White Sox Outsider 2010 is on sale
In what is the most exhilarating and nerve-wracking day of my year, I have an announcement.
White Sox Outsider 2010 is available for sale!
Here’s what’s up:
- About the book
- Buy the book (please)
- Coupon Code: BOOK10 for 10 percent off
- It’s full of Carl Skanberg!
And below is a brief sampling:
Now, a personal appeal.
Two of my co-workers told me the exact same thing when flipping through the proof: “You’re [forking] insane.” I’ve heard at least a dozen other similar sentiments expressed over the past few months, using different and occasionally cleaner language.
Believe me, I understand where they’re coming from. A couple months ago, I read a post on another baseball blog talking about a huge project that was time-consuming. Sure enough, it was an annual, kind of like mine.
Except… it was 120 pages (White Sox Outsider 2010 checks in at 226). And the work was split between 16 authors. And a company handled the formatting and publishing.
If that’s time-consuming (and of course it is) … then, yes. I suppose I am insane.
But I hope it’s looked at as more than a curiosity or strange feat of devotion if and when you read it.
For one, it’s fun for me. Aside from waiting on the failed last-minute negotiations with Johnny Damon and the last-minute struggles with the PDF formatting, at least. Writing is something I’ve grown up doing, and when I ended up in a non-writing journalism job (which I love), I started this site to keep exercising. This book is an extension of that.
And also, I hope it’s a valuable resource. I referred to White Sox Outsider 2009 over the course of the season and while writing this book, and I think it holds up well. There aren’t many sentences I’d take back.
That’s a big difference between the blog and White Sox Outsider 2010. The blog is immediate, and the book allows for hindsight. Going back and researching the original material (which I had to do plenty of thanks to the site dying in June) allows a better understanding of decisions and an ability to correct (or reaffirm) first impressions.
(And yes, the book is 98 percent new stuff, not seen here aside from the Jermaine Dye and Jose Contreras eulogies.)
And then there’s my friends and family, who edit the material and help me put it together. And then there’s Carl, who made the book even better by infusing his creativity into the smorgasbord of facts. Several people contribute way more manhours to the book than asked, and for their sake, I’d like to think they’re volunteering their time for something non-trivial.
Anyway, I understand the “insane” comments are mostly complimentary — I think — about the book. But I hope by the time you get it, I hope that’s the fourth or fifth reaction for the reasons above.
One note about the shipping — I know the shipping charges are more than Amazon, but Lulu’s the best route for me to go through, with my lack of venture capital and lack of space to store pre-published books. Treat it like a PBS donation or something. The proceeds from the first book went to moving my site to a better server, and I have equipment upgrades planned for the upcoming season to further enhance the content.
Thanks for indulging me. And, yes:
You can do so here.
Ordered. Thank you, Jim (and Carl!).
Ordered. Those boxes better look right!
Ordered. Looking forward to reading!
Ordered, will go nicely next to my 2009 edition in the bookshelf. Looking forward to it.
Ordered, looking forward to reading it. Reading about renaissance europe and weather were getting quite boring at the gym.
Purchased. Can’t wait.
Ordered and looking forward to it! Really enjoyed your piece on Dye …
I’ve enjoyed your blog since being directed to it a few months back. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I (angrily) disagree, but I always learn something. So I just got my order in; looking forward to reading it while on Spring Break (my reward after grading 20 papers and 40 speeches next week).
Just purchased the book. If it’s even half as good as the last one, I’ll be pleased as punch.
Ordered. I’ve been lurking on the site since right after the site came back last summer and figured today was as good a day as any to thank you for providing the intelligent White Sox thoughts I’ve been able to find anywhere.
Thanks Jim. Keep up the good work!
Ordered and looking forward to reading it, Jim. The least I can do for all your hard work. Keep it up buddy.
In for one. Hopefully it arrives as one after USPS gets their hands on it
Thanks, everybody. I appreciate the kind words and support. I think it’ll be worth your while.
Also, the Sox-Dodgers game is on MLB Network tomorrow night. That’ll be my first Sox game of the year, and a good prompt to get back in the swing of everyday writing.
Ordered. How much needs to be raised to send you to AZ?
Need to sell about 1,500 copies. Everybody buy a dozen!
Thanks, Jim. I just ordered.
If it’s possible, I’d to be able to buy the book for Kindle so I can have it when I travel.
I’ll check it out.
Thanks, Jim!
If you can’t sell directly through Amazon for Kindle, I’d be happy to buy the PDF file. I can upload the file to Kindle to read.
Just a thought. I’m sure the market is bigger for you with printed books, but since you have a PDF file already selling it as an ebook may be another channel for you.
Better to be insane than inane, and your writing is anything but. Just placed my order and looking forward to the read. Cheers.
Wrapping up Outsider ’09, just ordered ’10. Awesome book, great job!
Oh, and change your avatar. Get with the newness.
It’s a-happening.