The Winter Meetings are the baseball industry’s opportunity not simply to meet and make a few changes, it’s also the place where a lot of the game’s affiliated institutions make moves of their own. That took a different form this morning, as representatives of Baseball Prospectus were informed that the organization’s application to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America had been approved, making the two columnists that BP applied for, Will Carroll and Christina Kahrl, members of the BBWAA.
Since 1996, Baseball Prospectus has been providing coverage of baseball in print and online. In the intervening years, BP has expanded to cover the game in ever-greater detail, giving greater attention to scouting and player injuries in a lineup studded with writing talent and the best predictive statistical modeling in the industry. These are the elements that sustain our commitment to daily coverage online, seven days a week February through October, and six days a week November through January. BP is also a company that has had 16 different books published, some bestsellers, including the annual guide that is indispensable to the fans, media, and industry insiders alike. From initially modest beginnings, it has become an organization with a core group of columnists aided by a dedicated technical support team. These commitments, online and in print, have helped make Baseball Prospectus a standby in all aspects of the baseball industry, a reliable regular feature referred to by people inside front offices as well as journalists in print, television, and radio.
For all that we’ve achieved, however, we know that there is even more that we’re capable of in our drive to deliver the best baseball content, and this new challenge is as much a responsibility as an honor. We anticipate that this new level of access will provide BP and its readers with critical additional insight as we provide coverage to all of you that lets us tell the whole story with the fullness it deserves, illustrated by the action on the diamond.
In noting this development, BBWAA president David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution greeted the news with the observation that, “This is an important step forward for the BBWAA, and I’m pleased to have been part of the decision to welcome Baseball Prospectus writers into the organization.”
He went on to observe that in adding our organization to the list of those accredited, “Frankly, there was no good reason not to. Baseball Prospectus is a respected organization with dedicated, full-time baseball writers who cover our sport thoroughly and professionally. They do a great job and provide content that’s influenced our industry.”
The BBWAA’s capacity for change in a changing media environment was reflected in O’Brien’s noting, “Hey, we all know this business is evolving rapidly. BBWAA recognizes that, and I think we showed today that we are open-minded and responsive.”
This is obviously a great day for Baseball Prospectus as an organization, and a reason for personal reflection and excitement alike. This development provides us with a major obligation to not simply enjoy the benefits of our inclusion, not simply to reflect that Baseball Prospectus was and is worthy of inclusion, but that its ongoing coverage of the game will become that much better. From its inception, Baseball Prospectus has aspired to and achieved the highest levels of quality and coverage, but the task at hand is to take it up yet another notch in our desire to deliver information, insight, and analysis as nobody else can.
Congrats! And to think you got in without ever having to spend decades of your life sticking microphones in the faces of surly naked men. For your job, anyhow
Congratulations! Hard to believe that those r.s.b posters I became addicted to 14-ish years ago (eep!) would evolve into a BBWAA-accredited organization. Great news.
To everyone at BP, including those from the early years who have since moved on -- congratulations on breaking through the "glass ceiling" at the BBWAA. You've done yourselves, and those who will follow you, a great service through your years of hard work and continuous innovation...
Let me add my voice to those offering congratulations. Like nmhesketh, I'm curious as to whether any other Net-based publishers have representation in BBWAA. Also, you have so many excellent writers and commentators, why just two?
Congratulations! A Machiavellian moment- "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer"? Seriously, I see this as a start in BP's own "long march through the institutions. Again, congratulations. Query: Why not Jay, why not Nate? etc erc
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I personally always enjoyed the notion that this site was an independent voice. BP has earned my readership (and my money) over the past 10 years on its own merit and didn't need the BBWAA's validation IMHO.
That said, as long as the columns maintain the typical high standard and the commitment to the site stays intact, count me a happy customer.
That is so awesome! I've been reading you guys since '98 - my sophomore year of college, when I first encountered a Rob Neyer link to your stuff - and am just so happy for you guys to get the official recognition you've so long deserved.
Hopefully future years will see Joe Sheehan, Steven Goldman and other members of the BP Staff get the recognition they deserve.
First, let me say thank you. In large part, this is a validation of you, the readers, who have shown that there's an appetite for this type of content.
Second, let me say thank you to everyone who helped with this process, especially the BBWAA board and the members who supported us through this, like John Perrotto.
Finally, I'll say that I wouldn't expect anything to change because of this. If anything, we'll get better due to additional access. CK and I will be asking questions, attending games, and continuing the growth of BP from niche to slightly larger niche.
As I was walking through the hallways of the Bellagio, I ran into Peter Gammons. He smiled and said "welcome to the club." Yeah, it's been a good day.
Firstly, to echo the general sentiment, congratulations and well deserved. Secondly, this site in my opinion represents the best marriage of analysis and entertaining writing of any publication in print or online. It is relatively easy to be excellent at one or the other but to be excellent at both for as long and as consistently as the BP team has is a truly unique and special accomplishment. Since my first visit and for the eight years hence, your writing has been a must read and made me a fan of the game again. Thank you.
So... here's a radical idea. Why not base your HOF votes on JAWS, your MVP votes on WARP and Manager of the Year awards on the Internet Awards you do...
Congratulations to Will & Christina. I look forward to seeing what improvements your membership will bring to the articles and blogs.
But I fear that your membership is one of the 7 signs of the baseball apocalypse..lol
Gang, let me merely tack on my similar sentiments to what what Will has already said--what makes Baseball Prospectus possible isn't merely all of us, what make BP every bit as much is all of you. You all have my gratitude and my thanks--and now, to the serious business of making sure that we deliver on this remarkable opportunity.
Terrific news. From a reader of 10 years, congratulations on a well-deserved honor. I'm actually not sure BBWAA doesn't gain more by this than does BP, but that's probably been true of most instances in which some hidebound baseball institution suddenly decides to join the current century. Good for them, good for you, good for all of us.
But what does it really mean? Aside from the fact that you're now recognized (and no longer pointedly excluded) as "baseball writers", what other benefits/access does this give you? Is there anything that we, as readers, will be seeing from you now that we couldn't see when you weren't in the BBWAA?
Great news. Congrats to you and congrats to the BBWAA for improving the accuracy of their future votes ever so slightly by having members of Baseball Prospectus as part of their group.
Anyone think the breaking point was PECOTA's love for the Rays in the preseason and subsequent validation for that love?
I seriously doubt that had anything to do with it. The process of admitting blogs (and blog authors) to the BBWAA began a year ago. An BP was a logical addition to the club based on the growing breadth and depth of its coverage of all things baseball, increasing doing more "reporting" while maintaining analysis at its core. (But of course we're all happy Nate went "out on a limb" with the Rays prediction -- and moreoer that he was right.)
Let's not forget Keith Law. BP alumnus Keith Law was also granted entrance into the BBWAA. I loved his column here (The Imbalance Sheet). I only wish Doug Pappas were still here to be allowed in alongside him.
The main benefit for us is access. Over the years, it's been tough for us to get credentialed. Both MLB (and teams) and the BBWAA didn't recognize internet only operations. So, for me, the only thing that changes is I'll be going to more games and hopefully that will add a dimension to my writing.
Of far greater import is MSM reporters' increased access and exposure to you, CK, and BP. God knows they and their readers need it.
I wonder to what degree BBWAA's increased emphasis on admitting Internet-based writers is an acknowledgment that newspaper-based "reporting" will be extinct in 10 years.
Will, does "being credentialed" mean you have a better chance of being admitted to the press box? I know they give priority to the daily working press, but I suppose it matters to you as well if you're requesting press box access.
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Congratulations! Well deserved and a proud day for BP readers as well.