Monday, July 07, 2008
Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine.
This is my 999th post at a Citizen's Blog. It will also be my last.
I began this blog a loooong time ago, way back in March of 2004. Blogging was very new and interesting to me and was a terrific means of blowing off steam in a time of great stress: studying for the bar exam and helping my wife plan our wedding. Since then I've written 998 posts detailing very little thing I could think of about my favorite team. In the interim, I passed the bar exam, got married, bought a house, got my career started. But in the past few months I've been getting tired of the daily blogging grind. Recently I took on extra responsibilities at my office. More work, more time, more stress. No longer has blogging been a stress-reliever. Now I get done with a trial and I have to remind myself: it's been two days since you've posted. Better find something interesting to talk about. I've felt the quality of my work decline for some time. My prose has become more wooden and mechanical. My passion is clearly not present. Lots of people have hobbies and this was mine. Not any more.
These ought to be exciting days to be a Phillies blogger. This team is playoff-bound and could very well play in the World Series. This team could be a champion. These are the days to be a Phillies fan. And that's what I am going to go back to being. A fan. I just want to sit on my couch and watch and not think about something interesting to write about. I just want to be. When I saw the number count on my posts this morning, I knew it was the right move to make. 999 posts. Just one short of that golden 1,000. It's like being a Phillies fan. Just one thing, one win, one player, one moment, short of greatness, of happiness, of contentment.
That's what I plan to be from here on out. A fan. Not a blogger. Not a fan-journalist. Just a fan.
I plan to direct my energies elsewhere. I can't get the baseball bug out of my skin. I plan to write some longer articles on topics that interest me and try to get them published elsewhere. The idea of writing a book has always appealed to me and maybe now I'll have the energy to make that happen. Let's see. But in the here and now I'm content to leave A Citizen's Blog stand alone at 999. My body of work, my legacy.
Go Phillies.
I began this blog a loooong time ago, way back in March of 2004. Blogging was very new and interesting to me and was a terrific means of blowing off steam in a time of great stress: studying for the bar exam and helping my wife plan our wedding. Since then I've written 998 posts detailing very little thing I could think of about my favorite team. In the interim, I passed the bar exam, got married, bought a house, got my career started. But in the past few months I've been getting tired of the daily blogging grind. Recently I took on extra responsibilities at my office. More work, more time, more stress. No longer has blogging been a stress-reliever. Now I get done with a trial and I have to remind myself: it's been two days since you've posted. Better find something interesting to talk about. I've felt the quality of my work decline for some time. My prose has become more wooden and mechanical. My passion is clearly not present. Lots of people have hobbies and this was mine. Not any more.
These ought to be exciting days to be a Phillies blogger. This team is playoff-bound and could very well play in the World Series. This team could be a champion. These are the days to be a Phillies fan. And that's what I am going to go back to being. A fan. I just want to sit on my couch and watch and not think about something interesting to write about. I just want to be. When I saw the number count on my posts this morning, I knew it was the right move to make. 999 posts. Just one short of that golden 1,000. It's like being a Phillies fan. Just one thing, one win, one player, one moment, short of greatness, of happiness, of contentment.
That's what I plan to be from here on out. A fan. Not a blogger. Not a fan-journalist. Just a fan.
I plan to direct my energies elsewhere. I can't get the baseball bug out of my skin. I plan to write some longer articles on topics that interest me and try to get them published elsewhere. The idea of writing a book has always appealed to me and maybe now I'll have the energy to make that happen. Let's see. But in the here and now I'm content to leave A Citizen's Blog stand alone at 999. My body of work, my legacy.
Go Phillies.
Labels: Goodbye
Comments:
I'll miss your posts Michael. I only found this blog last fall and looked forward to all your updates. Good luck with the rest of your endeavors and Go Phillies!
Same here. Sorry to see you go. While I don't agree with a majority of your posts, I do respect the way you've handled this blog and your passion for your team. Good luck in the future.
