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This one isn't easy. I don't even know where to start. I remember some editor yelling at some writer in some movie about not burying the lead, so I'll do that. This is my final piece at Baseball Prospectus, as I've accepted a position as Pro Scouting Coordinator for the Houston Astros. That doesn't sound real to me yet either, but there it is. Needless to say, I'm extremely excited about this opportunity and the challenge ahead of us. I've been nothing but incredibly impressed with the entire staff in Houston, as well as their plans for the future, and I'm absolutely honored to suddenly be a small part of it.

Yes, it's a dream job, no question, but this wasn't an easy decision. I love this place. Honestly and truly. In my six-plus years here, I've grown personally and professionally and was never asked to be anything but myself. You really can't ask for anything more from a place of work. I've seen a lot of changes since I was brought in by Nate Silver, and I can't tell you how excited I am for the future under Joe Hamrahi. There are many fantastic things happening at Baseball Prospectus, and so many more things coming because of Joe's leadership. Knowing the ship has such a fantastic captain at the wheel made this decision much easier, as does the content published here that continues to blow me away on a daily basis. People like Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, Colin Wyers and Bradley Ankrom are going to be huge in this world, and I can't wait to see it happen. And prospect coverage won't be any less comprehensive here, either. You should expect some exciting announcements in that regard, and soon.

I loved writing here, but I was never a writer. I never enjoyed the actual process of writing. It always was a chore for me. I loved gathering information. I loved talking to scouts and agents and various front office officials and trying to tell the readers everything I learned. Writing was the medium I was stuck with, so here I am. I've always felt bad for my editors, scuffling to make my words something decipherable. People like John Erhardt, Christina Kahrl, Steven Goldman, Ben Lindbergh and the entire editing staff made everything I ever wrote better for you to read, and editors will always be the behind-the-scenes heroes of any good content. I'll miss writing in the sense that I'll miss sharing, and I'll miss writing in the sense that I'll miss working with our editors.

I'll also miss working with ESPN. It was often a thrill to go to ESPN.com and see one's name in lights, as it were. They can be an easy mark for some simply because they're on top of the mountain, and no, I was never asked to write about, or even lean on writing about prospects from the East Coast. Working with people like Matt Meyers, Dan Kaufman and Jon Scher showed me why ESPN is on top; because they have fantastic people working there.

While I may not have liked my own writing, I could always talk. Communicating I'm good at. I'll miss doing radio, especially the weekly show on MLB Network Radio with Mike Ferrin, who might just be the best human being you'll ever meet, if you ever get the chance to meet him. He just has that gene of pure good humanity, and I'm jealous of him for it.

And of course there is the podcast, which is still the most fun I've ever had "working," and also the one thing I am most proud of. We created a community, we made friends for life, we had so many great guests and so many great musicians on, and we even added terms to the baseball vernacular. Its popularity was exciting, shocking, humbling, and remarkable, and man, I'll miss doing the show (although we will be recording one final, farewell episode on Monday). I won't say I'll miss Jason Parks, because I won't have to. We'll still talk, and often, and I'll laugh just as much. We just won't record it anymore. Jason truly is one of the most interesting and unique people you'll ever meet, but behind all of the incredible, jealousy-inspiring post-modern creativity is a razor-sharp baseball mind and one of the best friends a person can ever know.

I realize this is starting to sound like some sort of Oscars speech, but I kind of don't care. There are just that many people to thank; so many people without whom I would not be here. Like Jim Callis, along with the two-headed editor-in-chief duo of John Manuel and Will Lingo at Baseball America. Jim was the first person ever to have me rank prospects professionally (California League, 2004, Felix Hernandez no. 1), and during my three years at Baseball America, Jim was not only a great friend, but an incredible mentor I learned so much from. Before Jim there was Peter Gammons, whom I still basically owe my career to for the time he mentioned my little minor-league newsletter to a nation and led to it going from just that, a little minor-league newsletter known by a couple teams, to something much more real with over 10,000 subscribers.

And then there are all of you, the readers and listeners, who deserve the biggest thanks of all. All of the people who subscribed, all of the people who downloaded the podcast or emailed the show, all of the people who followed and often made me laugh on Twitter, all of the people who came to our events. Interacting with people was always the highlight of my job, and that applies to both the readers and the people in the industry who always graciously took my calls.

I'm going to miss that, all of that, and I'm very sad about it. But this is the opportunity to go beyond just trying to analyze prospects and talking about their future. This is the opportunity to actually see if I'm right. It's both terrifying and exhilarating and brings back weird and wonderful feelings in the back of my brain that haven't been triggered since my technology days working for start-ups. I'm going to take some time off, recharge the batteries, and get going with Houston just in time for the offseason. I'm not going away, as I'll still be reading Baseball Prospectus every day, and watching and learning from and laughing at all of your tweets. I'll just be doing it silently while putting everything I have into this new and thrilling endeavor.

People often ask me what it's like to make a living in a baseball. I'll often steal a line from SportsNight about how it's like living in a dream and hoping Mom doesn't wake you up to go to school.

Do me a favor, Mom. Don't wake me up. This dream just keeps getting better.

Thank you for reading

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moonlightj
8/31
As someone who first came to know you through your work at TheProspectReport and then has had the pleasure of working with you over the past 18 months, this is a fantastic success story. Keep living the dream.
veganalyst
8/31
Tears of joy for you and sadness for the rest of us. Thank you for the many (many) hours of entertainment and enlightenment, KG.

