By the way, I work in New York with someone who worked on the desk for you in Kansas City, and said you were the nicest writer to work with and always turned in the most “finished” game pieces. So I’m sure you’re stuff has less typos and assorted errors than the average Joe.

You just prove the point that one of my English made (one of those way back there somewhere) … there is no such thing as good writing … only good rewriting.

I’ve been a big fan and loyal reader for a long time and I can only promise you that I will make sure a correction IS actually a correction if I ever feel the need to point one out. You work hard as a writer I can only reciprocate in return as a reader. Keep up the good work.

First of all, what do you really want us to do when we see clear typos or other minor mistakes? I’ve been a professional proof reader and see the occasional error here, but my attitude has always been this is a labor of love on your part and (unless you envision someday compiling the blog into a book about sneaking in blurbs about writing books about the Reds) so I don’t sweat the little stuff. But if you *want* us to sweat the little stuff, I’ll be glad to do so. Someday some editor might think more kindly of you for the effort.

Secondly, I expect that you’ve made several dollars from this blog. You do point Joe Fans in the direction of other material you’ve written for which you get paid. We may also inspired ideas for columns that helps you earn your living. I don’t doubt that on a per word basis you might average out to less than a penny per word, but it’s not nothing.

Finally, you get more of *my* time posting than any other site. You inspire me. I grew up reading the late great Jim Murray in the Los Angeles Times, and you remind me of him, in a “you’re not as nasty as Murray could be but still manage to mine the humor despite all that” kind of way. I think you inspire us all. I’d like to think that in some small way, once in a rare while, you read something I’ve written and nod your head and thought, “Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that.” In particular, after recently moving to a new job in a new state, first time in my life I’ve lived outside of California, I get to see my wife/friends/family maybe one weekend a month, and your posts have helped keep me less insane. I consider it returning the favor you do me (and us all) for writing here. If anything I’ve ever written has caused you displeasure, I apologize deeply. And I do try to back up my posts with facts from baseball-reference.com, because, well, it’s only fair. You put in *loads* of time researching stuff, and it would be lazy of me to not put in my own effort.

Yours truly,
Richard Aronson

i guess better late than never

FWIW, aren’t real too many people who write bettern you do or who can tell a story near as well. Even if i didn’t love baseball, i’d real your stuff just for the pleasure of it.

so what i mean is – there are assholes out there. it’s one thing to tell a guy his fly is down so as he doesn’t embarrass himself but it is flat out rude to tell him he’s too fat or his ass is flat or whatever stuff like that insults guys.

so ignore the rude guys and just delete their comments. and if they complain, tell them to try using their manners.

it would be a disgrace for Buck to be into the Hall when Satchel Page is not

Heh.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe. And Merry Blogging.

—

I’m with the guy who said 99% of the world is not idiots. I ride my bike to work, and lots of other places as well. (Those of you in JoCo have probably seen the fat guy in bright orange or yellow….) People ask me all the time how I handle the idiots. I saw that in an average week, probably 5000 cars pass me in my commutes, and maybe once every other week someone yells something stupid or drives in a dangerous or intimidating manner. Nearly every car swerves (often too much) out of my way, defers (even when it’s not necessary) or otherwise passes without incident. Those once every 5 or 10K car idiots who beep or yell at me to get on the sidewalk get under my skin, but really, we’re talking II (Idiot Index) of .0001. That’s pretty good. They’re loud. They make me angry. They sometimes make me want to fight! But they are a tiny percentage of the population, and i realize that they have issues far greater than I do.

So, keep up the great work. Keep writing, and I’ll keep riding. And we”ll both ignore the morons, who deserve to be ignored.