Same. I liked your blog a lot. When the Phils win the World Series this year on a Chris Coste walk-off HR in game 7, they will make a movie about this season. Your oddly timed quitting will make a nice side-story.
# posted by 
: Monday, July 07, 2008 1:24:00 PM
: Monday, July 07, 2008 1:24:00 PM
Mike,
Enjoyed your blog. Thanks for all of the 999 posts. Best of luck.
Enjoyed your blog. Thanks for all of the 999 posts. Best of luck.
# posted by : Monday, July 07, 2008 2:37:00 PM
: Monday, July 07, 2008 2:37:00 PM
Mike, I enjoyed your blog, yes it is a grind at times to continue to write and produce. I do it to keep more focused on the team.
I enjoyed having you on the Philly Sports Talk Now! show and I would like to have you on in the future as well.
Great job, perhaps you'll reconsider....
I enjoyed having you on the Philly Sports Talk Now! show and I would like to have you on in the future as well.
Great job, perhaps you'll reconsider....
Mike, I work an average of 50 hours per week at my full time job, I do three Philly Sports blogs, a couple podcasts, that I produce entirely by myself. All on my own time in between everything else. Oh yes and I am at every Sunday home Phillies game along with a couple other games during the year.
I may be working myself into a 'big mac' attack :)
Come on back and visit me and Jimmy on the show please!
Take care, god speed and above all else... go Phillies!
Rich
I may be working myself into a 'big mac' attack :)
Come on back and visit me and Jimmy on the show please!
Take care, god speed and above all else... go Phillies!
Rich
Rich, I'll always be happy to appear on the show. I just felt it was time for the blog to go ...
As for the rest of you that commented, thank you very much, I'm deeply gratified by your kind words. I won't be unretiring, however. I took a sabbatical back in '05 when I was getting worn down. This is the end.
As for the rest of you that commented, thank you very much, I'm deeply gratified by your kind words. I won't be unretiring, however. I took a sabbatical back in '05 when I was getting worn down. This is the end.
Great blog, you always brought an interesting perspective on the team, particularly in the area of fielding and baserunning. I always looked forward to reading the real numbers about those often misunderstood parts of the game.
Also, your appreciation of history with the Whiz Kids writeup was just fantastic, and awesome to read for someone who wasn't born until 1981.
Best of luck, and hopefully one of your fellow bloggers will pick up the stats-driven approach to fielding and baserunning.
Also, your appreciation of history with the Whiz Kids writeup was just fantastic, and awesome to read for someone who wasn't born until 1981.
Best of luck, and hopefully one of your fellow bloggers will pick up the stats-driven approach to fielding and baserunning.
enjoyed reading your blog, good luck in life and fandom (for the sake of us all)
# posted by : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:05:00 PM
: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:05:00 PM
mike,
thanks for all your insightful posts! I got into your blog when you were writing about the Whiz Kids and have been a casual reader since. You were critical in me developing interest in the sabermetric aspect of baseball. Thanks again and good luck!
GO Phils!
thanks for all your insightful posts! I got into your blog when you were writing about the Whiz Kids and have been a casual reader since. You were critical in me developing interest in the sabermetric aspect of baseball. Thanks again and good luck!
GO Phils!
# posted by : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 4:18:00 PM
: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 4:18:00 PM
It is a sad day to see you go.
The Whiz Kids feature was absolutely marvelous. Additionally, your Ballpark Analysis, attempting to fuse science into the CBP-bandbox debate was also a classic. I have referred countless friends to this site and it has nurtured a budding interest in Sabermetrics. Get that book done! I'll be looking for it!
The Whiz Kids feature was absolutely marvelous. Additionally, your Ballpark Analysis, attempting to fuse science into the CBP-bandbox debate was also a classic. I have referred countless friends to this site and it has nurtured a budding interest in Sabermetrics. Get that book done! I'll be looking for it!
