Hitting The Road
I don’t want to say this is the end of the road, but there’s a good chance that it is.
When I took over this site four years ago, I was stay-at-home parent to two elementary-school-aged sons with special needs. Like many things in life, this wasn’t something I had planned (the stay-at-home part, not the parent part), but it was something I had to deal with. It was also what I really needed to distract from the day-to-day drudgery; an opportunity to employ my passion via my lost profession.
Even though I tried to keep the scope of the site manageable in the event that I would return to work — the pseudonym that I used (Sue Dinem) from January 2010 until January 2012, was largely motivated by that concern — it grew too large. I may have succeeded in building something good, something to be proud of, but I failed to keep it modest enough to withstand the changes in my offline life.
This isn’t a knee-jerk decision. It’s been in the back of my mind for most of the summer, as it became harder and harder to publish as I had less and less time (and energy) to do it, despite having significant help from Jason Crocker and Julie Goldberg. I’ve been working part-time for quite some time now, but it’s been steadily ramping towards full-time.
I wish I could say that I’m excited about that (the work part), but I’m not. It’s a matter of doing what’s best for my family financially in the short-term while I continue to look for something more rewarding in the longer term. The kids getting older (they’re now in high school and middle school) actually makes this possible (and necessary).
I’m not looking to elicit sympathy — unless it’s a job with Fred Flintstone hours and/or Phillip Drummond pay — after all, I’m not shutting down the site just yet. If it continues, it’s going to be different, and less intensive. I just don’t know yet; I’m going to take a few months to figure that out.
But if this it, it’s been quite a ride. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, too.
Luke, what you’ve managed to do this with this site goes beyond simply providing notes, analysis and stats. You’ve provided ordinary people like myself with an escape – an escape to a place that is free from the daily rigours of life to a place that makes us all feel like little children again.
In an age where people care more about taking selfies than caring about others, it is heartwarming to know there are still people like you willing to stay home to help your sons with special needs. That is true courage and love. I would to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you’ve done. If this is indeed the end, i wish all the best to you and your family – i know you will be succssful in whatever path you choose. Good Luck and God Bless.
Nick from Montreal
I’m replying here to everybody (sorry, Nick) and will update accordingly since my IT gal looked like this when I asked how to “pin” a comment.
Let’s do this bullet-style:
* I’m still on the Twitters and hoping folks will stick with me there; much as I hated “the number” when I worked in online marketing, having that many followers has always been a motivator (even if I can’t know who’s muted me 😉 The community via comments is an even stronger factor.
* The kind words have been astounding, but they also reaffirm my decision to be honest and not try to continue what I’ve done in the past if I know I can’t put in the time anymore. I’m not full-time yet, but will be soon — and the morning window that I used to use to write will be smaller, if not gone. This is one of a few natural lulls in the year so it made the most sense to announce this now.
* I can promise to at least give you folks a space to talk (“Hot Stove for the Week of XX/XX/XX”) so that we don’t have this post with hundreds of comments. Like I wrote, I’m not shutting down the site yet (dammit, it’s paid for!) Unfortunately, if you need translations for Jeff E, you’re on your own… just be patient, you’ll get it. If it helps, I picture Leo from That 70’s Show.
* Weekly posts are possible. The trick will be not falling into the trap of trying to do too much. They’d obviously have to be written on Sunday mornings with a time limit (see previous sentence), and I’d have to figure out a format (can I steal from Peter Gammons’s 1980s heyday?). Coincidentally, one of the lines that I killed from this post was a newspaper metaphor about a daily turning into a weekly.
* The good news is that there are several months before the minors start up again. That’s time for me to figure out how to transform this site into something more manageable and find that balance that’s referenced below.
Sorry to hear your news, Luke, but also glad – as with any labour of love, it is a passion, and it rewards you most when it gives you joy, and you can do with it what you want. If things change, then you need to adapt to that as well, as hard as it may be.
That said, it is a passion. Don’t let your passion be stopped by ‘other things’ (or real life) getting in the way. Passions give people a release, and a pleasure and general ‘feeling good about yourself’ that it’s hard to generate in other ways – and can also perversely give you the time and ability to devote time and ability to the ‘other things’.