Go knock 'em dead.
buckoneil
9/01
My sentiments exactly.

Now I'll go drink some single malt, and pour a drop out for the podcast.
smallmanoncampus
8/31
Congrats Kevin! Hope all is well for you and yours.
NJTomatoes
8/31
Wow! Hard to say define my more dominant emotional response -- dismay at your departure or fascination at the Astro's approach. Thanks for your great insights. BP has some very big shoes to fill!
GregLowder
8/31
God damn. I'm mad and I'm incredibly happy. Congrats KG. You deserve this. You've educated so many of us and there's nothing we can do to thank you enough.
dcarroll
8/31
Congrats and thanks for all of your good work and good cheer over the years. I especially appreciated how you shared your uncertainty about some prospects that were intriguing but might develop in a number of different ways.
jrcolwell
8/31
My heart sank a little to see you were leaving, but go and turn the stros around, happy for ya!
Rockshu
8/31
Holy crap man, congratulations first and foremost. It's really going to suck to lose your content, and the podcast, but what I'll miss most (if I read the above correctly, which was difficult with tears streaming down my face) will be your tweets. You've answered a countless number of my questions about baseball, passed along excellent articles from writers I wasn't aware of (you got me reading Sam Miller, which is pretty awesome), and shared with the world the phenomena that are #weirdbaseball and #weirdneighbors.

I wish you all the luck in the world with your new job, and hope that one day I can catch my dreams as you have.
Peter7899
8/31
Very sad to hear Kevin leaving. I hope it's not too soon to ask, but is Jason going to be taking over the Minor League Updates and Future Shocks? It's 80% of why I pay for my BP subscription.
bornyank1
8/31
We'll have much more on our plans soon, but it's safe to say that the Minor League Updates, Ten Pack (or something similar), and off-season rankings you've become accustomed to aren't going anywhere. Jason will be playing a big role in that.
Yarky1
9/01
Cool. That's my first thought, too. I like a lot of the content here, but to me it's a bonus. The prospect stuff is the heart of it (because my team has sucked for a while--that could change in the future). I like Jason's work, and it's a great complement to what Goldstein does, but it doesn't seem that he'll be as prolific without a loss in quality.

Anyway, good luck on your new endeavor Kevin, if you're reading this. And thanks for the great content over the years.
BaseballFuries
9/01
For me it seems like the prospect stuff is the most balanced of all the coverage across the teams.

Though I understand some major league teams are pretty boring at this point in the year, it's good to see all the teams represented through their kids.
Oleoay
8/31
I generally didn't go out of my way to learn about prospects but I always went out of my way to read your material. A damn good job like you did deserves a damn good job like that in baseball.
nrs5000
8/31
Wow, congratulations. Was the end of the #weindmeighbors some sort of portent?
jfranco77
8/31
Man I'm glad the Astros moved to the AL! Congrats, KG! You'll be missed.
hjw099
8/31
Good luck with those poachers in Houston, you'll be missed.
Oleoay
8/31
That's at least two people from BP that the Astros poached. Mike Fast went there too.
esentman
8/31
Kevin, I credit the podcast as being the most influential thing in making me a smart baseball fan. A year or so ago, my knowledge of the game was SO MUCH smaller than it is now, and a lot of that credit goes to you. It was a thrill to have you come talk to some of us at the University of Chicago this year. The Astros are pretty damn lucky.
akcolonial
8/31
I'll miss the podcast, but if it has to end, this is the way it should go out. Congrats Sarge!
PBSteve
8/31
I am so proud to have collaborated with Kevin over many wonderful years. I learned a great deal from him and still value his counsel. There will be many times in the future I will pick up the phone and ask his advice about something, and I feel for the rest of you who will not have the privilege of doing so and will no longer to be able to read his work. I recently told an audience that Kevin always makes you prove your assumptions, a most valuable quality in a friend and colleague, and I know that is going to be of huge benefit to the Astros--now a team to watch with interest. Many congratulations on finding this new world to conquer, and here's to Otto getting some Texas bbq-flavored chew toys.
mbrown
8/31
Kevin, I've always admired you. Always will. I hope to see you (again) at the Baseball Winter Meetings. First beer is on me.
lunalein
8/31
I subscribed to BP because of your work, Kevin. Thank you, and so much congratulations.

No chance your mom takes over the podcast, huh?
DEbner315
8/31
Thanks, Kevin. Not only for all your contributions here and at ESPN, but for that farewell. Not that I expected anything less, but that was forthright, honest, well-executed, and left me glad that I took the time to read it. Just like all your other work.

I can honestly say that you and Jason have enriched my life through the podcast. Not only by teaching me millions of new things about baseball, want, Mexico and it's food products, et al, but you honestly made me remember what a gift it is to make a living doing what you love. I work on political campaigns, and I love it. But it's a shitty job, especially as someone who identifies as a socialist. I got my first job running the show this year, soon after I started listening to Up and In (sad I won't make it to .9-er status before Monday....only 68 hours of listening away!) and your podcast inspired me, honestly, to not only do what I love but to do it the way I thought it should be done. The right way. I could just as easily be the guy with 80 Want tattooed on my body, as I found it easy to relate to his story.

I see two options here: 1.) You go to the Astros, kick ass, and we never hear from you in this forum again, or 2.) you fail miserably and it inspires all sorts of new stories for the next incarnation of the podcast. Either way through your writing and podcasting you truly have built a community and left a legacy. If this sounds too much like an obituary, I apologize, but congratulations, and while we have never met personally, I can honestly say that I'm proud of you.

