The Simmons Site

Lots of stuff I've read before, mildly interesting until I lost interest, ditto.

 

I predict that this thread will be a more engaging read than Grantland.

 

Ooh, Bill cursed in his column. It's now a whole new world.

 

Well Jones' was about 3,200 words and Klosterman's 3,700 but I get the point of the supposed insult and despair. 5,000-word-writing sons-of-bitches.

That said, yeah, they had a purpose. Jones will be covering the East. He's pretty recognized now as a nonfiction guy so it makes sense to have the intro story be him looking back at his own personal history with covering baseball, a sport he's not really associated with in most people's minds. It sets the stage going forward.

And Klosterman's...not sure how that story can be passed off as him trying to make himself look cool. Sorry, fucking cool. I mean I realize North Dakota juco ball is the height of hipsterdom - *everyone* in Brooklyn walks around with North Dakota State College of Science T-shirts and trucker hats - but still. It's a pretty fascinating story and is about a game that has pretty much never been written about, and certainly not written about in the last 23 years. I don't know, that seems like the type of story that's worth telling.

Cool to see a couple of former co-workers get additional reporting credit on the Klosterman one. Two Forum guys, Kolpack and Eric.

 

True, admitted Klosterman fanboi, double ditto -- and the only piece I thought was trying to be cool (and failing).

 

Much better than the preview pieces, but I'm still underwhelmed. I think I may be (unfairly) using Byliner and the Krakauer work as the archetype of how a site like this should put its best foot forward.

 

I just finished the Jones piece. I thought it was fantastic. I am glad that Grantland has assigned him to cover the AL East. I really like his irreverent approach. I thought that the best part of story was what went untold. I sure would like to know what question that he asked Terry Francona to get him to blow his top. I have met Francona and he always seems so congenial. Must have been a hell of a question.

Great work Jones. I can't wait to read your next column on the AL East.

 

Almost everything on Web sites/the internet is bastardized, and includes nods to "pop culture"...i.e: things in which the generation that uses the internet and social media the most, and most comfortably, would be interested.

That's not meant as a negative comment. It's just the way it is. The best way to drive traffic, for those who use these media most constantly, is with name recognition, easy reading, and..."pop culture."

 

I dunno, Boom. Based on the year plus I covered Francona, I'd think a question that made him lose his temper was probably a stupid one.

 

Perhaps instead of using "Grantland" , they should have called the site "Simmons"

 

My guess is that he asked if Lester pitch was intentional.

 

Seems if you're going to use ESPN as the gateway to draw readership from that demographic, you'd be smart to introduce the site with pieces that would actual appeal to that demographic.
To that end, the Jones piece was perfect; a great read, loved the Canseco anecdote, sorry to not see the legendary Fregosi tale.

Nothing else really grabbed me, but let's be fair, it's the first day.