If you feel like the ‘odd post’ here or there, just to get some Nats minor-related stuff off your chest – then feel free. I’m sure that we’ll read it……
And thanks for all the fish!
Thanks for all of your hard work Luke. I hope this is just a short break and you will get the bug again, but otherwise a lot of people will miss reading your site and keeping up on the next generation of Nats. Good luck with everything!
Btw, what kind of job would be great for you? Maybe one of your readers has a good connection.
Luke – I’ve always appreciated what you’ve done here. Best of luck in all of your future endeavors, whether they include continuing on with this site or not.
Thank you, Luke, for everything you’ve done. I helped raise 2 special needs kids, myself, and my heartfelt wishes for you and your family. Well done.
Yes, I’ve enjoyed the heck out of it. Looking forward, whatever you can provide will be useful — your perspective and knowledge are terrific. And if we’ve gotten all we’re gonna get out of you, thanks very much for that.
And hey, heartfelt congrats on the kids. That’s tough and important work — whatever their needs.
Luke this site helped us navigate minor league baseball while our NDFA played for two years. Loved reading it and still do most days since were familiar with many of the young men. Thank you for the hard work. Your always spot on with your assessments. This site helped us understand how it really transpires at the minor league level. Best of luck.thanks for the hard work and honesty.
Luke – let me echo the sentiments of the other posters: fabulous job in everything you’ve provided on your site and best wishes in your future endeavors. Oh, and did I mention that your professionalism, refreshing prose and sense of humor have made this site a must-read for anyone who cares?
But with that said, let me add that you will be sorely missed by the multitude of us who have grown to become dependent upon you for knowledge about Nationals’ minor league teams and players. I have followed this site, albeit as a lurker for the most part, since inception. Your selfless devotion has allowed me to understand the major league team at an organic level that would be impossible otherwise. Kudos to you.
Paul from Toronto (a lifelong Expos/Nationals fan)
You have joined the ranks of many others that have made my life more enjoyable. For that I can never thank you enough. Best wishes for your own happiness and successes. Steve
Luke,
bittersweet news on such a day as this with the “pups” graduating to the playoffs in the big show! That I enjoyed this ride is an understatement. I checked in every day and will continue to take in whatever you find you can give.
much thanks
Exexpos
Neil
Luke. A raised glass of ale or your favorite to you.
A gentleman and a scholar .
Now some of us will return to surfing between websites
And reading between the lines in box scores
Happy trails as gene Autry sang !
This website if in operation for another year would be so
Bombarded with the sens love fear with their
Awesome 2015 squad
Kkkkkk
When one of my former players became a Nats draft pick, I began following your blog and Facebook posts. I appreciate all your efforts and enjoyed your creativity and writing. Thanks!
Luke,
Thank you so much – this website has been a daily joy to visit during the baseball season. A big part of MLB that I enjoy is the farm system, and this website has helped me tap into that. I also really appreciate your writing, the sense of humor that comes through. Though it may be in a different form, I hope that this will continue on, but if not – thank you so much!
NBEF
Luke
Thank you for all that you have offered, here and elsewhere in the Nats-verse. I appreciate it quite a bit, and I am sure so do many others who may not offer comment.
I have been a Nats fan since the beginning, and started hanging around the Nats-verse early. So I remember your postings as Sue Dinem, too. I even seem to remember an argument between you and another poster, maybe on Zuckerman site’s? At one point he apologized for being disrespectful to a lady, and you tried to explain that you weren’t. I seem to remember you ending with something like ‘Look, I’m a GUY. Its a pseudonym. Sue-Di-nem, get it’ It was pretty funny, I have to admit.
God speed, wherever you wind up next.
Wally
Thank you, Luke. I’ve been following this site since day one and have to say that I don’t know what I will do without your wit and wisdom when it comes to our boys down on the farm. Thanks for all your efforts and time, as it most certainly appreciated by me and many others.
Best of luck with your future endeavors!
