At the end of the award voting, I decided that since the Baseball Bloggers Alliance had come along so quickly, it might be nice to get an idea of who was actually in the group. To that end, I’m working through the roster and asking ten questions of each member. The first five are standard, while the last five are a little more personalized. Hopefully this will help us get a feel for our fellow members. So, here’s entry ten in a recurring series.
Michael Jong
Website: Marlin Maniac
BBA #16
Personal info:
Age: About to turn 23 years old
Status: Not married, but taken. Sorry lady Marlins fans.
Job: Kaplan teacher, aspiring med school student, and Marlins fan and blogger extraordinaire
Question 1: How and why did you get into blogging?
I got into blogging a few months back, so I’m still relatively new to the game. I had just gotten into reading about sabermetrics and learning the nuances of statistical analysis of baseball, and I wanted to input a voice of that nature into the Florida Marlins discussion, something I had felt was lacking in the community. I decided to start up my own little nook on Blogger, but soon found it difficult to drum up traffic. Luckily, the good people at FanSided picked me up and thought I was good enough to write for them. I’ve been happy with my Marlin Maniac site since.
Question 2: Do you have any blogging projects planned for the off-season?
I’ve got two little projects up for the offseason. One is something I’ve had brewing since I started, which is Revisiting ’03: A View of the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins through Sabermetric Lenses. It is as it is described: each week, I’ve discussed an aspect of the 2003 team with my new knowledge of sabermetrics to see if the perceptions I had as a young fan back then match the statistical realities I can see with hindsight and analysis. Another series is the Saber-Terms series, which is aimed at helping define some of the stats and concepts I often talk about for readers who may not be versed in it. I try to use Marlins examples to keep it relevant.
Question 3: What’s been your most enjoyable experience as a blogger (particularly well-received post, a high-profile link, a connection you wouldn’t have had otherwise, etc.)?
My most enjoyable experience is receiving responses and interacting with the community. I like to find like-minded fans who have probably gotten into both the Marlins and the stats scene and are happy to have found a place where both can be discussed. In talking with the regular readers that I have, I have enjoyed listening to their opinions, founded on good objective analysis and typical (and excellent) fan passion, and conversing with them using those same two tools.
Question 4: How did you find out about the BBA and what attracted you to the group?
Daniel Shoptaw contacted and directed me to the BBA through my email. I found the idea of the group excellent, because I was having a hard time finding people to talk to regarding other teams if I needed them for interviews or a series. I also loved the idea of the end-of-year awards voting and thought it would be a great way to drum up traffic and attention as a unit. Since joining, I’ve met quite a few excellent bloggers and have been in contact with a couple of them, and this has been one of the best parts of joining.
Question 5: What do you want to see out of the BBA in the coming year?
I’d love to see our organization grow and include more team blogs and more interested bloggers. I’d also like for the end-of-year votes to be more than just footnotes of “some random group of guys in their mother’s collective basements,” but rather as a legitimate voice on these topics, like the Internet Writers Awards have become. I’d also like to see the organization get into more voting things. For example, I think the All-Star Game is an excellent thing to vote on, and something we should incorporate for next season.
Question 6: You got some grief over your BBA Rookie of the Year ballot. What was that like?
It was crazy and a little frustrating sometimes. I would not have thought one person’s opinion would garner that much negativity on something like sports, but I guess it can happen when there is nothing else to focus on baseball-wise but the awards. I did get to speak with my favorite Marlins beat writer, Juan C. Rodriguez, with regards to the matter, and it was cool to get my name and site cited in the newspaper. I feel all official. Overall, I think it was a good experience, and it made me work extra hard to explain and justify my voting. In addition, anything that gets the BBA and my site some recognition while being legitimately thought out is a good thing.
Question 7: Is there anything that will boost attendance on a permanent basis for the Marlins?
I think the market may just be difficult to establish. Wayne Huizenga really broke the fan’s trust in 1998, and since then I think both sides do not want to get hurt by stretching their commitment. However, the new stadium should help a little bit in terms of the logistics of going to the ballpark, i.e. no more rainouts, air conditioning for hot days and nights in the summer. Whether or not it’s enough to bring people in, especially since it comes on the back of public funding, remains to be seen.
Question 8: What’s the story on the new stadium?
The construction of the new stadium is already underway. The hurdles that had stood in its way have been mostly cleared, particularly the lawsuit local car dealership owner Richard Brahman. The scheduled opening of 2012 should be hit. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether the guarantee of the new stadium will open up the wallets of the team owner.
Question 9: What is your personal highlight from being a Marlins fan?
The biggest why I’ll always remember the 2003 season is that it was a dream for me as a Marlins fan. I had grown accustomed to the “rebuilding” stage that the team seemed to be on perpetually. What I had not notcied is that the team had been getting better and better as the “rebuilding” continued. It all culminated in 2003, in what was one of the most magical runs I had ever been a part of. The team was ten games under .500 before Jack McKeon took over as manager, and from that time the club went 71-43 to finish the year, dominating September on the way to the playoffs. I remember staying up nights to watch the World Series games agains the New York Yankees, thinking the team would play the role of David vs. the the Yankees Goliath if they somehow won. Watching Josh Beckett dominate the Yanks at Yankee Stadium for the entirety of Game 6 on short rest was exhilarating. It remains one of the happiest moments of my life.
Question 10: What’s it like going to a Marlins game?
Marlins games are cool, but the atmosphere there just is not the same as in the major city stadiums because the lack of attendance really kills the vibe. Fans are still excited and rowdy, but not as much as you’d like. It’s also hot, so that’s always uncomfortable. Still, when the game’s on the line, the fans there, limited as they may be in quantity, still can bring the noise and get the place riled up.
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