Notice: Trying to get property 'display_name' of non-object in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/src/generators/schema/article.php on line 52
keyboard_arrow_uptop

Over the years, many of you have asked, "When are you going to get the BP annual into e-reader form?" We first heard this in 1998, which came as a terrible shock because the e-reader form had yet to be invented. Thirteen years later, technical issues still prevent publishers from getting all of those tiny, insect-like numbers to behave when squeezed onto a Kindle, Nook, or Batphone screen. Now, thanks to our publishing pals at Wiley, we can offer you something of an alternative: the BP 2011 app for iPhones and iPads (and iDolphins and iCanseco and other i-branded items available at an i-retailer near you). The app will be coming on line this week, at roughly the same moment when your postman should be stuffing the actual tome into your mailbox.

Here is what the app has to offer:

  1. It's actually apps, plural. There are two of them, one for NL and one for AL.
  2. The apps contains all the team essays, player comments, and stats from the book, albeit in a more portable, take-it-to-the-ballpark form.
  3. What it doesn't contain are coaches, team boxes, Joe Posnanski's intro, my intro (the bastards), or Kevin Goldstein's Top 101 Prospects. Nor does it have PECOTA breakouts percentages or comparables.
  4. However, it does have a PECOTA line even for the players who are just a "Lineout" in the book, which is to say, we didn't print a projection. 
  5. Instead of leader boards, the app has a sort function that lets you set up the projections however you like, say by position, favorite food, or astrological sign. I'm not sure about the last two–I have a Windows phone, so I'm just guessing. Please hold your guffaws until the end and I will promise never to do it again.
  6. Those of you with Android phones, they will try to get you next year. When I say "they," I mean the publisher and their Science-Fiction Robotmen programmers. Baseball Prospectus is not discriminating against your phone, and in fairness, neither are the Science-Fiction Robotmen.  iStuff was all they could lick this year given that we gave them the info for the book roughly yesterday, but they have bigger dreams for 2012–not just Android phones, but constantly updating stats–and world domination through mind control. 
  7. In the meantime, the app is different from the book in that it can be updated and features added–like tentacles. If you post your suggestions for updates here, Our Man at Wiley will be watching.
  8. Finally, the apps will launch at $9.99 each, or $5 less than the book's retail price if you buy both.

I hope you enjoy these and find them useful. You'll have to let me know. I'll be over in the corner with my Windows phone, trying very hard to download email. Email on my phone, sometimes… How cutting edge am I?

 

 

Thank you for reading

This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.

Subscribe now
You need to be logged in to comment. Login or Subscribe
jpjazzman
2/14
Great to see this announcement formally made. Two thoughts:

1) Presumably people who have actually purchased the book will get some way to access the apps for free?

2) For those that have multiple iDevices, is this going to be a situation where you have to buy/pay separately for the app on the iPad and iPhone?
PBSteve
2/14
JP, I honestly have no clue, but I will pass along the question to the publisher.
zasxcdfv
2/14
Is there any way you could get it for android phones?
dianagramr
2/14
Please (re)read item #6.
dianagramr
2/14
$9.99 per league? When I can get the book from Amazon for under $13? You are lucky my love for all things BP is strong.

Next year ... could you arrange with your publisher to offer some sort of book/app combo discount?
noonan
2/14
I am all for moving towards technology, but it strikes me as a little bit crazy that I would have to spend another 20 bucks to get it on my phone. I understand that you are probably not setting the price point, but I suspect you will be disappointed with the number of downloads at $10 per app.
PBSteve
2/14
We are NOT setting the price point.
SenatorsGuy
2/14
Can you do a version for my abacus?
mtofias
2/14
It regularly amazes me how stuck in ten years ago you folks are with respect to technology.
mattymatty2000
2/14
I have an iPorpoise, will this work for me?
dianagramr
2/14
BP is reporting that the new app is "Dolphin-safe" ...
markbhey
2/15
How about fantasy team tracking? I cannot find a good app where all I want to do is load players and track their fantasy stats day to day.
mrobbins
2/15
Will the app work in the UK (and will amazon.co.uk get the book before Opening Day?)
mszabel
2/22
Love BP, but I already subscribe and own the book. Shouldn't have to pay another $20 for the app.
delany19
3/02
Will these apps be available for Droid phones?
kathywoolner
3/28
If you download the BP 2011 app to your iPhone and have trouble, please follow these instructions: Remove the app, clear 150MB, and reinstall the app.

iTunes says the app requires 6MB but it actually requires 150MB. If you continue to have trouble, please contact Customer Service.