Paul
Maybe I’ll start a petition for Brian Oliver to reopen Nats Farm Authority…
Some days I’m really tempted
Many Thanks for your outstanding work over the last four years. I am understand the limited hours one can have. I am glad you were able to bring this site through the close of the minor league season.
Whoever you choose to work with in the future, will be very lucky. You are obviously hardworking with a sense of fun and energy.
All the best
Luke : you may be surprised what always drew me to NP.com:
The big board. Ever since a certain Expo GM dropped
Me a winter big board in a correspondence
Years ago. I have always been intrigued by the
Big board/ depth chart. You have been a saint on
Keeping us farm nerds charted well for those nights one
Cannot sleep @ night in winter time wondering
How good the pup pound is stocked .
Even with you gone there will be somebody to pop up
And chart Jeff Gardner’s insane break out 2015!!
Ty
Blessings
Cue pat methany. Last train home
Who all is in instructional league besides
Ryan11, the rehabbers and post season
Teaching for certain kids ??
Maybe further work for stud kidsike W. Davis ,
Kyle Simmons and some of those Viera Visa Latin kids!
PS : I have to type this : nats clinched last night
With an 11 and a half game pad. Wonderful to see them
Clinch in Atlanta even without Ryan Zimmermann.
Turn the click back 20 years when Selig and cronies
Locked out players as expos had a six game pad
On the vaunted mound trip and bobby cox
Without injuries .
No wonder mlb network included expos 94
In top teams of past 100 years.
Some of us ex- po fans are living what could have
Been through the curly Ws in 2014-2016 or
Imagining what a second field of dreams film would speak
From the cornfields.
Expos roll over Buck Showalters yanx.
Kkkk
Luke Ty again
So bummed to hear this. But understand. A blog with daily publication needs is tough to do on your own. I hope you can find a good balance going forward.
Bittersweet announcement but a heartfelt thank you for your hard work the past few years. Keeping a daily website going is an incredible time commitment so thank you again for the dedication. I very much enjoyed reading your writing.
thanks for your hard work on the site. Nats have come a long way since Collin Balester and Kory Casto were the top prospects. I hope perhaps you would consider just doing a weekly post and let folks scan the boxscores for the daily info.
I remember when I first saw Sue Dinem posts that were challenging the view that the Nats were a disaster of a franchise. Good luck to you.
Yes, it was and is a lot of work. Which I guess is why NatsFarm Brian dropped the baton which you deftly picked up.
Maybe, a lot of it could have been script-i-fied to save on everyone’s valuable time and effort.
Making only a few words of expert observation necessary. But none of us volunteered to make the effort, and that would be a lot of upfront work to do that, so it probably ended up as a huge manual undertaking on your part as well as others.
Good luck and I will definitely miss the bulldog photos which were an enormous treat for me.
All the folks above captured my thoughts….truly a bummer but I can understand the hard choice you faced. I truly appreciate you helping make me love the game again like I used to growing up. Maybe you’ll consider to keep on tweeting…
Thank you for all your hard work for the last 4 years and carrying on Brian Oliver’s focus on the Farm. You incorporated many of the NFA’s reports and then made it into your own unique style. It is unfortunate when Real Life raises it’s head and you are forced away from your labor of love. Good luck with your future endeavors and I hope you are able to maintain it in a less strenuous fashion for you.
Luke. Cue the Crosby Stills& Nash tune Just a song
Before I go:
This must be typed before you close up shop.
Crystal ball look @ 2015?
We see that Cutter Dykstra will return to nats
To probably man 3b in Syracuse with Matt
Skole who will play his share of 1 b too.
Brass has many decisions regarding the likes
Of Kobernus , Hood, Matheus, plus Laird who may
End up on another AAA roster for another
Org .
Will brass cut loose Hairston opening up
Bench slot for Souza, Jr?
Chiefs: Goodwin, The Q, Taylor, Hood
And the winner between Vettleson and Ramsey
Moving up.
Infield. Cutter, Martinson , ( rhymes and
That DC native Burriss move on?. Hague, Skole
Gut hunch says Keyes moves up unless
Kids like Estarlin and miller Time B flunk the
Promotion test in March .
