Laying It On The Line

Here’s my soapbox post for the day. I’ve been a member of Sandbox for a long time (close to 10 years). Today I decided to call it quits (just 2 days after winning one of my football leagues). Here’s what I wrote them.

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After many years I have decided to end my alliance with Sandbox. Although I have had fun almost every season I’ve played, I feel that the value I receive is no longer equal to the fees I pay.

I started playing back when Sandbox was a free site. In those days there were problems with people quitting because their team hit a bad spot. Some leagues only had about 50% of the owners actually play until the end of the season. Because of this I was open for Sandbox to change to a pay site.

When Sandbox changed to a pay site, I was told that I was a valuable member who would never have to pay more than $3.99. In order to honor my support over the years, I was going to be grandfathered if there were any price increases. Of course, this was a lie.

When Sandbox became a pay site I was told that there would no longer be problems when it came to drafting. Faster servers with more space were going to come online to make my experience better. This also was a lie.

And the kicker? My rates were raised but there’s still ads all over the place. I’m paying so you can make money off advertisements? If I wasn’t using Firefox as a browser I’d have quit in disgust quite a while ago.

I have tried to be faithful. I kept telling myself that Sandbox was worth it. It’s only $4.99 per month. That’s cheap entertainment. Well, I was deluding myself.

Yahoo Sports has a better service than Sandbox. It has almost all of the same games as Sandbox, none of the server problems and the draft works flawlessly. Oh, and it’s free.

This isn’t just sour grapes. I’m not quitting because I didn’t win anything. I’ve actually been pretty successful. My problem is that because of the lies and the lack of playability I just don’t feel like I’m wanted.

I’ll keep track of Sandbox and if I hear of improvements in the future I may consider coming back.

Good bye, Sanbox.

John Johnson

The Twins signed Rondell White today. Look at games played in his career. In 15 years he’s only had triple digits 6 times and is averaging 89 games. What makes Terry Ryan think he can last full time this year? I know playing DH will help his longevity but he’s still a pretty big risk.

This goes with the other who cares signing this year of Tony Batista. Two guys that have a little pop in their bats but have issues.

Hopefully this will help JC get his head straight. He has the talent to be a very good pitcher. However, he needs to get the mental part of the game. I just wish they would have got more for him. With the prices being paid for pitchers right now (I’m looking at you Todd Jones) it seems like the Twins could have shopped him around a little more.

Anyway, atleast he gets what he wants and the Twins won’t have to worry about him letting inherited runners home anymore.

TWINS LAND SECOND BASEMAN LUIS CASTILLO

The Minnesota Twins acquired second baseman Luis Castillo from the Florida Marlins on Friday in exchange for pitchers Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler. Castillo, 30, batted .301 with 10 stolen bases in 2005 and ranked 10th in the NL with a .391 OBP. He’s also a three-time Gold Glove winner, including 2005. Full Story

Let’s get Bert into the Hall. Pass this on to everyone you know.

NOW PITCHING: BERT BLYLEVEN FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL’S HALL OF FAME

Minneapolis, MN (December 1, 2005) – Twenty-six hitters in the history of Major League Baseball have over 3,000 hits. Every single one of them who is eligible is in baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Only five pitchers in major league history have struck out over 3,700 hitters. Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton are in the Hall of Fame. Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson will join them once they retire. Only former Minnesota Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven is absent from this group. And that’s made some baseball fans mad enough to do something about it.

As ballots go out this week to the 500-some baseball writers who vote annually on who’s to be allowed in and who’s to be kept out of America’s most revered shrine to the game, the group Bert Belongs is taking Bert Blyleven’s case directly to the people who care the most: the fans.

Today the website BertBelongs.com goes live. The website presents information and comparative stats in a fun way to show that Bert Blyleven is long overdue for entry into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Visitors have the opportunity to compare Bert’s numbers alongside current Hall of Fame pitchers and future Hall of Fame prospects on the “Pitchers Duel” page. Kids can play their own version of the “Circle Me Bert” phenomenon, which Blyleven started as a TV commentator during broadcasts of Minnesota Twins games. The site allows fans to build their perfect pitcher by clicking on the attributes most important to them, and also contains a compendium of statistics and national articles arguing for Bert’s inclusion.
Minneapolis-based North Woods Advertising is launching the website (www.BertBelongs.com) and developing a mail campaign aimed at baseball writers. Both efforts are being sponsored by Cambria, a Minnesota company that produces natural quartz surfaces for kitchens and baths. As an organization, Bert Belongs hopes fans will express their opinions in online discussion groups and make their views known to their local sports reporters and sportswriters.

“We’re just trying to get the facts out there and get the discussion going,” said longtime baseball fan and North Woods Advertising’s President, Bill Hillsman. “I read a couple of articles about whether Bert should be inducted, and the more you look into it, the more obvious it is that Bert belongs in the Hall of Fame. The facts speak for themselves: he had arguably the greatest curve ball in major league history. He has more strikeouts and more shutouts than a great pitcher like Bob Gibson, and more complete games than a horse like Tom Seaver. And Bert was a money pitcher— just take a look at his postseason stats.

Marty Davis, CEO of Cambria corporation and a lifelong baseball fan, said “Bert Blyleven displayed the character, competitiveness and talent embodied among members of the Hall of Fame. There’s just no doubt that his career accomplishments and off-the-field contributions merit his induction into the Hall of Fame.”

The website was produced and designed by North Woods Advertising in collaboration with Brave New Media. Paul Schupanitz and Craig Baillie did design and art direction, and Craig McNamara and Bill Hillsman did the content development. The Minnesota Twins provided historical and statistical assistance.

For more information– and to see for yourself why Bert Blyleven belongs in baseball’s Hall of Fame– go to www.BertBelongs.com.