See you in another life, brother. The remaining 40 podcasts should keep me sane through election day.
JPinPhilly
8/31
I'm sure this article will have a million comments by the time I check in later tonight so I'll look forward to that. Can't say enough about how much of an inspiration you've been. The internet will never be the same. Best of luck KG. Get 'em Sarge!
nickgieschen
8/31
Can I get a comp for Michael Ynoa?
Oleoay
8/31
If the Astros take Ynoa in the Rule 5 Draft, we'll know who to credit ;)
kasgard
8/31
Congrats KG and best of luck. I am now an Astros watcher
andtinez
8/31
There's some good BBQ waiting for you here in Houston.
rubinr
8/31
Well deserved, Kevin. I'm thrilled for your opportunity, but damn, I'm going to miss you around here and the podcast.

Best of luck to you.
ddriver80
8/31
Congratulations Kevin on the job. I've been lucky enough to have had 2 of my email's read on the podcast along with having the pleasure of reading your work on here, ESPN and on the radio. All the best in the new, well deserved front office position.
dee150586
8/31
Congrats Kevin! Just wanted to say thank you for all the terrific work! Loved every minute of listening to Up and In and will miss it lots. I agree with Peter I hope that the Minor League Updates and Future Shocks do continue, my favorite pieces on the site. Thanks for the laughs Kevin, whether it be on Up on In or your highly entertaining twitter account. Thanks the most for helping to learn more about baseball, want, and how awesome midnight baseball with ice cream can be. Best of Luck in the future.
nolansdad
8/31
Just one question Kevin: What are you drinking?

CONGRATS!
kgoldstein
8/31
Moet.
spsalsbery
8/31
Champagne.
DrSeth
8/31
Congratulations and thank you for the entertainment and for sharing your knowledge with style and class.
3FingerTimm
8/31
You're biased against the Astros.

Thought I'd get that last one in.

Congratulations and I'll miss you. Good luck an I hope you play a role in turning the Astros around.
juniusworth
8/31
Congrats, and thank you for everything you've done.
mazily
8/31
Like everyone who has commented before--and everyone who will comment after--I offer a hearty congratulations, an "I'll miss reading your work at BP," and a "thanks for the many, many, many hours of podcast enjoyment."

Congrats and good luck!
spsalsbery
8/31
Kevin, you've got a lot of people here who are very happy for you. We'll also miss you like hell, of course. Today though, it's just happiness. Holy shit, congratulations.
dianagramr
8/31
Could someone pass me a tissue ... :-(

Thanks KG, for making me a smarter baseball fan/writer.

Have a blast ....

The Scrabble Lady
tmangell
8/31
Best of luck, Kevin!
bb10kbb10k
8/31
oh my god we'll miss you...
andrewtwarog
8/31
Congratulations and best of luck with this opportunity.
timber
8/31
We'll miss you, Kevin. Best of luck in your new endeavor.

(tear slowly slides down cheek)
AndrewBokermann
8/31
It is gonna be hard to fill the void that will be left when I can't read my twitter timeline and listen to Kevin crush people's prospect dreams. You are the reason I am a BP subscriber, congrats on your new venture. want
yadenr
8/31
Resignation not accepted, please report to BP as usual next week.

Happy trails, you should be able to find plenty of Mexican coke down there. You will be missed by us as much as you are welcomed by Houston.
mbaldi
8/31
The podcast made me fall in love with the developmental process. I can't thank you enough for that. Congratulations and good luck.
lyon812
8/31
Very sorry to see you leave--but excited for a well-deserved opportunity. Best of luck.
billyo12
8/31
Congrats KG! Thanks for all the entertaining podcasts and all the knowledge you have given us listeners. Best of luck to you.
jalee121
8/31
Congrats, KG. You will be missed. As a loyal White Sox fan, I will be rooting for the Astros...unless the White Sox are involved.
ImpactBlue
8/31
I am both sad and elated. I like many came to adore you through the podcast which also led me to joining BP. Thanks for all the information being delivered by your dulcet tones. Good luck in Houston!!
RCCook
8/31
Been reading your work since the Baseball America days. Congratulations, and good luck.
mhmosher
8/31
Congratulations, Kevin. I can remember not long too ago offering congrats when you got the job here after the Daily Prospect Report days at BA. Good luck - it seems as if Houston has some better days ahead for sure.
HammerF
8/31
Congrats KG, I thank both your and Jason for the countless hours of podcasting I have cherished the past few years and all the written work you've done. You have been a big influence on the baseball fan I am today. Best of luck and I am looking forward to following the Astros and cheering for them in the upcoming years.
IvanGrushenko
8/31
Congratulations Kevin! It's been awesome reading your columns and I'll miss them. Astros are certainly putting together an impressive front office. (shakes fist)
summerdays
8/31
I echo the sentiments of most here--I'm incredibly psyched and happy to see you take your talents to Houston, but already mourning the hours I won't be listening to the podcast, reading your nonpareil content on BP, and hearing about things both interesting and mundane on your twitter feed. I certainly hope Jason picks up some of the #slack, and that we'll continue to hear a lot from you both, if from different vantage points.

