SNY.tv Blog Network One Stop Shop
I just wanted to say that this link is pretty cool - for those into the SNY.tv Blog Network scene…
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!
Live Chat This Evening 9 PM ET
We’re going to try and have our second “live chat” at WasWatching.com this evening at 9 pm ET. Stop by, if you can, and join in on the fun.
To see our last chat, click here.
Live Chat This Evening 9 PM ET
We’re going to try and have our first ever “live chat” at WasWatching.com this evening at 9 pm ET. Stop by, if you can, and join in on the fun.
Want WasWatching Widget?
Wow. Say that three times, fast.
Just a quick note to share on this…If you’re into widgets, and wanted one for WasWatching, click here.
And, We’re Back…
Some time between 3:00 am EST and 7:59 am EST, today, WasWatching.com went down and was not available. Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences which this downtime may have caused you. It was something beyond our control. Thank you for your patience during this downtime.
WasWatching.com Turns Three
Three years ago today, WasWatching.com was launched.
It’s been a great three years. Since “Day 1,” there have been 4,844 entries made to this blog - including this one. Crazy, huh?
It’s been an interesting and evolving three years too. For example, after 1,095 days of publishing WasWatching.com via Movable Type, since last night, we’re now using WordPress. And, on March 1st of this year, WasWatching.com joined the SNY.tv Blog Network.
But, the biggest thing that’s happened in the last three years, for me, has been the interest that WasWatching.com has received from its readers, other bloggers, and the media. Thanks to all of you for that.
I still enjoy having this blog and sharing things with my fellow Yankees and baseball fans. It’s been a pleasure do to this for the last three years - and I’m looking forward to many more years to come.
WasWatching.com Now Using WordPress
As promised, the platform for this blog has now been converted from Movable Type to WordPress. It’s anticipated that this migration will benefit the reader experience - especially when it comes to leaving comments.
Thanks for your patience during this conversion. (And, my thanks to SNY.tv and Skiltech.com for their support on this effort.)
As you can see, the “cosmetic” portion of this project is still a work in progress. It’s expected to be complete soon. It seemed more important to get the new platform up and running as soon as possible rather than wait for all the graphics and links to be cleaned up and tied down.
There are a few small wrinkles from the conversion - like the formatting on some stat tables inside entries not being perfectly aligned now and some of the links inside entries that point back to previous WasWatching.com features now point to MT URLs instead of WP URLs - but, on the whole, it went well.
If you experience or notice anything as a user that seems to be an issue from the conversion, please let me know.
Note On Leaving Comments
In support of today’s scheduled platform conversion for this blog from Movable Type to WordPress, the commenting system for readers has now been shut down. Once we’re up and running on WordPress, I will restore the commenting feature. Thanks in advance for your patience with regard to this situation.
Movable Type To WordPress Conversion Tomorrow
It’s expected that, sometime tomorrow, we will be moving the platform for this blog from Movable Type to WordPress. Related, later this evening, I will be shutting down the option to leave comments on entries - to ensure nothing is lost in the conversion. (I’ll make note of the closure when it happens.) Once we’re up and running on WordPress, I will restore the commenting feature. Thanks in advance for your patience with regard to this situation.
WasWatching.com Readership
This was an interesting study that I just did - so, I thought that I would share it here as it also leads to a message that that I wanted to convey (after seeing the results myself now).
Using the total “Page Views” for WasWatching.com for May 2007 as a “baseline,” I looked at (page views for) the next 11 months forward - including a pro-rated April 2008 - to see where those months “sat” (in terms of a percentage) compared to that May 2007 baseline. Here are the results:
May-07 100.0% June-07 92.3% July-07 115.6% August-07 94.0% September-07 92.7% October-07 96.1% November-07 91.5% December-07 94.3% January-08 91.3% February-08 101.1% March-08 106.7% April-08 139.7%
The dip from November 2007 through January 2008 can be written off due to it being the “off-season” and I’m willing to look past that. But, what’s nice to see is that the numbers for February 2008 are right there where they were for May 2007. And, the numbers, when you look at March and April 2008, are climbing.
Seeing this, I wanted to take a second to thank the readers of WasWatching.com for their interest in this blog. The numbers show that just as many people read it now as was reported a year ago. (And, they also suggest that even more are reading it now - or, at the least, those reading it are reading it more often.)
It’s awesome to see that my fellow Yankees and/or baseball fans get something out of WasWatching.com.
WasWatching.com #23 In Wikio’s “Sports” Blogs Rankings
Currently, “WasWatching.com” stands at # 23 in Wikio’s rankings for all “Sports” blogs. (Wikio is an aggregator of online news and blogs.)
