Happy Blogiversary to WTHB!!

Today marks the 8th anniversary of What the Heck, Bobby?, so let's do WTHB by the numbers ...

1,676,061: All time page views

82,000: Approximate miles traveled by the end of this season to visit MiLB ballparks (not including many side trips)

21,668: Baseball photos posted on Flickr

6732: All time blog posts (not including posts for other sites)

300: Interviews (as of the end of this week, with more coming soon)

232: Interviewees (some interviewed more than once)

209: Players interviewed (two additional interviews posting this week)

136: Minor league games attended as credentialed media (plus a few rain outs)

58: Interviewed players who have made their MLB debuts as players

52: Trips to see Astros minor league players play (not including side trips to see former Astros playing)

16: Minor league ballparks attended to see Astros minor leaguers

12: States traveled to see Astros minor league players play (not including side trips to another 18 states)

8: Front office types interviewed (GM, President, Player Development and more)

8: Minor league coaches and managers interviewed (plus many, many more furnishing quick player quotes)

2: MLB Managers interviewed

2: Interviewed coaches who have made their MLB debuts as coaches

2: Spring trainings attended as credentialed media

1: Arizona Fall League attended as credentialed media

1: Player interviewed who made his MLB debut as a bullpen catcher

1 each interviewed: MiLB local beat writer, national prospect writer, MiLB broadcaster, MiLB clubhouse manager and one player girlfriend (and now wife)

1: Best recap writer in the biz (Dustin Nguyen)

1: Life very much enriched

At the beginning of this journey, I knew nothing about minor league baseball, I wasn't a very good photographer and I was often anxious in new situations and surroundings. Eight years in, I have talked to hundreds of players, coaches and sundry others, and I've learned a lot about the workings of minor league baseball, a little about being a better photographer and one thing above all ... people who love baseball love to talk about baseball. And walking into a new minor league ballpark no longer causes me any anxiety because it always feels like I'm coming home.