Coming to St. Louis

Posted: July 8th, 2009 | Filed under: Media | 32 Comments »

At one point I really wanted to make today — 07/08/09 — official Buy The Machine day. But I have to admit that (a) the idea never really seemed to take off, (b) nobody really volunteered to be the sponsor and (c) I have a goofy promotional thing that I hope to unveil here in the next couple of weeks. And yes, that’s a tease. This promotional plan is going to be, um, different …

But more on that later. For now, yes, I would be very appreciative if you would Buy The Machine so that the Amazon number would drop — last I checked the number was higher than the capacity at the Big House at Michigan — but more to the point, I have something more immediate to promote and mention.

I am going to be in St. Louis this Saturday to talk about The Soul of Baseball. It turns out that the St. Louis Public Library chose Soul to be part of their summer reading project Read St. Louis. It’s a cool honor. So I’ll be at the Central Library at 2 p.m. on Saturday … I’m trying to include a link to the map. I’ll be talking about the book, about Buck O’Neil, probably about Albert Pujols, taking questions. Should be quite the party.

I’m also supposed to be signing books on Monday at the All-Star Game Fan Fest. I will be at the Unique Books booth from 1 to 2 p.m. And I’m also supposed to be on the KMOX stage to talk baseball at 4:20 p.m. Frankly, I’m expecting a grand total of about seven people to show up for my events which is why I’m promoting it here.

More posts coming later … but first here’s that map to the Central Library.

32 Comments on “Coming to St. Louis”

  1. 1: GF said at 10:25 am on July 8th, 2009:

    Looks like the rank is down to Bryant-Denny stadium capacity.

  2. 2: Jim K. said at 10:25 am on July 8th, 2009:

    Hi Joe, there’s something wrong with your google maps link. I think you need to map the library and then click on the “Link” on the top right of the map to grab the linnk to use in your post (rather than using the link from your address bar). I still won’t be able to go though :) .

  3. 3: Dan said at 10:32 am on July 8th, 2009:

    Joe (and anyone else going to, or in St Louis) – I must wholeheartedly recommend you check out Pappy’s Smokehouse for some ribs. Its at the corner of Olive and Stanford, and have the best ribs I’ve ever had. Get the deep fried corn on the cob and the sweet potato fries as well.

  4. 4: Mark W said at 11:14 am on July 8th, 2009:

    In case this interests anyone, I was reminded when I saw Joe’s 07-08-09 above…

    At 5 minutes and 6 seconds after the 4th hour this AM the time and date could be said to be
    04:05:06 07-08-09.

    I read somewhere that this will happen again in the year 3009. I’ll probably not be getting involved in the next occurrence. You are on your own…

  5. 5: B.E. Earl said at 11:32 am on July 8th, 2009:

    Of course you missed the obvious title for this post, Joe.

    “Meet Me in St. Louis”

    (for those of us who enjoy lighthearted musical comedies from the ’40’s.)

  6. 6: JYarnell said at 11:35 am on July 8th, 2009:

    Actually, that date/time would be reproducible in the year 2109. And to take it a step further, as I write this it’s almost 12:34:56 7/08/09.

  7. 7: Sweatpants00 said at 11:55 am on July 8th, 2009:

    I know this is completely off topic, but as I sit here and watch MLB TV’s sort of state of the game program with Matt Vasgersian hosting and Bob Costas, Tom Verducci, and Harold Reynolds commentating, I realized how MLB TV has thoroughly destroyed ESPN’s baseball programming.

    Sure they both have former players who ramble imbecilely at times, but MLB TV’s MLB Tonight is a better format, MLB TV has better personalities, MLB TV provides much greater intellectual stimuli, and MLB TV doesn’t have John Kruk, John Kruk’s head, John Kruk’s neck exploding out of suit like Popeye’s spinach exploding out of a can, or John Kruk’s loud and painful opinions.

    In particular, this state-of-the-game MLB TV program with Costas and Verducci is outstanding. The discussion on Fehr, steroids, revenues, the All Star game, and interleague play, and overall perspective on the game is absolutely the best I’ve ever seen on television. Of course, what are they competing with? Baseball Tonight, Fox Sports Net/Best Damn…, Tim McCarver Show, etc…

    I am shocked that this network – in just a few months – has destroyed my interest in Baseball Tonight. And I thank them.

  8. 8: Patrick M said at 12:02 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    You can bump that number in attendance up by one…Glad you said something here or I wouldn’t have known

  9. 9: Mikey said at 12:59 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    7 – 100% agree

    That’s why I was bummed to see Harold Reynolds get ripped on this blog a couple weeks ago.

    He wrote a non-sensical blog post, yes, but on balance Reynolds and all those MLBN guys are doing a lot more good than harm to national MLB coverage.

  10. 10: Dave said at 1:33 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Joe – what’s the likelihood of your publisher making a Kindle edition available?

  11. 11: Max L said at 2:56 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Ooh, make sure to check out St. Louis City Museum about 4 blocks away from the library. The kids in all of us would love the magical place.