How does Wikio’s Top Blogs ranking work? The position of blogs in their Wikio ranking depends on the number and value of links that other blogs point toward them. The value of these links depends on the ranking of the blog publishing them. So in their algorithm, the value of a link published on a highly ranked blog is more important than a posted link on a blog with a lower ranking.
WasWatching.com is honored to placed among all these other great blogs. Thanks to all my fellow bloggers for linking to WasWatching.com and making this possible.
No, I’m Not Ignoring You [Update]
I’m now in Day 4 of my situation, FYI - and, I’m still trying to fix it. Just wanted to share this so you know why I’ve been quiet. Hopefully, I’ll have an answer soon.
PS - if anyone has some experience in converting from Movable Type to WordPress and is willing to share on that, please drop me an e-mail.
Survey Says! [Ding!]
The WasWatching.com Reader Survey 2008 is now closed.
Are you a guy, Yankees fan, between the ages of 26 to 30, living in the tri-state area, who has been reading this blog more than once a day for the last 2 to 3 years?
No, I’m Not Ignoring You
Yesterday, I lost my ability to make comments to blog entries. It’s a MT and/or TypeKey issue - because I had too many URLs listed in a comment post that I made yesterday morning. Basically, I’m shut out from being able to comment - regardless of the PC, ISP, or TypeKey account that I’m using. I’m looking into the immediate fix and long-term solution now. Sorry to anyone who is waiting on me to answer a comment.
Posting Issues Fix?
If you’ve been having problems posting comments to this blog in the last couple of weeks, while using Internet Explorer (IE), I have something for you to try.
What People Are Saying About WasWatching.com
Yesterday evening, we launched the first ever WasWatching.com Reader Survey.
Thanks to all who have responded to date! And, if you haven’t taken the survey yet, please consider taking it. The survey will be up and open for a few more days, at the least.
The data received back so far from the survey is very informative, interesting, helpful and appreciated! While I expect to share some findings once the survey is closed, in the interim, I thought some of you may be interested in the first 50 “answers” to the survey question “What do you like best and least about WasWatching.com?”
Phil Allard’ s “The 10th Inning Journal” Today
Phil Allard, in his 10th Inning Journal at WCBS NEWSRADIO 880 is featuring an interview with me today. Click here to read it.
My thanks to Phil for his interest and kind words about WasWatching.com!
Downtime Today
From 5:20 pm EST until 9:12 pm EST, today, WasWatching.com was not available. This was the result of our host provider’s server being down due to a networking issue at their upstream provider. A networking switch at the datacenter failed and had to be replaced. Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences which this downtime may have caused you. It was clearly beyond our control. Thank you for your patience during this downtime.
Blowing Our Own Horn For A Minute
Wikio, an aggregator of online news and blogs, has recently kicked off their own blog rankings. Their “Top Blogs” ranking features a bunch of different categories - including “Sports.”
Currently, “WasWatching.com” stands at # 35 in their ranking for all “Sports” blogs.
So how does their Top Blogs ranking work? The position of blogs in their Wikio ranking depends on the number and value of links that other blogs point toward them. The value of these links depends on the ranking of the blog publishing them. So in their algorithm, the value of a link published on a highly ranked blog is more important than a posted link on a blog with a lower ranking.
WasWatching.com Joins SNY Sports-Blog Network
Towards the close of 2007, I was contacted regarding an opportunity to join the sports-blog network for SportsNet New York’s official website, SNY.tv. Since that time, and after discussing the matter with SNY.tv, it became clear to me that this was something that made sense - and I have agreed to join SNY.tv’s network.
The first thing you see when you visit SNY.tv is that they aim to be the “Online Home of All Things NY Sports.”
Related, SportsNet New York (SNY) is working towards featuring more regularly-updated, original content, on its website - and they came up with this notion of a fan-run network of blogs for all the New York sports teams. And, their network got off the ground when Matthew Cerrone’s MetsBlog.com was the first blog to officially agree to a partnership with SNY’s site.
Now, I realize that some may be thinking, here, “Ah, yeah, that sounds nice. But, still, the Mets own SNY, jointly with Time Warner and Comcast. Isn’t it a little odd for a Yankees-themed blog to have a relationship with a Mets owned entity?”
To be candid, at first blush, this entered my mind for a second or two as well.
But, the answer here goes back to SNY.tv’s laudable mission to be the “Online Home of All Things NY Sports.” In terms of covering all the New York sports teams, SNY is operating in a nonpartisan manner. Therefore, it is not odd for a Yankees-themed blog to be featured there – regardless of who owns the entity.
