No, it's not my birthday personally. That was back in May. Remember I share a birthday with Jeff Bagwell which is pretty awesome for a lifelong Astros fan. Rather it's What the Heck, Bobby?'s first birthday. My baby is one year old today. And what a year.
In that year, I have put up 1,631 posts (with recent help from Buca, of course). I have interviewed almost three dozen players now, some in person and some via email. I have met and talked to GM Jeff Luhnow several times now. I scored an interview with Scouting Director (and naming inspiration) Bobby Heck and Player Development Coordinator Allen Rowin. I have traveled to three Astros minor league ballparks and will make it four in less than two weeks as I travel to Greeneville.
And I have made some wonderful new friends ... the aforementioned Buca, fellow female blogger Terri, and the ever passionate Andy foremost among them ... but there are so many more people that I now can call "friend" because of this last year's crazy ride.
I have also learned much, not just about baseball and the farm system and minor league prospects, but also about myself. I have learned that I am capable of so much more than I had ever imagined. I have learned that I can get by on very little sleep. I've learned that I can connect with people via the written word. I've learned that I'm a sucker for lefties and for underdogs (well, technically I already knew the latter).
I have also learned that baseball people ... players, staff, coaches, fans, front office, ushers, waitstaff, media people ... are the most generous people in the world, generous with their time, their knowledge and their friendship.
And finally I have learned that baseball players just want to be (and deserve to be) treated with respect. They crave acknowledgement of their successes and patience with their failures. The minor league road is a very tough one, literally and figuratively.
I started this blog because I was desperate for information on the Astros minor league system. As I started to dig and find things, I thought I would share any knowledge that I picked up along the way. Little did I imagine where things would stand a year later. I can't wait to see what the next year will bring.
Thank you.
Jayne
Happy Birthday, WTHB! I thank you for helping me look beyond the Majors and AAA ball - without this blog I'd rarely, if ever, peek inside this world. And I thank you for three-margarita-lunches. ;D
ReplyDeleteHappy birthdate and a job well done!
ReplyDeleteExcellent job! I too am always on the hunt for minor league info and your blog is primarily what I use. Appreciate the interviews with the players. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteJayne, while I understand that players want and deserve to be treated with respect it's also a two-way road. While many players are indeed humble (I.e. Locke (who I consider a friend), Goebbert and Wates to name a few). It only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for those fans who appreciate these guys.
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