Cheers, Kevin.
mrenick
8/31
As an Astros fan and a lover of KG's work here, I couldn't be more excited. Congrats KG!
eighteen
8/31
If Houston's gain is greater than our loss, look for them in the 2014 World Series.
eighteen
9/01
Who's the doofus who doesn't understand this is a compliment to Goldstein?
JohnRonB
8/31
Congrats KG! Best of luck, we all know you'll do great things for the Astros' organization!
jrfukudome
9/01
I am now an Astros fan.
Behemoth
9/01
Congratulations Kevin. I remember when I started subscribing feeling that people were over-reacting when someone moved on from BP, and now I'm doing the same thing. I'm really going to miss the quality of analysis that you've provided over the years.

As someone who didn't grow up with baseball, it's guys like you who have helped to develop my interest in the game, and shown me the richness of the world of baseball, and that's something that I'll be forever grateful to you for.
GoTribe06
9/01
I always wondered if I was weird, after hours and hours of listening to the podcast, for feeling like you and Jason were good friends of mine. That sounds cliche, but I catch myself in situations thinking, "that reminds me of something Kevin said yesterday," or "I wonder what offensive thing Jason would have to say about this?" How does a grown man form this type of bond with two individuals that he has never met? As I read these comments, I am convinced that I am not alone.

I will forever associate highs and lows in my life over the past few years with events you were willing to share from your own. Your perspective on so many things will be greatly missed. I wish you loads of joy and success!
kmbart
9/01
Congratulations! (Damn). You'll be missed here and you'll be followed in Houston. It's been an honor and a pleasure.
graydear
9/01
Very well deserved. Thanks for teaching me so much about baseball. And best of luck with Houston.
donwinningham
9/01
What does a Pro Scouting Coordinator do, exactly?
sahmed
9/01
The pro scouting department entails coverage of all major and minor league players, including one's own team. They're crucial to the player acquisition process (trades, wavier claims, etc.) for every player who is not an amateur.
dianagramr
9/01
Some wet blanket is minusing the comments.
biteme
9/01
Houston did a very good job of scouting prospective Pro Scouting Coordinators. I considered you the best judge of talent in the public domain. Now that star twinkles and fades away. Wishing you all the best.
jlewando
9/01
Congrats, you deserve it because your work is excellent. It is the reason I've subscribed the past few years. Best of luck, you'll be missed.
ORWahoo
9/01
Congrats. I am happy for you - I wouldn't pass up a chance to work with Jose Altuve either. You and Jason Parks were the initial reason I subscribed and I will miss your writing and podcast. You are leaving BP in good hands - there are plenty of reasons for me to renew my subscription. Have fun in the AL West!
wjmcknight37
9/01
Congrats! Like some others have said, I subscribed to BP originally because of your ranking and writing, and I will miss that tremendously. But to see your dreams coming true is well worth it. Good luck and make the 'Stros great. They just became my favorite AL team.
ssimon
9/01
This is by far the best reason for a BP writer to leave the site.

When Huckabay, Silver, Sheehan, Jazayerli, Karhl and Carroll moved on, I questioned the value of my subscription. But Kevin was the glue between the "old" BP and the "new" BP of Lindbergh, Miller, Wyers, et al. And I honestly couldn't be happier with the current product.

Kevin, you will be missed, but I'm so happy you get to live your dream. Congrats.
Oleoay
9/01
Extremely well said. I'll admit KG was a big factor in keeping me going too and now, in general, things are much better with the "new" BP.
SaberTJ
9/01
Congratulations Kevin. I think it's safe to say that you have now become the most popular MLB front office member on the planet. You went from the go-to prospect guy in the industry, to hosting the podcast that all sports podcast try their best to emulate and fail (good enough that GM's listened to your show), and now to an amazing well deserved position with the Astros. I can only imagine more success will follow you where you go.

I hope my Indians never trade prospects to your squad because I know they will get the short end of the deal with you evaluating their prospects.

Thanks so much for your twitter answers and reading my podcast question way back.



hopjac
9/01
Congrats. It's well deserved and I'm glad you get to live your dream. It's inspiring to others.
jonjacoby
9/01
Kevin congrats on being re-united with Up & IN man-crush Jose Altuve.
ncsuwa4
9/01
Congrats KG. As someone who subscribed to BP again after hearing the podcast I'm glad you got me back into hardcore baseball. Good Luck.
cjmart29
9/01
"I'm glad you got me back into hardcore baseball"

Well said. Ditto.
cjmart29
9/01
Congrats and well deserved. Your pieces and your twitter ramblings are (er, um, were) always one of the highlights of the day. As a Cards fan I can say you are going to an org that now has a plan thanks to Luhnow.

Please tell me Jason Parks is taking over Future Shock. Or doing something similar?

Good Luck!

#Altuve
klord1
9/01
Wow, Huge congratulations to you Kevin, I'm extremely, extremely happy for you. I definitely will miss reading your columns, and I will absolutely miss listening to the podcast, but I'm elated for you, the Astros are extremely lucky to have you and your extreme talents.

You're the reason I subscribed to BP, everyday I would make sure to click your name to see any new articles, but as a BP subscriber I have discovered so many incredible writers who have made me a sharper fan and given me loads of knowledge, so thank you Kevin for leading me here, it's such a great place and I will support it for as long as I love baseball (forever).