Further, once I thought about it more, it became clear that a move like this made perfect sense for this blog.
The agreement that I have with SNY.tv, at a high level, can be broken down as follows: WasWatching.com, gets plugged in, as is, in to SNY’s sports-blog network. Related, SNY gets to run some promotional material on my site and they will provide WasWatching.com with publicity and other perks. But, I still maintain total editorial control over the content of this blog.
That last item is the most important thing to me on this deal. SNY.tv is willing to allow me to keep “doing my thing” here - no strings attached. I can write whatever I want about the Yankees - or the Mets - or any other team, just as I always have here, under the terms of this agreement.
Since WasWatching.com prides itself in being (for the most part) “Yankees-blinders and Pinstripe-Pollyanna” free as well as not being shy about commenting on the Yankees rivals, it is logical that, if I was going to have an affiliation with an RSN website, that it would be with one that would allow me to be on their website and write with full editorial license about the Yankees as well as other teams. And, once SNY.tv confirmed that (with this agreement) I still had editorial oversight and could write freely about the Mets (which Yankees bloggers sometimes do), there was no issue for me in terms of having a relationship with a Mets owned entity.
It’s flattering that SNY.tv reached out to me to add WasWatching.com to their “Online Home of All Things NY Sports” and enhance their “Yankees” coverage. Under the terms of our agreement, I see this as being nothing but “good things” for this blog. As such, this is a very exciting time for WasWatching.com.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank two parties who had a huge hand in making this all happen.
First, my thanks to Matthew Cerrone for getting SNY.tv and me to the table to hammer out this deal. It’s an honor to join his MetsBlog.com in the sports-blog network for SportsNet New York’s official website.
And, secondly, thanks to all the readers of WasWatching.com for their interest in this blog - and all their wonderful comments.
When WasWatching.com was launched in April 2005, it averaged about 30,000 to 40,000 page views per month in its first few full months. Over the last nine months, WasWatching.com has averaged around 500,000 page views per month. To have an increase of that size in less than 35 months, to me, is jaw-dropping.
I am very grateful for all those who have an interest in this site - and even more thankful for all those who leave such entertaining and insightful comments on entries. You’ve all helped get WasWatching.com to where it is today. And, I hope that you continue to visit this blog now that more “good things” will be happening here as a result of this new agreement with SNY’s sports-blog network.
Some Administrative News
There are blocks of time within the day where it is not possible for “me” to add content to this blog. These are the obvious periods that one would assume to exist. In an effort to lead towards improving this site, I’ve come up with a solution where content can be added outside of something from “me.”
Therefore, from time to time, you will see entries to this blog that are not under my name. This will not change the flavor of this blog. This will not change the amount of content that I deliver here. It’s merely an application to a situation that’s existed here since this blog was launched.
Rather than just have this exist without an explanation, I thought it was appropriate to provide this notice.
# 4,000
This is the 4,000th entry ever made to WasWatching.com. Considering that today is the 964th day that WasWatching.com has been around, that’s pretty cool: An average of 4 posts per day (by yours truly).
But, here’s something more cool:
Back in April of 2005, during its first month, this site received about 200 unique visits per day. By April of 2006, that average grew to about 1,600 unique visits per day. And, by April of 2007, the average increased to about 5,100 unique visits per day.
And, last month, November 2007, on average, WasWatching.com had, about, 6,100 unique visits per day. (Over the last three months, from the reports that I’ve seen, WasWatching.com averages about 940 readers per day. So, this suggests that many of you visit the site about a half-dozen times per day - if I’m understanding the stats correctly.)
Around a thousand people per day - each checking it out around six times per day. How’s that for cool?
Also, to date, there have been over 25,200 comments left on this blog (over the span of the 964 days that it’s been open for business).
There are all some very big numbers - more than I ever imagined to be possible.
So, thanks to all for their interest in WasWatching.com over these past 964 days and 4,000 entries. If you keep showing up, I’ll be here with something for you. Lastly, please, keep the comments coming. Those, along with the visitor counts, keep reminding that I’m not spending a lot of time here doing something absent of reason. As long as my fellow Yankees and/or baseball fans get something out of this, that’s a great reason to keep doing it.
This Friday Is Johan Free Day @ WW
Over the last four days, I think that I’ve provided some “Johan Santana” related commentary here at least a dozen times – probably more. And, with reports coming now in what seems like every hour, I could easily keep up that pace on the Santana material. But, today, I decided to take a break on Johan before my mind turns to mush (because of all the reports, stories, rumors, etc.). It’s like chasing a chicken – it’s all moving so quickly and in so many different and chaotic directions.
