If they have to give up a garbage time TD, I'm glad it was to a Mirer.

I'm on the other side of the state, & technically on the KS side of the border, but I have a soft spot for anyone who writes about my often overlooked part of the country. Not that it mattered for a writer as talented as him. He could probably write about anywhere and make it great.

Oh, was J. Love there too?

I guess, but when you've sucked for a decade, that's how it goes. But I can remember lots of regular season games back in the day that KC treated like Super Bowls while Denver was actually playing in them, so I probably wouldn't make too much of it. Just be glad you're currently on the high end.

An improvement on Strangers on a Train, you say? Color me intrigued.

Man, I love that you're doing this again. You've given me so many new books to read the last two Novembers. Sincerely, thank you!

That said, just because Substack is the easy choice doesn't make it the right one. But is there a right one? Is there any platform out there that doesn't have its sleazy side? If so, I'd give it a shot, tho I have a feeling its skeletons will probably be revealed in time. I just want to write.

You're in a better position than me, & I might be better than others (tho I'm hoping to start a new venture on top of my baseball blog.) It's tough. I don't want to endorse a site profiting from Nazis, tho I've encountered that myself, & I also don't want to write into the void.

I hate some of Substack's policies, but as a "new" writer w/o an established audience, it's free & it's platform helps you find readers. I've yet to find a good alt to that, & the fact that I have little faith that any other site will prove to be any more ethical contributes to my procrastination.

Absolutely. And a lesson it took me a long time to learn. Still struggle to pull off flash length fiction though. You, on the other hand, as this story proves, have a strong grasp of the concept. Appreciate the quality story to start my weekend.

Felt an immediate connection with this narrator. And I admit I'm always a little jealous when a writer tells such a good story in so few words. For a guy with a quiet reputation, I guess I'm long-winded on the page. This reply probably proves it, but you nailed the story, sir!

I wish you the best, man. I'll miss the Royals Reporter emails, though, as you point out, you're not going away, just changing headers. And I certainly understand burning out on the self-promotion grind.

I just want to thank you for supplying me with so many great trivia questions to ask my friends while we watch the games. With my team not in it, you have no idea how much it enhances my postseason viewing experience!

I get the press likes to write about box office, but I don't get why so many people allow that to affect their view of a movie or determine whether they even see it or not. If it looks interesting, I don't care if it's bombing. And if I like it, I don't care if I'm the only one who paid to see it.

I will never understand why so many people care so much about movie budgets & box office. I get why studios & producers care, & I'd like my favorite movies to make a profit so they'll make more like them, but none of the $ goes in my wallet, so I'm not going to obsess over it.

My pleasure. I don't know how many clicks my reach will get you anyway, but this article has stuck with me & I'll probably think of it every time I see Eaton play.

The irony is I think Detroit has been a way more entertaining team most of the year, but the Guardians run has been fantastic, & it would be great to see Cleveland finally get over that hump. Plus, if it draws more eyes to your excellent book (& your upcoming book I'm excited to read), bonus!