Jeroloman and whoever avoids trade between
Leon and solano
As for the 360 degree senators in 2015:
Take the Potomac bunch and perhaps retain
Caleb Ramsey to play CF and lead off until
The brass deems Cat Ballou AA ready .
Interesting to see how the auburn / GCL
Talent blend seeps into Hagerstown .
Could we see break out seasons by kids
Like Jeff Gardner, Luis Guzman, Raudy Read
And Diomedes E plus your guy marmalade
Orange – Diaz helping us nice on from that
Brilliant Anderson track team in 2014?
DK Carey will truly be a fan favorite as the Q
Was in Harrisburg
Luke. Thanks for all that sweat equity for
Others enjoyment.
I will miss your cyber space
Luke – Trust me. I get the fatigue of updating every morning. You made me a better writer/reporter/columnist. Enjoy the quiet and go to a game without a notebook/laptop
Thanks for all you have done, Luke! Really appreciated your knowledge and writing style. Your site is a daily visit for me.
Good luck in whatever life brings you next!
Luke:
Really appreciate your work. Same for the other contributors and those that have helped with the site. It’s been a real joy to read about the Teams and Players including that kid of mine. I wish you the best!
Rick
Rick
Your son could well be the reason, Rizzo let J Zimm walk. He could well be a welcome addition to the rotation in 2015, certainly 2016.
Sec 204 Row H Seat 7 (NATS Park)
There is the existing infrastructure here, and the collective will. Maybe a number of folks with proximity to the different minor league hubs can come together and make this a collective effort in Luke’s stead. Jeff, Soul, Melissa, Peric, a few other silent bidders here….why not?
Peric’s contribution could 4A of the month club.
I’m down for continuing to write up the minors. I still see myself heading down to Viera for Spring Training in 2015 for a more extended look at folks there, maybe a 3 to 5 day visit with a greater focus on minors camp. After that, I’ll likely be focused on my work (I’m an educator ideally) until the school year finishes, but I would prefer to do my minors writing in a networked instead of writing into the abyss. I hope that I’ll get a chance to share more of my plans with Luke. Personally, I’m also trying to step up my game with offline work, and I don’t know what my writing will be like next year. But like Luke, I found daily writing on the minors allowed me to get my day off to a good start and helped provide me with some much needed discipline. I’ll actually still be writing, but I choose not to promote my writing in my real life on this site which wisely stays away from the more controversial topics among my professional and personal interests.
Luke–hope you don’t mind, but your “retirement” has spurned me to finally start my own Nats’ blog in which I plan to focus a lot on the minor leagues and the prospects. Anyway, here is the link for anyone who is interested. First post is about Eury Perez being DFA’ed and the Nats’ relative lack of activity in the IFA arena.
http://natsexposed.wordpress.com/
Thanks Luke. Yours has always been my favourite site to go to. I will miss your humour, expertise, and canine staff writers.
Great job Luke! Thanks for all the fishes !
Luke
As the NATS have become very good, I have not read your blog as much as I used to. So, I have come late to this “game.” Do you have anyone in line to run the NATS’ “big board” and will any one pick up the blog as you did for your predecessor? Again, thanks for all your good work over the years (I mostly read the blog during your “Sue” period). Good luck and good fortune in your future endeavors.
Sec 204 Row H Seat 7.
The blog’s not going dark… and until SpringfieldFan says she’s done, my presumption is she’ll continue to update it. The point of this post was to let folks know that I’m going to have to dial things back as my offline work starts to ramp up. I still hope to do something weekly once I get acclimated.
Luke,
I sent you an email and I know I’m late but I just wanted to post a Thanks here too. Also Thank you to everyone I’ve ever talked to here, you guys have taught me more than I ever knew I could learn about MiLB. You all are the best
I agree with all the other sentiments here as well. Luke, you were required morning reading for me while waking up with my coffee – only quiet time in the house all day. Your work made our relationship with the young players coming up much more intimate and pushed it beyond being just a fan – we had relationships with these players. Anyway, hope to see some version of you in the future as long as it works for you! Good luck with whatever you do an go Nats (and affiliates).