Your purchase supports me writing for USSM.
The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball
Only $11 – a bargain at twice the price.
First book event of any kind– Peoria, March 3rd, you can meet two major league GMs, Jonah Keri, me, and get a Cheater’s Guide bookmark or something similarly exciting. Check it out.