  12. 12: philevans66 said at 3:07 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    If you get a chance, please let Bernie Miklasz know that Mr. Greinke’s name isn’t spelled “Zach.”

    With Joe in town, there will be exactly one good Missouri-based columnist in St. Louis next week.

  13. 13: Dan Holden said at 3:22 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    I will miss you on Saturday. I have to go to Columbia for a birthday party. I’m glad to hear about the appearances at FanFest, but I probably don’t want to buy tickets to that whole mess.

    Have fun in the Lou.

  14. 14: Dave said at 3:33 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Joe, and anyone else in the area Saturday:

    From 11:00–1:00 underneath the Arch, come down and watch vintage base ball: the St. Louis Perfectos and Lafayette Square Cyclones will be putting on an exhibition. 1860 rules! Fun times for all!

    for more info: http://www.stlouisperfectos.org/

  15. 15: Ross said at 5:39 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Can’t. Beatles Rock Band comes out that day.

  16. 16: Joe said at 7:01 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Sweet! I’ll be there wearing my powder blue! Hopefully you’ll be signing books Saturday as well, my copy of Soul needs some love…

  17. 17: Jojobebop said at 7:18 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    AGH!!!! I live in St. Louis for 4 years, religiously going to the Central Library all throughout college so I wouldn’t have to buy books for class, and not a single Joe sighting. Now that I move away not only does St. Louis get the all-star game but my favorite sportswriter is gonna be speaking there!! Also I second Pappy’s Smokehouse and the City Museum. If you’re looking for a good atmosphere to have a beer, try the Royale, use to work for the guy who owns it, good food and good drinks and almost always good DJ’s.

  18. 18: Damon Rutherford said at 7:36 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    How are posters adding an avatar?

  19. 19: Damon Rutherford said at 7:38 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    I cannot vote in the current poll until “The Big Lebowski” is included.

  20. 20: Damon Rutherford said at 7:46 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Thanks, Joe!

  21. 21: Damon Rutherford said at 7:50 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    The poll would only permit me to select one movie. Guess which one I selected?

  22. 22: Damon Rutherford said at 7:58 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    This entry’s title could have been “Mr. Posnanski goes to St. Louis”

  23. 23: Damon Rutherford said at 8:10 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Hey … check out the movie moving fast up the poll!

  24. 24: Damon Rutherford said at 8:17 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Yeah, I’m at work tonight.

  25. 25: Damon Rutherford said at 8:22 pm on July 8th, 2009:

    Ah, I see what happened … there’s another entry already, leaving me all by myself here. Thanks a lot.

  26. 26: Brent C. said at 5:30 am on July 9th, 2009:

    Movie I don’t get: The Big Lebowski.
    Movie I don’t get why people like or think is funny: Napoleon Dynamite.
    Moive I don’t get why it is not on this poll: Star Wars.
    Ni Ni Ni.

  27. 27: onthemark said at 11:48 am on July 9th, 2009:

    Off topic replies: Brent, you don’t ‘get’ The Big Lebowski or ‘Napoleon Dyamite’. You merely sit back and enjoy the theater of the absurd. And for what it is worth, it helps to be in an altered state of consciousness while viewing!

    And to #7, I have long advocated that if MLB was serious about getting their act together, they could do a LOT worse than make Bob Costas commisioner. Of course,t eh owners would never go for that, they like having hand puppets in that seat. See Selig, Bud…

  28. 28: David in NYC said at 2:04 pm on July 9th, 2009:

    @onthemark #27:

    I’ve been saying that for years, at least ever since his book “Fair Ball: A Fan’s Case for Baseball” came out in 2001.

    http://tinyurl.com/mfhrgw

    He has a good idea on pretty much everything that’s a problem in BB, from bats exploding to scheduling issues. But, as you say, Clueless Bud Selig is exactly what the owners want.

  29. 29: Justin said at 2:47 pm on July 9th, 2009:

    Joe; Sorry I’ll be on a Rooftop watching the Birds beat the Cubs, but I’m a loyal reader from StL and would have been there had I not alreay planned a trip to Chicago.

  30. 30: Nate Eubanks said at 6:23 pm on July 9th, 2009:

    Joe,
    I am a regular reader. I am originally from NE Kansas I live in St. louis now. I hope to meet you someday and unfortunately it will not be this weekend. I am bummed I won’t be in town this weekend.

    I agree with the comments recommending City Museum. It is excellent.

    You may enjoy eating at O’Connell’s Irish Pub. Great atmosphere and the burgers are the best I’ve had in St. Louis. Their amber ale is pretty good too.

    Nate

  31. 31: stu_tv said at 10:07 pm on July 9th, 2009:

    Come to Iowa City, Joe! I’d drive to St. Louis Saturday but I have to work…

  32. 32: SheriffBlalock said at 6:08 am on July 10th, 2009:

    Another recommendation for Pappy’s. Seriously. It’s one of the great barbecue places in America.

    Phile Vans! Good to see your name.

    I promised to take my nephew golfing, or I’d definitely make it. Can you come back next weekend, Joe?

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