Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
I'll say, when I made the order (compelled by the Lulu upselling system to order two copies, mind you), I rationalized it as support for the site, and basically figured that the book itself would be a little old-newsy. (And since I hardly have time to keep up on the site itself these days, I wasn't bursting with need to get more Dodger to read.) But now I realize I was seriously mistaken. It's wonderful having this collection of Jon's great pieces to flip back through. It's great reading in its own right, and also for folks who've dottered on the site for some time, has a very joyful familiarity. Sure, the stuff's there on archives, but it's just not the same as wandering through the book and running across an old friend that you probably wouldn't have even remembered was in there.
(To be clear, I think this would be a great gift for a baseball fan, a Dodger fan, or a writing fan, even if s/he hadn't spent time on the site.)
- Dodger Thoughts reader Sam DC
Depending what block you live on, you can still be the first on your block to buy The Best of Dodger Thoughts. The book was also recently given a nice plug by Tom Hoffarth of the Daily News:
A Web site that you can actually read during a bathroom break? Jon Weisman, who since 2002 has been churning out his "Dodger Thoughts" blog about the local baseball team, has produced a 325-page book version called "The Best of Dodger Thoughts," with a forward from former play-by-play man Ross Porter. The $25 manuscript, which serves as a history of the team during a very roller-coaster ride in the franchise's existence, can be purchased at - where else - www.dodgerthoughts.com.
Let me reiterate that the book is not a simple printout of the Dodger Thoughts archives. It offers added value and enjoyment - with chapters organized thematically, introductory insights, and a special section capturing some of the best reader comments. Sections include:
As Dodger Thoughts reader Molokai recently wrote:
For the price of
2 movie tickets and one large popcorn and drink
2 Dodger tickets in the pavilion and 2 hot dogs
1 loge ticket and one hot dog
1 field ticket
1/4 of a Laker ticket in the lower level
1/2 of a Clipper ticket in the lower level
one round of drinks for your friends
you can support the man who writes DT for free and gives you hours of pleasure and pain.
Preview the book by clicking here to open this PDF file, offering a snippet of the Vin Scully chapter.
Say buy buy to 2005 with a purchase of The Best of Dodger Thoughts. It's the perfect book for your bedside nightstand or milk crate. And sure to be a collectors' item, your baseball bookshelf isn't complete without it.
Support Dodger Thoughts and enjoy Dodger Thoughts.
Buy The Best of Dodger Thoughts today!
The Sportswriter is a fine piece of writing, but kind of a downer for an aimless middle-ager at the holidays. Best of Dodger Thoughts, on the other hand, also fine writing but w/o the downer part.
Stan from Tacoma
I'll second Sam's comments from the main post. Its much more enjoyable to read than I might have expected. Hard to put down.
(when the dodgers win the World Series I hope to see another book out of you Jon.)
I second Stan's comment about Eric. Not to take anything away from Jon's excellent writing but that comment was priceless.
6
My wife is oblivious to why I could possibly want another baseball book just as I'm ignorant of why she could possibly want another pair of earings. Luckily for us I can buy the book myself and she can buy herself more earings.
Hey guys, I ordered mine from Lulu on the 20th and haven't seen it yet. Is that longer than usual or just a holidays thing?
Happy New Year everyone. Go Dodgers!
I also found Eric Enders girlfriend analogy eqaully enjoyable again. I have done quite a bit of ambling around the archives already, but this makes it more like reading a book-- comfortable and adventurous at the same time!
One thing about books like this, is that the tables and any weird statistical graphs or graphics just look better in print.
Thanks again! I will do my best to support DT whenever I can.
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