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FESSING UP

[August 1st] -- I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it's been the past few months being away from my blog. From that very first post in December of 2004, I had never gone more than a few days without blogging. Writing about the Nationals has been very cathartic for a guy who hasn't lived in D.C. since the Reagan administration. The Beltway Boys help me return to the place of my youth, a place I both loved and respected. Although I needed the time to regain my health, I nonetheless missed being part of the action.
dd
I stopped blogging for two reasons. First I was ill, something I have been very open and honest about. Secondly, I got my feelings hurt, something I've never mentioned. The former is a good reason to take time off, the latter a very bad one.
dd
I was excited when I heard that the Washington Times was going to add a blog roll to their baseball home page; I thought it would bring more readership to my site. I was just as excited when I heard that the Post was going to write a story about the Nationals' blog-o-sphere. I had been interviewed a year earlier by Sports Illustrated, and I looked forward to being part of the Post's upcoming story.
dd
Then reality set in. I was nowhere to be found on the blogroll and the Post didn't see fit to even mention The Beltway Boys, little alone interview me. So, like a little boy who didn't get his way, I picked up my marbles and went home. It wasn't like I was some dumb geek expecting to get asked out by the prettiest girl in high school. I was a bonafide blog. I have interviewed several minor league general managers and was able to get Bill Ladson to agree to an interview as well. And until I stopped blogging on a regular basis, striketwo.net listed me for quite some time as the top Nationals blog and was in the top 10 of all baseball blogs for several months. The Beltway Boys was part of the bedrock of the Nationals' blog-o-sphere, averaging more than a post a day over the past two years.
dd
And yet, to the Post and Times at least, I was a nobody.
dd
I have no idea why I was left out of the party. And it hurt.
dd
That said, I'm much better now. I'm not planning on dying anytime soon, and I'm not going to worry about the Post or the Times. Perhaps they decided that a Nationals' blog based in Idaho didn't warrant their attention. Maybe it was another reason. Either way, it doesn't matter any more. I'm going to return to what I love.
DD
Acknowledging one's own stupidity isn't particularly fun. It is, however, necessary for moving on.
dd
Let's move on. Let's talk baseball tomorow.
dd
Did I ever mention that Walter Johnson, who is about to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his first major league game, pitched here in Idaho before getting his call-up? Idaho is also the home of another great Senatory, Harmon Killebrew.
dd
See? There is a worthwhile baseball connection between D.C. and Idaho.
dd
Are you listening, Post and Times?

Comments:
Glad to see you're doing better physically.

I'm sure a little time away probably gave you some perspective about the hurt feelings. First, it's probable the Times simply missed your blog (there are a lot of them out there, and I doubt anyone there is really assigned with keeping tabs), and the publication meant no offense. I don't know how these things work, but I suspect they would have gladly added you to the blogroll if you had requested. I don't check that page very often, but it looks like there have been some additions to the list.

With respect to the Post story, lots of blogs weren't mentioned and lots of bloggers weren't interviewed. Federal Baseball wasn't mentioned, and Svrluga never interviewed me. That's just the way it goes, and it's no real slight. He never even hinted the article was meant to be comprehensive. Svrluga is writing for a broader audience, and he made a wise move to frame the story the way he did. It was much more readable than giving a laundry list of blogs and asking guys like me about the latest in statsy goodness.

When it comes down to it, we're fans who like to write. That's a great thing. But it's a dangerous thing is the activity becomes too all-encompassing in any direction. I'm in the process of giving up my blog; I just can't do it anymore. Things come, and things go. Circle of life.
 
This was my favorite blog for the past year before you went away. You always seemed to have the first opinion whenever news broke. I valued that a lot.

Washington Times sucks anyway. It's a terrible paper.
 
Dear Farid,

I am really glad that you're enjoying better health and have returned to blogging. I certainly missed your commentary, and I'm sure that other of your regular readers did, as well.

I admire your candor in expressing how you dealt with having your feelings hurt. I'm sure that it was not an easy thing to admit so publicly.

I disagree with "king" about the quality of The Washington Times, as it's my favorite newspaper, but I certainly share the feelings that he expressed about The Beltway Boys having been his favorite blog prior to your prolonged absence. I'm definitely looking forward to more of what you have to say from now on.
 
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