Well, again, congrats and best of luck to you. I hope you have a blast, keep on living the dream.

kingteen
9/01
To state the obvious, BP's loss is the Houston Astros' gain. Congrats on the great news, Kevin. It was great working with you on the book last year. Here's to meeting again someday.
Lucasjj
9/01
It really feels like a friend taking a job and moving cross country. It is exciting and sad. Your writings, the podcast, and interactions was much more than just baseball insight. I am happy for what you gained and sad for what we lost.
dstarzec
9/01
Kevin-
Thank you for making prospects fun and interesting. I am a baseball prospectus loyalist in part because of you - You were my favorite follow on twitter so I am excited for you but also saddened not to learn from you and laugh at you. Cheers and Congrats-
SportsDanny1979
timsouders09
9/01
Wow, this is extremely upsetting. I couldn't be happier for you though, Kevin. Good luck, it's been great reading your articles and listening to the podcast these past few years.
tcogle
9/01
Definetly will miss your insight on so many prospects. This is one September callup I didn't want to see. Congrats!
Eusebio
9/01
The future is unwritten, unless, of course, it's written by Kevin Goldstein.
hotstatrat
9/01
Congratulations. I appreciated that you were never complacent with your work - no matter how adored. You kept giving us more than expected of your regular work while always sharpening your analysis, then additionally gave us wonderful bonuses. Thank you.
ttnorm
9/01
Great crew you are getting to work with. Say Hi to Sig for me.
cknapp34
9/01
I now have a 2nd favorite team. If the Cubs can't win it all, then Ill be rooting for the 'Stros so you come away with a ring for all your hard and excellent work over the years.
Asinwreck
9/01
Kevin, it has been a pleasure to follow your writing through Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, and the Up and In podcast is one of the most entertaining podcasts of any genre.

I will miss both your writing and podcasts (and lament who will champion the Electrical Audio bands at BP now that you're gone), but wish you good luck with this new adventure.
crperry13
9/01
This is the most amazing and bittersweet news ever. The baseball junkie in me is going to sorely miss your work here. The Astros fan in me is over the moon.

--Conflicted in Houston
mbruso
9/06
Seconded.
rawagman
9/01
While initially upset that you are leaving not to join a team that I root for, I now understand one of your biggest lessons: It is not a team that we should be rooting for, but a process. Baseball theory is universal and what BP stands for is engendering that process. The process resides in Houston. I want to see it succeed.
leitch71
9/01
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(congrats, sir)
samsdad
9/01
When I first started reading here, I became attached to many writers who subsequently moved on - I thought BP would never be the same. Joe, Christina et al were definitely missed, but KG filled the void and created a different BP for me. And with your departure here, something about this one feels different. I think I really admired the way many of the others wrote, but often felt like I couldn't consume KG content fast enough. Change is always good, but you'll be missed here big time. Enough with the selfishness, all the best - awesome.
Lastblues
9/01
You've forever changed my perception and love of the game. The podcast meant a lot to me and I'll miss it a great deal. Go get em buddy.
roxbombers
9/01
Congrats, the podcast brought me here, and you and the other writers definitely kept me here. The prospects updates were something I looked forward to seeing every day.

At least Luhnow was enough of a fan of the podcast to let it reach 100.
aardvark
9/01
Congrats Kevin. I've always enjoyed your work. I'd say that I wish you success, but as an A's fan and with the Astros moving to the AL west, I can't do that.
jintman
9/01
Congrats on a well deserved chance to live a dream.
Long way from the Prospect report which was my first taste of prospect watching. The podcast will be missed but will now become a legend.
LordD99
9/01
Congrats. The Astros are obviously in a major rebuilding phase, which is the best circumstance. Plenty of opportunity to make a difference. I suspect there were also be plenty of opportunity for ice cream. Good luck.
lipitorkid
9/01
Are you sure you don't want to see if the Dodgers will make an offer first? I heard they pay well. Congrats Kevin. You and your band of merry men are the only thing I pay for on the internet. And it's money well spent.
radarbinder
9/01
Good going! Congrats and welcome to a rather blank canvas, so you will have a chance to demonstrate your knowledge IN THE SHOW!!!
skubrick114
9/01
Upon reading the news I (selfishly) let out a prolonged, "Nooooooooooo." You've been phenomenal and all I can say now is congratulations and thank you! Kudos to the Astros for recognizing and acquiring such a talented individual.

Thanks again, Kevin.
Clemente
9/01
Wow...reading this site for a long time, and enjoyed and enjoy many of the contributors, but Kevin you had the most information and friendly manner of conveying it. Will really miss your thoughts, really appreciate all you did, and wish you the best in the new job. Thank you again.
Nobodyinparticul
9/01
Considering I first became a subscriber to BP as a result of your fantastic Twitter feed which boasts the perfect trifecta of baseball, cooking and snark, I will greatly miss ALL of your content. You have made so much available to the public and even more in an open forum answering our ridiculous fan questions on Twitter.

Thank you and good luck in your ventures.
barabas21
9/01
Congratulations Kevin, you were the reason I originally subscribed to this site and I cannot thank you enough. I will miss your insight and witty banter. I wish you all the luck in the world in your new endeavour.


prhood
9/01
Congratulations Kevin. You've earned this reward. Your work here at BP is the main reason I've continued to subscribe to the site. I'll continue to do so but will miss your contributions. I'm sure that I will get good advice from your replacement whoever that may be but it will take him/her some time to earn my confidence as you have done.

