So I've got a lot to say about the Braves, right? I have been thinking, for several years, about making a book, or more aptly put, a yearly Braves annual. This would include a recap of the season, profiles for every player, lots of prospects, a bunch of stats, and a ton of other little stuff, and perhaps some big stuff. I would say that only 30% to 40% of the book would come from the blog, so it would be a lot of original material, and it would be meant as sort of an almanac or guide from season to season.
Other blogs have done this, like Ducksnorts and Royals Authority. Anyway, my question to you is, "would you buy a Talking Chop 2010 Baseball Annual and for how much?" If you wouldn't mind giving your honest answer in the poll, I would appreciate it. I'm fairly certain I'm going to do this, I'd just like to see what the response might be. Feel free to offer any comments or suggestions in the comments section.
0 recs | 47 comments
As long as it's real
Shows good and bad including poor performers and poor mngt. flops not just the good ones. I don’t want a rosy picture if that isn’t the truth.
jimmontg - September 3, 2009
heck yeah...
that would be the most enjoyable thing evah……I would pay the big bucks for that….
sddbaker - September 3, 2009
Gress needs a whole chapter.
TradeAndruw - September 3, 2009
I voted No
But that doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s a good idea or that it would be a great read, but I simply know I wouldn’t buy something like that. I’m cheap?
rhinoskin - September 3, 2009
My opinion as well.
soup du jour - September 3, 2009
How many cheap bastards we got reading this blog, anyway?
gondeee - September 3, 2009
at least 3
Swo12bv - September 3, 2009
4
Yakker - September 3, 2009
Well, my parents claim I’m not a bastard, but I am
cheapthriftyLizziebeth - September 3, 2009
couple ideas
I wouldnt mind paying $10-20 bucks a year to belong to this blog in general if there were some perks that could come about. That TC Annual could be just part of that, perhaps some other benefits.
Another way to go at this w/o making this free and fun blog a paysite, is to offer a “TC Plus” type of membership. That could be where you’d pay for the publications, perhaps some stickers, maybe first choice at Failcouer shirts….. hey, even some free hotdogs at the Ted on TC meet up day….
traphicg - September 3, 2009
I guess you could consider the book the “premium” part of the blog. I’m not really keep on “plus” or “insider” type memberships.
gondeee - September 3, 2009
semantics my friend
call it what you want but throwing in some stickers and maybe even a pin gets those kids wild.
Hey man, i’m just trying to soften the blow of the poll……
traphicg - September 3, 2009
I think paying an annual fee to belong to this blog would cut down on the young kids jumping on here just to make immature comments and post. Then as a perk to your membership give a discount on the book to those that choose to pay to be a part of this Braves blog. I already receive Chop Talk magazine and would consider purchasing the Talking Chop Annual if the price is right!
I’s sure charging a fee to be a part of this blog is out of the question, just a thought……
HEYJUDE - September 3, 2009
That’s a great idea to cut out on the kids that jump on here. But sometimes I enjoy when fans of other times come on here, so that would limit them, too.
Gage23 - September 3, 2009
Hey, we could take their money too…..Good thought!
HEYJUDE - September 3, 2009
Timing
I can’t tell from your description if this would be a 2009 recap/2010 preview released during spring training or if it would be a 2009 recap released in the winter.
I think a recap/preview would do better than a straight recap, even a very detailed well written one.
The Beard - September 3, 2009
It’s really a 2009 annual, but some people tend to think that’s last year’s stuff, so by saying it’s 2010, more people know it’s current. It would be recappish, but also forward looking. It would be released sometime before spring training, in all likelihood.
gondeee - September 3, 2009
Nice idea
I wouldn’t buy it only because money is tight and I wouldn’t have much time to read it. If these were not issues, than I would be all over it…
Andy Braves Fan - September 3, 2009
exactly. The same goes by me, and if i didn’t just buy a Hanson shirt I probably would get it.
GoBravesNY - September 3, 2009
I'd buy it..
…I helped with Geoff’s over at Ducksnorts, proofing stuff. And if you need help I’d be more than willing to lend a hand.
RainDelay - September 3, 2009
It’s not that I am cheap. I just don’t buy sports books. Never have, never will.
If you can add in some science fiction elements to the book, then I’d buy. I need a good plot, well rounded characters and some serious battles. So, it sounds like it could be doable.
Maybe add in some Anime and capture the asian marketing as well. That could be kick ass.
