Looking For Your Feedback
Back at the end of April, the platform for this blog was converted from Movable Type to WordPress. One of the features that WordPress provides is the ability to track “viewer-ship” (for lack of a better word) of WasWatching.com.
Using May 2008 as a baseline – since that’s the first full month of data that I have via WordPress, this is how our “viewer-ship” here has been trending:
May 2008 100%
June 2008 95%
July 2008 114%
August 2008 106%
September 2008* 85%
* For September, I took the numbers through 9/23 and prorated them across 30 days to come up with an estimate.
So, for May, June, July, and August…we were trending pretty steady…in terms of people reading this blog. But, September appears to be dropping off from that rate.
That leads to this post. Is the drop in September the result of the Yankees dropping out of the race? Or, is it the result of football season starting? Or, is it the result of something here that you no longer like? Or, is it something else? Or, is it some combination of all these things? Any feeback that you can provide would be appreciated – after all, I want this blog to be something that you enjoy reading. Feel free to leave your comments on this below. And, thanks in advance!
Is the drop in September the result of the Yankees dropping out of the race?
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I think so; have you seen the game threads @ Bronx Banter? Sometimes they’ll be lucky to break 100.
I wouldn’t read too much into it, Steve. The Yankees have had a disappointing season, and the start of the football season gives people a chance to focus on a new team to follow. Football generally outdraws baseball in the U.S., anyway.
I haven’t been on the site for a little while, but the only thing I noticed over the last few days (small sample pool) is that you seem to be giving more play to the tabloid journalists and a little less focus on statistical analysis. It may in part be that the “semi-serious” to serious baseball fan, the one who takes the time to find and read a baseball blog, generally finds these journalists’ views to be uninformed and at times part of some broader agenda. I noticed that you are not receiving many comments on these posts. I don’t think that would decrease viewership, though, and this time of the year is the time when the tabloid journalists’ sources and stories actually become interesting, as the team negotiates a new contract with its GM (or starts looking for a new GM) and begins considering addressing offseason needs through FA signings and trades. This time of year, it doesn’t matter if Kevin Kiernan couldn’t tell you the difference between third order wins and run differential; he might have a source with good insight into Cash’s negotiations.
I read every day no matter what but I noticed less comments as the Yankees started to drop out of the race.
The content has changed a little the past two weeks but that was more because there wasn’t much to dig into with the Yankees fate already sealed. Nothing really juicy or any controversial moves by Girardi, etc. that you could have blogged about, so it’s not really your fault either.
My guess would be football has something to do with it too, but only because the Yanks are out of it. If they had a chance at the playoffs, I would imagine this place would be jumping regardless.
I’ve still been reading the site every day, but the only games I’ve watched in the past month were the late August series against the Red Sox and the last game at Yankee Stadium. I realized the reality of the season during the Red Sox series, and I’ve had a really busy September, so baseball wasn’t able to crack the top priorities this month. If the Yankees were in the race, that might be different.
I also grew tired of the negativity of fellow commenters on various sites as everyone realized the Yankees wouldn’t make the post-season. Everyone from Hank down to various ballboys were blamed for various problems.
Football season doesn’t usually have an effect on my baseball watching– I’m more of a college basketball fan, and the two seasons are nicely complimentary: baseball from April till November, basketball from November till April.
The Yanks are out of it. Things will pick up again around FA signing time.
I know eyeballs and posts are important to you, Steve. But I have always liked the more “intimate” feel of this blog.
Keep it up.
The blog is better all the time. I don’t always agree w/ you but I respect your view and enjoy learning from you.
I noticed fewer fans at the games. Cheaper seats on EBAY as the last homestand wore down. A lot of “fans” are only fans when a team is winning. Expect to see a lot more Mets shirts on if they make the playoffs.
With readership going down then your sample will be the “loyal” readers regardless of. Lucky you I came around. Used to read daily but just around August I had it with you. Too pessimistic and Cashman bashing are two of the reasons I stopped reading. Take a hint from Replacement Level, Nomaas and Steve Goldman, which are blogs in which very rarely do I disagree. Profoundly realistic but very aware of the options.
You can trash the GM or the manager for whatever reason but you have to back in time frame and evaluate the alternatives.
Just wanted to punch in here and say thanks to all for the feedback – it’s all good and appreciated…and I’d like to hear from others too!
alvarof – am I reading you correct…you only have an interest in reading me if I write things that reflect your opinion and you have no interest in reading an opinion that differs from yours?
Well it’s one of either two things.
1) You’re not coming up in the clutch, Steve. People are coming here down the stretch of the season looking for quality posts and finding drivel. You’re clearly melting under the pressure.
or 2) Simple statistical variation. You saw an equal spike upward in July. Overall the average over the 5 months is 100%.
Judging by your past assessments, I’m guessing you are going to believe in the first possibility. Sure you put up good numbers in July, but what about when it counts. You’re an unclutch hack. Quit while you’re ahead.
Also, I get bad vibes from you.
Probably serves me right for swimming in Madonna’s pool.