Again, congratulations and best wishes for success in the new job.
KerryHofmeister
9/01
Thank you for your work.
kingwdz
9/01
Congrats Kevin! Now all Joe has to do is coordinate next year's BP event at Oakland for when the Astros come to town so we can all share your wit and wisdom again.
joechris96
9/01
Good idea! We're also planning a BIG event in Houston :)
rreading
9/01
Kevin, the podcast is what me a subscriber. Thank you for all of the great information and you will be missed. Good luck and congrats!
msloftus
9/01
Congrats Kevin!
lesmash
9/01
I am very happy for you, Kevin. And while you thanked a boatload of people for helping you along the way, there is no doubt in my mind that you earned this opportunity.

As the brilliant Branch Rickey said, luck is the residue of design.
Scott44
9/01
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [...] OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [...] OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [...] OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [...] OOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Say it ain't so, Joe(Kevin)!?

Kevin - I've followed you here for a LONG time and I can't be happy for you. Your hard work has paid off and you deserve this. I wish you every success.

Don't forget us little guys. AND now can return as a (semi-regular)'Guest' of the Podcast, instead of host.

Congrats again.
Scott
Scott44
9/01
that should be 'more' happy for you. Yikes.
crperry13
9/01
Thank you for breaking the internet
delatopia
9/01
Agreed. Would people stop doing stupid and unnecessary stuff like NOOOO to the 23rd power that blows this out and makes it unreadable?
Scott44
9/01
Sorry. I didn't realize that it would change for format.
delatopia
9/02
Thank you, BP webmaster, for fixing it.
MattWinks
9/01
Good luck Kevin, it is sad to see you go because the podcast has been such a large part of my life, any way you could just cut the baseball and have you and Jason just talk about life?
lemurranger
9/01
All I ask is a full and unbiased report on whether Texas chili is really all that.
KBarth
9/01
I started reading BP well before KG came on the scene and I really didn't have much want for prospect info.

Kevin's articles and the podcast changed that. Big credit to you, Kevin, for making the information entertaining and helping educate me in the process of turning a kid into a MLB contributor.

I am a dedicated fan of the podcast and I hope BP has plans to provide a long-form replacement rather than rely on the daily short show. (The fantasy focus show doesn't grab me. Your mileage may vary.)

As several folks have stated, you've instantly created a batch of new Astros fans. I'll count myself among them. I have to say, Luhnow seems to be grading out at 60 or 70 so far. I have a brother who lives in Houston, so I have an excuse to come next year's BP event.

Congratulations and please keep us posted on how you're liking your new gig.
delatopia
9/01
Wow. It's like losing a friend to marriage or something, or like someone else said, a great new job across the country. You will be missed more than we can say, but you can't turn this down, so we must say farewell. Good luck with the Astros!
mredden
9/01
Congratulations Kevin.

Can Jason be far behind?
icebaseball16
9/01
Thank you for all that you have done for my prospect knowledge. You deserve this and no doubt you will succeed just as much in your new position as you did your old. Farewell KG.
Cappy73
9/01
Man! Going to miss that "future shock" link in the BP email every day! And the tweets... In the scale of real and important to absolutely effing meaningless, this ranks as AEM but my fantasy baseball world wouldn't be the same without the insight I gained from your analysis. Good luck sir!
Scott44
9/01
Also, are you moving to Texas from Dekalb? If so, does that mean you are trading the fedora for a 10 gallon hat?
brownsugar
9/01
Congratulations Kevin, you will be missed around here. I'll happy and bummed all at the same time, like Red after Andy busted out of Shawshank.
KerryHofmeister
9/01
Perfect.
adamsternum
9/01
A fantastic day, even if it makes us sad. Thank you for everything.
ofMontreal
9/01
Jesus! I had a feeling something was going on. This is wonderful news.

A reason to care about the Astros now. Good luck with that AL West status ;-). We will miss you on BP, as is abundantly clear.
kdierman
9/01
KG - I admire your passion for the game, and appreciation for its' roots. Houston is a vibrant city and Real Estate is very reasonable.

I feel like "someone I know" is now working for the Astros - need to go it and buy a Stros Lid.

If you ever need any help/assistance - let me know :)

Best of Luck, stay yourself cuz its working, and may your system get filled up with players "stuck" because of good players in front of them.

Called Strike 3
MikeLHenderson
9/01
If you felt the earth move shortly after you made this post, I expect it was Theo Epstein in Wrigleyville crying "Damn!" or something as he mourns his missed opportunity to hire you.

Best of luck with the Astros. Should your new job require you to live there, make sure you get the name of a goooood A/C repair outfit as soon as you arrive. The alternative is almost too grim to contemplate.
carligula
9/01
Congratulations Kevin! I hope Otto likes the heat...
rocket8188
9/01
Most bittersweet thing that absoluetly nothing to do with me. I'll miss your prospect talk, your twitter feed, and of course the best podcast on the internet. Good luck KG
lefty50
9/01
Welcome to Houston. As a long-time Astros season ticket holder, I'm hoping you'll be posting insights to the Astros web site. While it's difficult to suffer through the rebuilding process and watch the equivalent of a mediocre triple A team on the field, bringing professional like you and Mike Fast to help Luhnow at least offers a ray of hope.
HGHPositive
9/01
Congratulations Kevin. I never comment on articles but I figured this was a good time to start.

I always enjoyed your articles and looked forward to everything you put out. I'm going to miss your contributions to both BP and ESPN and I wish you the best of luck with the Astros! Up and In is the only baseball podcast I've ever stuck with and it's sad to see it coming to an end.