Sparhawk - September 3, 2009
Larry Wayne jumps in his spaceship to go fight the evil lord Failcoeur? IN COLOR!!!
Zeus12888 - September 3, 2009
If it looks good enough for my coffee table
If it is a professional looking job, I mean, it’s got to look as good as Life magazine with high quality pics and some funny quips by some of the Chop House posters. I’d pay around $15 shipping included.
not2wired - September 3, 2009
my thoughts exactly
KoKo the Monkey (T-Bone) - September 3, 2009
I voted "yes" because I like the idea
not 100% sure if I’d buy, though. MBL.com sends me enticing offers just about ever morning.
VivaLosBravos - September 3, 2009
but the ones from MLB.com are usually much more appealing.
VivaLosBravos - September 3, 2009
Gondeee, 15$ is a small price to pay for a book full of your opinions
No homo.
nick9314 - September 3, 2009
i dont know what no homo means
but yeah, i probably wouldnt pay 15 bucks for a book of recaps and opinions.
Scott Coleman - September 3, 2009 via mobile
Without opinions what’s left?
gondeee - September 3, 2009
"No Homo"
Phrase used after one inadvertently says something that sounds gay.
nick9314 - September 3, 2009
No Homo is a mix that means No Man
jimmontg - September 4, 2009
stories, trips to the ballparks in the atlanta organization, interviews, etc.
Scott Coleman - September 3, 2009 via mobile
117 tightwads so far.
I’m pretty much a sucker for anything with a Braves logo on it. Hell, i have to fight off buying the bag of peanuts with the Braves logo every time i go to the grocery store.
Maybe a chapter devoted to words of wisdom (best comments), and maybe some related to some of the many trips to the minor league parks that some of the members take.
10-4 - September 3, 2009
Due to copyright laws I don’t think we’ll have a Braves logo on the cover… or anywhere for that matter.
gondeee - September 3, 2009
That’ll be a lot of photoshopping for any pictures involved.
cbwilk - September 3, 2009
To be perfectly candid
This is the best braves blog I have found, and I love the site Gondee. But I don’t believe there is enough original content to justify a full volume book purchase. There isn’t enough new information or analysis about the big league team opposed to what I could get elsewhere for free.
The place where you create value is on the full organization minor league side, where you and the admin’s have an outstanding knowledge. If the volume contained in depth scouting reports and analysis from every level of the organization, and I mean way farther in depth then I could gleam from boxscores / recaps / interviews, then that is worth paying for to me.
Sid Bream's Moustache - September 3, 2009
does it come with a free failcoeur tshirt? if so, i'm in
StottsEra - September 3, 2009
Different business model
What about doing a 10-20 page recap/preview each month and then offering that up for sale $2 a pop. Also you could do an expanded edition spring training recap/season preview.
Micropayments haven’t yet proven to be a viable subscription model, but I think it’s only a matter of time.
You’ve got to ask yourself what is more likey, 6 months of selling 50 small publications at $2 ea nets you $600. To get that value with your current model, you’d need to sell 40 of the big books. I’d be surprised if you really sold that many, understanding your handicap with the copyright issue.
rhinoskin - September 3, 2009
I think finding a place where you can print a book of any length for only $2 is going to be hard. Maybe he’s got some publication connections I don’t, but to make anything professional you’re talking about two and a half to three dollars just to create it, no profit.
cbwilk - September 3, 2009
Maybe we could make something like this a community project, with Gondee as the editor. I think they did something like this on D-Rays Bay
eaheckman10 - September 3, 2009
Not at all. The content wouldn’t be worth the money at all.
17843 - September 3, 2009
Harsh… Thanks.
gondeee - September 3, 2009
Consider the source.
secondbass - September 3, 2009
If we had a bunch of robot schematics in the book he’d buy it though.
cbwilk - September 4, 2009
laughed out loud at work and got looked at!
secondbass - September 4, 2009
purchase
gondee, I was reading your post on my crackberry and was thinking what I would pay. I came up with 14.95 as an honest answer. I continued scrolling and saw you wanted feedback on a 15 dollar price. I think that is right on. Sign me up, I look forward to reading it and providing feedback.
CabreraluvsBelinda - September 3, 2009 via mobile
Newberg's Minor League Report
No.
But if you could write as well as Jamey Newberg …, yes.
Drom John - September 4, 2009
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