Tuesday, December 23, 2008By Mike Steffanos
I received an email last week from a long-time reader asking me if I was going to stop doing this blog. I was a little surprised at first. I know I haven't been posting much since the season ended, but that made me look back and realize just how little I've been posting these last three months: three times in October, six in November and five in December. It was only some posts from the other contributors and my little flurry around the winter meetings that kept this thing from growing cobwebs.
I figured it was time to get back to work. I started writing something last week that somehow never quite saw the light of day on this blog. I got busy with work, and then Lisa and I decided it was time for our living room to go big-screen and high-def. Hooking everything up when it arrived took some time. Actually, the absolute worst thing was the new tv stand/entertainment center that required a sacrifice of four hours of my time (and a fair amount of knuckle skin) to put together last weekend.
Of course, once I had the cool stuff I had to play with it a little. Anyway, next thing I knew was that another week had gone by and I still hadn't posted anything new to this blog. I sat down a couple of times to rectify that, but struggled to get something together.
I wondered if, after about 3-1/2 years of doing this, I had simply run out of things to say. I wouldn't be the first veteran blogger to suffer that fate.
Honestly, though, I've had stuff that I really wanted to write about. Sometimes it seemed that I had too much stuff that I wanted to write, and had difficulty focusing it into a blog post.
The biggest thing, though, is that I realized when I don't post very often I lose the ability to sit down and knock off a respectable post in the hour or so that my schedule allows for it. I've decided my best bet is to go back to trying to post every day and take it from there. I'm going to try to do things that are shorter and more focused. Maybe I'll also try to keep it fresh and do some things like interviews that I haven't done here.
I guess the bottom line is that I still enjoy doing this, but I've realized that my life has changed in the last couple of years and I need to shake up what I do and the process I use to do it. Other than that, I really want to keep doing this for a while more.
I will try to post a few times between now and the end of the year, and will go back to attempting daily posts after the New Year. Thanks to all of the regulars here for your support -- I only hope that I can continue to earn it.
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Comments (8)
wow! yanks are really spending some big bucks and putting a lot under thier tree for Christmas. Do you think we will get anything more for the holidays? Lowe, Manny, Ollie, Hudson, Anybody, please. Merry Christmas Mike.
Posted by Rev Al | December 23, 2008 5:07 PM
Oh yeah... The Yankees are going to get them all... Plus Peavy and Pujols and Hamilton too...and oh yeah, Lincecum & Webb and lee too. If I am not mistaken, they are also getting Peyton Manning... and do you know something...??? They still won't win the world series...
Posted by Steve Bergon | December 23, 2008 6:20 PM
Merry Christmas, Al. I doubt if the Mets will sign anyone before the holidays. Look for a flurry of activity in January.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | December 23, 2008 6:59 PM
Guys, The bottom line here is that the yankees are willing to spend the money and that they reinvest the revenue to keep winning. period. like it or not, omar wants to persue manny but the wilpons are telling him to back off on such request. really too bad. he would make our offense much better and somewhat comparable to our crosstown rivals. we have a major t.v. network and a new stadium just like them. but, oh no. freddie would rather see our pitchers suffer another year of spiradic run support. maybe it's the money he was swindled out of. i don't know. but one thing i can tell you guys. i'm lost for words over the latest signing. Where is our commissioner?? the last time george tried this crap, i believe bowie put a stop to it. not good for the sport i recall was what was said. well, it all lies with the top dog. and if he not willing to put a stop to it, oh well. reality says the yanks will be heavily favored to win it all next year and they probably will as much as it hurts for me to say it. remember fans the fault does not lie with omar. tune in to "mlb trade rumors" and the fault is clearly identified.
Posted by william daggett | December 24, 2008 12:24 AM
Hey, good for the Yanks, I don't care. They have a bunch of great players but that does not always equate to a great team. They have to mesh and win together. I am only interested in what happens in Queens. I believe the Mets will get additional players to help contend and possibly make and win the series. Other than that they all have to play 162 games. I am optimistic, and a few pieces to the puzzle added and we may see another subway series. Got to beat the Phils and Marlins though! Mike, you, Lisa, and your families enjoy the holidays be blessed and safe. Go Mets!
Posted by L.J.Phipps | December 24, 2008 6:58 AM
l.j., nice post! i was just venting. the additions you mentionedcould put us on a collision course with them come oct. it just hurts the small market teams and something should be done. Talk about the Bonds collusion. What about this? the commissioner with no backbone needs to go for the sack of our national pastime. just an opinion. any thoughts?
Posted by william daggett | December 24, 2008 12:44 PM
Mike, it is not just the few posts but how almost every post was explaining why you didn't write recently. I used to really enjoy this blog but it has really taken a downturn. I noticed the change in midseason where each posted started by saying " I am tired of writing the same thing". Maybe a little break would be a good thing so that we can get back to the insights that we love.
Posted by Steve | December 25, 2008 3:19 PM
Steve - I'm not offended by what you wrote, but I think you're missing the point somewhat. I'm going to go back to posting every day because that's the only way I believe a blog works, as sort of an ongoing dialogue if you will. In any case, when I don't post for a while I do like to let people know what's been going on. I also try to be honest and admitted that I was somewhat burned out by a more hectic schedule and what was happening with the Mets.
I didn't say I was tired of writing the same thing on each post. I stated that I wasn't going to do that. The Mets lost a lot of games this season in a very similar fashion. In fact, here is the prototypical Mets loss in 2008:
Mets score early, but blow some excellent chances to tack on runs. Starter pitches okay and exits with lead. Mets continue to blow additional scoring chances and the bullpen blows the game in some sort of demoralizing fashion.
At some point I got tired of constantly regurgitating the same things and the way a handful of players were made to be scapegoats by a lot of fans. I did spend a lot of time in August and September remarking on how I appreciated the fact that kept fighting for wins despite everything. Still, in the end it was somewhat depressing that, after putting themselves in position to make the playoffs, for the second year in a row they couldn't. It was hard as a blogger who really cares about his team not to be depressed by that.
It will be up to you to decide whether my efforts here going forward provide what you are looking for from a blog. I'm just going to do my best.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | December 26, 2008 8:25 PM