If an actual Santana trade is made today – or if there’s any other major breaking news on him – I’ll chime in on that. However, in the interim, I’m declaring today to be a “Johan Free Day” at WasWatching.com.
Ah, serenity now…
A Tad Over Two & A Half Years Later
Today is the 937th day that I’ve been blogging at WasWatching.com - and, I’ve updated this site on just about every one of those 937 days.
Over the last six months or so, WasWatching.com has averaged about 6,000 unique visitors per day - so, that tells me that people are interested in what’s being posted here. That’s exciting - and appreciated.
As always, thanks for your interest in WasWatching.com - - having people read what I write is the icing on the cake for me (where the cake is writing what I want to write). If you’re really into stats, check these out:
WasWatching.com, since April 20, 2005:
Total Posts: 3868 | Total Comments: 24335 | Total Authors: 1
Yes, that’s one blog, one author, and an average of 4 posts per day - over a 937 day span.
To be candid, after all this time - just about the last three full seasons of Yankees baseball - I’m starting to get, well, for lack of a better term, a little burned out. So, today, I decided that I’m going to cut back, some, on my blogging.
WasWatching.com is not going away. And, it won’t be a situation where I may go several days without updating the site. More so, it will probably mean that there will be some days in the off-season where I elect not to write - and, other days where it may be one or two items added only (as opposed to closer to four).
I thought it best to share this in advance - and not leave people wondering as to what’s going on here…etc.
I still enjoy having this blog and sharing things with my fellow Yankees and baseball fans. It’s been a pleasure do to this for the last 937 days - and I’m looking forward to continuing WasWatching.com going forward.
This is more a matter of taking some time over the next three months or so to recharge my batteries. Of course, if there’s breaking and/or big news, I’ll try to be right on it. But, outside of that, and maybe one or two posts per day, with some off-days mixed it, don’t expect to see the frequency that you normally see here.
Come Spring Training 2008, I will re-examine where I am - and the blog - and see if I’ll stay with this new approach or revert back to past practice.
No, I’m Not Ignoring You
A few days ago, I lost my ability to make comments to blog entries here from my home ISP.
I think it’s a TypeKey cookies issue or something. I’m trying to fix it.
If you’ve been having any problems posting comments to this blog in the last few days, please drop me a note and let me know the details. If possible, please be sure to mention what ISP and browser you’re using. Thanks in advance!
No, I’m Not Ignoring You
Earlier today, I lost my ability to make comments to blog entries here. When I try, I get this message:
Your comment has been received. To protect against malicious comments, I have enabled a feature that allows your comments to be held for approval the first time you post a comment. I’ll approve your comment when convenient; there is no need to re-post your comment. Return to the comment page
Obviously, I’m not a first time poster and this is an issue. I suspect that it’s a TypeKey matter - as I have the same problem from two different PCs and ISPs.
If you’ve having the same issue, please drop me a line at staff [at] waswatching [dot] com - thanks in advance. And, thanks for your patience with this issue, if you’re dealing with it too. I am looking into fixing it.
Update, 8/9/07, 8:30 am ET: I’m back to having problems with this again. If you are too, please let me know via e-mail. Thanks.
Update, 8/9/07, 10:07 pm ET: I think I figured it out. I think this thread has a bad cookie mix on it. If I post a comment on a new entry - and stick to making comments on “newer” items, I’m OK. But, if I try to comment on that entry with the (what I assume is a) cookie issue, then any attempts to post a comment, anywhere, will fail - until I start a new entry, leave a comment there, and basically clean my brush, for lack of better words, to make future comments. So, I have to “never look back” and keep moving forward. Shame, I had more comments that I wanted to address in that certain entry.
Update, 8/10/07, 8:34 am ET: So much for that theory. I’m back now where I was - still not able to post comments. Anyone else have this issue - again, please e-mail me if you do.
Problems With Posting
I understand that there’s an issue with leaving comments here now. I believe it’s a TypeKey issue. I’m looking into it. Thanks for your patience with this issue. I’m hoping that it will not take long to resolve.
Some Administrative News
As you may or may not be aware, for the last 20 hours someone has decided that it would be fun to SPAM the comments sections of this blog with slander about me, my family, and some others that comment here. This is not a problem. I can close accounts and delete posts just as fast as this individual creates them.
Please ignore any of these slanderous attacks if you should see them in between the time they are posted and the time it takes to remove them. You should not waste any time from your day being concerned with this individual’s attempt at pleasing themselves.
Thanks in advance for your assistance with this matter.
Downtime Fixed
This site was down for a bit today - from approximately 4 am ET until 9 am ET. The issue causing this has been resolved. Thanks for your patience during the downtime.
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