Best of luck!
kgoldstein
9/01
Hey folks. There's not way I could respond to all the fantastic notes here without developing carpal tunnel syndrome, so I hope a collective thank you will do. The outpouring of support here, on Twitter, and on Facebook has been really touching. I'm really excited about this new challenge, but I'm really going to miss my old life as well.
doshiro
9/01
Congrats KG-

Thanks for everything over the years. I can honestly say that your work has enriched my life and I can not thank you enough for that.

May there be many successful seasons for you in the future and #want will live on in memory of your time at BP.
abbiet
9/01
Very cool
devine
9/01
Congrats, Kevin. Spectacular news.
backbrush
9/01
Thanks and congrats Kevin!

What a joy it has been to listen to the podcast, which convinced my girlfriend to fall in love with the game of baseball. Because of that, and because of the consistent quality of your commentary and bonhomie, you made a measurable positive impact on the quality of my life. Not bad for a prospect writer.

Occasionally I'm embarrassed by how much effort I put into being a baseball fan, vis-a-vis work, spending time w/ my family, etc etc. I comfort myself with the thought that baseball is in many ways a simulacrum for life, that it rewards patience and insight and punishes those that take themselves too seriously, players and analysts alike. That what makes you a good fan makes you a good person. Your podcast, in teaching listeners how to be better fans and reminding them how to be better humans, reinforced this belief/conceit.

Thank you!
strougal
9/01
Congrats, Kevin. You will be missed!
nickgieschen
9/01
I can't decide which makes me more sad, this or Peggy leaving Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
st08stinard
9/01
Congratulations Kevin! You deserve it. Good luck with the Astros.

Like someone else wrote, you are probably 80% of the reason why I subscribe to BP. You have left big shoes for BP to fill.

Thanks for your great work here.

lonechicken
9/02
Congratulations, Kevin. No slight to the others here at BP, but yours were some of the work that definitely kept me coming back all these years.
Stoney18
9/02
I'm going to miss your insight. Good luck and have fun.
sean3258
9/02
Huge congrats! Very well deserved! I'll definitely miss reading your stuff and have a huge void without Up & In but will be following your progress closely, good luck Kevin.
kstik27
9/02
Congrats, amazing work you did here. I subscribed after hearing the podcast and loved every minute of going back and becoming a point niner. Wish I had taken the time to make the 30 minute drive to Beloit the last time you were there to give my appreciation. Best of luck.
philipc65
9/02
The amazing thing is realizing how connected I and so many other feel to you. For someone I've never met, you feel like a friend who's moving away. The mark you made on people is really pretty incredible. You'll still be out there doing great work, only we won't get to share it. Still, your opportunity is so incredible.

I listened to your podcasts when I would run and could always count on getting a few belly laughs in to entertain cars driving past. I never had any intention of listening to episodes that happened before I started listening in the 60 episode range, but today I found myself listening to a new one from over year ago. At least I'll have that for a while.

Thanks for being more than just baseball. And for people living in Houston, someone please put a mattress on the sidewalk so he can feel like he's still at home.
whiffers13
9/02
wow. congratulations kevin!
its hard to just be happy for you as i know i should be, selfishness is a dagger you know? lol. the lack of the podcast creates a huge void for many of us but such is life. you go and have a good one now and good luck with it!
Dodger300
9/02
Gonna miss you around here Kevin, but I'm thrilled for you that you get to live your dream.

Fly so high you touch the sky!
locke623
9/02
Wow KG, you will be greatly missed. You are a no-brainier first ballot BP HOF. Every time I see mike trout go crazy for me in my dynasty league, I'll thank you for helping me get him in time!
andrewjburrows
9/02
Congrats, Kevin!
trueblue33
9/02
Grats Kevin! I'm sure it's a huge thrill, and I'm sure you'll do a standout job with the Astros. I could take a bit of a cheap shot here and say that working in the MLB for the Astros is like being the tallest midget in the circus, but I won't. I only hope that whoever ends up doing the prospect work does half as good a job as you did, at which point I would still be happy.
zwoodill
9/03
Kevin was the reason I got a subscription to BP. Since then, I've discovered so many incredible baseball minds thanks to this site. Congrats to Kevin, and I can't wait to see what BP does next with prospect coverage.
mattcommins
9/03
KG- I originally subscribed to BP because of the podcast, but I will continue to subscribe now that the podcast is over. I've become a smarter baseball person since listening to your podcast and reading your work (as well as everyone else at BP!). I wish you all the best. When I'm not rooting for the A's, I will root for the Astros.
pjbenedict
9/03
You've written my most-looked-forward-to content over the last years. Thank you. I wish you well, and will miss your work terribly. Thanks for what it has revealed about baseball, yourself, and the world behind the scenes of our pastime.
azynkewl
9/03
sad to see you go. good luck with your new job
mrgriffey
9/03
Kevin - congratulations and good luck in your new endeavor! I think I've probably read every word you've written on this site. You've been the Dr. Feelgood for my prospect addiction....maybe now I can enter rehab and possibly gain back a small slice of my life.

But this is about you....you have worked hard and done your job well. Enjoy this new chapter. You deserve it.
cdgarosi
9/03
Congrats KG. You and Jason Parks and Alex Hinshaw were the reasons I subscribed to BP. Hinshaw was on the first podcast I listened to and I was hooked.