Actually his timing is perfect. He didn't want to be around to have to deal with the Mets fans when the Phils finish blowing their one time 7 1/2 game lead over NY by the All-Star break or answer why the Phils have lost 7 out of 10 to the Mets so far this year. No Chris Coste walk-off HR in the World Series I'm afraid. More likely he'll have to settle for hitting par on hole #12 playing golf while listening to the Mets in the playoffs on the radio.
# posted by : Wednesday, July 09, 2008 1:59:00 PM
: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 1:59:00 PM
Mike,
Your insights on the Phillies will be greatly missed. As a loyal fan in the age of the Internet, I start each day of the Phillies season - and offseason - with a visit to Philly.com to read the write ups from the Philly Inq and Daily News beat writers, then, without fail, head to your site for real, heavy-hitting, spot-on analysis about our fightin' Phils. Best of luck to you in the future, and I will looking out for that book.
Go Phils!
- Paul in D.C.
Your insights on the Phillies will be greatly missed. As a loyal fan in the age of the Internet, I start each day of the Phillies season - and offseason - with a visit to Philly.com to read the write ups from the Philly Inq and Daily News beat writers, then, without fail, head to your site for real, heavy-hitting, spot-on analysis about our fightin' Phils. Best of luck to you in the future, and I will looking out for that book.
Go Phils!
- Paul in D.C.
just added you to my favorites before i read 999. havent read a lot of your blogs but i appreciated the analysis. my dad and i go down to clearwater every year to watch the phils and hang out. like i said i havent read a lot of your colomns but if youve never been there its a great true philly fan time. save your writings for articles or a book. good luck. go phils.
mark va.
mark va.
# posted by : Sunday, July 20, 2008 10:43:00 PM
: Sunday, July 20, 2008 10:43:00 PM
The best blogs are ones that inspire good debate and nothing does that more than writing from a fans perspective.
# posted by : Saturday, July 26, 2008 7:49:00 PM
: Saturday, July 26, 2008 7:49:00 PM
I just found your blog... Your stuff is amazing and I'm a huge Phillies fan. I'll be looking out for your book!
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Well congrats on your career and family, I just found your blog and read through some posts, you really know your baseball, good luck
# posted by : Monday, October 06, 2008 1:16:00 PM
: Monday, October 06, 2008 1:16:00 PM
it's right about now in the heat of a playoff push that i wish you were still blogging. maybe if the phils win the WS you'll come back for one last post?
it sure would make post #1,000 be a special one.
it sure would make post #1,000 be a special one.
I never read blogs, and I mean never. With all the stuff going on with the Phighten, I just picked yours to read. You can always write a post when you're moved to, and you should. I may give it a try, but I'm not gonna face any deadlines. In any case, good luck, and I hope to see you post once in awhile.
# posted by : Monday, October 27, 2008 6:34:00 AM
: Monday, October 27, 2008 6:34:00 AM
What an amazing reason to come back and close out this blog with a 1,000th post...
THE PHILLIES WIN THE 2008 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
THE PHILLIES WIN THE 2008 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
# posted by : Thursday, October 30, 2008 10:27:00 AM
: Thursday, October 30, 2008 10:27:00 AM
hey guys, check out this article
http://www.fanzak.com/fzrants/MLB__Your_Digging_Your_Own_Grave
http://www.fanzak.com/fzrants/MLB__Your_Digging_Your_Own_Grave
# posted by : Friday, November 21, 2008 5:47:00 PM
: Friday, November 21, 2008 5:47:00 PM
your blog is interesting. Thanks for all of the 999 posts.........All the very best........
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# posted by : Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:32:00 AM
: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:32:00 AM
Help me out and take my Phillies poll!! Let me know your favorite Phillies player... text NICOLE (PLAYER) to 67768. More details to follow. Thanks for your help!! (example: NICOLE HALLADAY)
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