If the big “We’re #4” sign on the left side of the home page yesterday wasn’t a big enough hint, Baseball Prospectus 2011 officially went on sale yesterday. To borrow from the Who, it’s meaty, beaty, big and bouncy, and while I’m not sure what that means, I’m certain it’s a good thing, even if you’re a vegetarian. On behalf of all of us, I want to express our thanks for picking up the book and pushing us to such an exalted place on the list, where even the ghost of Stieg Larsson had to look up at us. As for those that haven’t yet put in for your copy, we look forward to signing yours in person, and we admire your willpower in not claiming one, Veruca Salt style, now! Now! Now!!!
Wanted a download instead of paper? Here's your chance.
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.
We're a little over a week away from our official Amazon ship date, but I'm holding a bona fide copy of Baseball Prospectus 2011 which was overnighted from our publisher (Wiley). The express purpose of this express shipment is that I'm going to be making a television appearance this weekend. I’ll be a guest on the Fox Sports Extra show — that’s channel 5 and 705 (WNYW) here in New York City, at least on Time Warner Cable — on Sunday night at 10:30 PM Eastern, talking about the Yankees and Mets with host Duke Castiglione. This will be the third time I’ve been the guest on Duke's show, and while my appearances have been brief, it’s an honor to get any kind of air time in a major market, not to mention a whole lot of fun. It's also great exposure for our annual book, which will be making its way to you shortly.
We’re starting to get dates together for our latest series of public outings, those days when we get sprung from mom’s basement and unleashed on an unready world. Here is what we have confirmed so far:
Where in the World is Carmen, NJ and other book news.
Baseball Prospectus 2011 is close to hitting the street. It ships from our publisher's warehouse on Valentine's Day (BP is for lovers) and will start reaching shelves and Amazon and B&N pre-order recipients shortly after that. Despite an official street date of February 22, it should be around well before then.
Announcing the 16th edition of our annual preseason guide.
I don't want to detract from anyone's faith in Santa Claus, but I know of one item that is not manufactured by elves. The Baseball Prospectus annual is elf-free, and I know that for a fact because I'm the guy who gets to watch it being built, stat by stat, metaphor by metaphor, and page by page. Then again, Kevin Goldstein might be an elf. I mean, he says he's not, but what proof has he really offered? As for Marc Normandin, I have a hard time believing he's not an elf myself--he's always hanging out in a tree, offering cookies to passersby.
Surprise Me!