Good luck! Things move pretty fast on the outside. And if things work out well maybe the Brooklyn Dodgers will come calling.
RobertK
9/03
Congratulations on the new gig. I always looked forward to your columns at BP.
werdnassiew
9/03
You suck, good riddance......just kidding, fantastic opportunity with a club that has no where to go but up.
jhensley
9/03
Congrats KG, you are the reason i bought a subscription in the first place to this great website. You will be missed but are a great grab for the Astros. Hope its everything you ever wanted, but leave some specs for my Cardinals! Best of luck.
iljabetlem
9/03
That's bad news KG. You corporate tool. I liked your 'public' service!
davezahniser
9/04
As a Reds fan, all I can say is thank goodness the Astros are heading to the AL West. You will truly be missed.
JimmyJack
9/04
From Me: sad to no longer read your articles, sadder I won't hear you & Ferrin on XM radio, saddest that my favorite podcast has come to an end.

For You: congratulations and best of success with Houston!
Ken318
9/04
Not sure I've ever been this emotionally conflicted about a "writer" moving on. I think I am bc you are so much more than that. I feel happy that you get this opportunity, but sad to lose your insight/wit/baseball savvy. I will miss the podcast, MLB network and articles more than I can adequately express. Good luck to you in Houston. Since most of my Phillies prospects are there and they are moving to AL, they will now be my second favorite team. You will be missed.
Schere
9/04
190 comments and not one chastising you for writing "lead" instead of "lede?" This really is the best place on the interwebs. :)

Good luck and thank you for the great columns!
arfdolph
9/04
I guess that sooner or later, every writer for BP will leave for some reason or another. BP is like an umpteen year baseball reasoner and writer with summa cum laude grads. Now Kevin...sad for us, but a dream for him. Congrats and good luck with the Astros.
spaceman
9/04
Sniff....good luck.

Try your best to get the 2013 Astro closer to use 'Kerosene' as their intro music....
amcg01
9/04
I'm a devastated listener. That was the best podcast on the internet.

Good luck Kevin. Hope you blow them away.
montanabowers
9/04
Fantastic opportunity! Make the most of it and don't be a stranger to the site with an occassional guest blog. I'm going to miss your insightful analysis of the "boys of summer."
operatic
9/04
Goodness! Belated congratulations; I've really enjoyed your writing over the years, and look forward to seeing how the Astros fare under your guidance! :)
vansloot
9/04
Congratulations, Kevin. I had always just assumed that you would end up in a front office eventually. If you didn't, I would just have to assume that all front offices are filled with morons. We now know that at least the Astros front office has there shit together. Most importantly, have fun at your new job. You deserve it.
rbcarter
9/04
Congratulations Kevin. Your dulcet tones will be missed. It feels like losing an old friend, after listening to you for hours upon hours, many times saving me from the monotony of the daily grind or helping me get through the hopeless Chicago winters.

Kick ass and keep up the fight in the war on sandals.
brucegilsen
9/05
Best of luck Kevin: I'll miss your writing here!
Camwulf
9/05
I remember stumbling onto the Podcast after listening to the inanities of other shows. The episode was right toward the end of the twenties or the early thirties. I found Kevin and Jason in the cold, darkness of a November night in Minnesota while collecting gasoline water samples from monitoring wells and struggling with marital issues of my own. These two gentlemen spoke to each other and allowed me to listen to their conversation. They weren’t putting on a show – they were two friends that were talking. After listening to these two people that I hadn’t heard of before (not being a BP subscriber or much of a baseball fan), I was left with a yearning and a desire to hear more (the seedling of want perhaps?). The baseball information was amazing. The processes regarding sausage manufacturing were unparalleled. The entertainment was stellar. And the music set the mood for the planned chaos that unfolded with each Episode of the Podcast. Each week I got to know Jason and Kevin or Kevin and Jason more. They became the friends that would speak to me in my head. They made me laugh. They made me cry. They made my days pass happily as I became a point-niner and started on my way into double point-niner-ville. They made me think of a line from a movie… “Come in. Every night you enter me like a criminal. You break into my brain, but you're no ordinary criminal. You put your feet up, you drink your [bottle] of [Mexican Coke], you start to party, you turn up my stereo. Songs I've never heard, but I move anyway. You get me crazy, I say 'Do it.' I don't care just do it. Jam me, jack me, push me anyway. You get me crazy, I say 'Do it.' I don't care just do it.”

It was because of the Podcast that I became more educated in understanding baseball. The Podcast gave me the stereotypical fatherly insight for baseball that should have been acquired from a “normal family”. It was because of the show that I was able to struggle through divorce. I lost my friend. It’s painful. But I had someone to share it with – in fact I had two people, and a third with Mom, to help me through dark and difficult times. Without knowing exactly what I was going through, you were there and suffering with me in your own struggles, experiences, and turmoil. It was because of the Podcast that I became a subscriber to BP.

What you, Kevin, and Jason put on display for the world to listen to was a simple act of humanity. And sharing those few hundreds of hours with me was an amazing gift that I will cherish always.

Thank you.
greensox
9/17
Just saw this.
Awesome Kevin.
You're one of the BP greats!
jnossal
9/24
Welcome to Houston, KG. Glad to have you.
Iodine
8/31
A year ago today, we lost a friend
Rockshu
8/28
Now Jason too :(((
Shadetree42
11/17
Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, wrote in the email: "One thing in specific we are looking for is picking up signs coming out of the dugout. What we are looking for is how much we can see, how we would log things, if we need cameras/binoculars, etc. So go to game, see what you can [or can't] do and report back your findings."