Author Topic: The Athletic Houston (Read 4200 times)

GreatBagwellsBeard · « **on:** February 12, 2018, 10:34:15 am »

If you're not familiar, The Athletic has built a blog network with professional writers (Rosenthal, Gammons) doing national coverage, and local writers providing more in-depth coverage. The "catch" is that it's paid only. It's not unreasonable (the current promo rate is less than $4/month), and there are no ads or clutter. No 12 page slideshows.

They're launching the Houston site now, and they've already grabbed Jake Kaplan and Steve Campbell from the Chron. Site is up here.

I'm debating about whether the (cheap) cost ads any value compared to what I get for free from the Chron and McTaggart. But it's tempting.

chuck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2018, 10:45:11 am »

You could subscribe to the Snuffy Smith cartoon syndication and add value to what you get from the Chron and Taggart.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2018, 09:44:26 pm »

Quote from: chuck on February 12, 2018, 10:45:11 am

You could subscribe to the Snuffy Smith cartoon syndication and add value to what you get from the Chron and Taggart.

Whut in tarnation?

Navin R Johnson · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2018, 10:04:11 pm »

Steve Campbell? MEH

Ron Brand · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2018, 11:56:47 pm »

Quote from: GreatBagwellsBeard on February 12, 2018, 10:34:15 am

If you're not familiar, The Athletic has built a blog network with professional writers (Rosenthal, Gammons) doing national coverage, and local writers providing more in-depth coverage. The "catch" is that it's paid only. It's not unreasonable (the current promo rate is less than $4/month), and there are no ads or clutter. No 12 page slideshows.

They're launching the Houston site now, and they've already grabbed Jake Kaplan and Steve Campbell from the Chron. Site is up here.

I'm debating about whether the (cheap) cost ads any value compared to what I get for free from the Chron and McTaggart. But it's tempting.

I'm a big proponent of paying for quality media work because I don't like seeing newspapers, magazines, reporting and journalism dying. Nothing is perfect and bitching about flaws is easy, but if you don't support efforts like this, or local papers, or newsmagazines with good writing, it all gets dumbed down even further until it's virtually nonexistent. Chip in and keep efforts like these alive.

subnuclear · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2018, 09:09:36 am »

I follow a lot of baseball writers on twitter and they keep getting hired by the Athletic. (Jayson Stark for instance) Anyway, seems worth the money if you like reading about baseball.

As a side note, I've subscribed to Michael Brendan Dougherty's newsletter The Slurve for a few years now and haven't regretted it.

subnuclear · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2018, 09:10:21 am »

Quote from: Navin R Johnson on February 12, 2018, 10:04:11 pm

Steve Campbell? MEH

I had to unfollow Jake Kaplan on Twitter, but maybe he is better in article length,

Reuben · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2018, 03:36:30 pm »

Quote from: Ron Brand on February 12, 2018, 11:56:47 pm

I'm a big proponent of paying for quality media work because I don't like seeing newspapers, magazines, reporting and journalism dying. Nothing is perfect and bitching about flaws is easy, but if you don't support efforts like this, or local papers, or newsmagazines with good writing, it all gets dumbed down even further until it's virtually nonexistent. Chip in and keep efforts like these alive.

Well said.

drew corleone · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2018, 10:48:34 pm »

I subscribed for Stewart Mandel and the CFB coverage in August and had the added bonus of Smilin' Ken's baseball content. Glad that Kaplan is going over there. It's well worth the price, IMO.

HudsonHawk · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2018, 03:03:44 am »

Quote from: subnuclear on February 13, 2018, 09:09:36 am

I follow a lot of baseball writers on twitter and they keep getting hired by the Athletic. (Jayson Stark for instance) Anyway, seems worth the money if you like reading about baseball.

As a side note, I've subscribed to Michael Brendan Dougherty's newsletter The Slurve for a few years now and haven't regretted it.

I like reading about baseball, but I don't like Twitter. It's pointless. Like online news "articles" that turn out to be videos. I hate that. There used to be some good baseball writers out there, but not so much anymore. Stark is OK. I always liked Paul White when he wrote for Baseball Weekly, which I used to read religiously back before I had a TV and the internet.

Reuben · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2018, 12:39:22 pm »

Quote from: HudsonHawk on February 14, 2018, 03:03:44 am

I like reading about baseball, but I don't like Twitter. It's pointless. Like online news "articles" that turn out to be videos. I hate that. There used to be some good baseball writers out there, but not so much anymore. Stark is OK. I always liked Paul White when he wrote for Baseball Weekly, which I used to read religiously back before I had a TV and the internet.

Same here on Paul White and Baseball Weekly. Whatever happened to him? I never cared much for Bob Nightengale, another BW guy.

BUWebguy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2018, 04:47:26 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on February 14, 2018, 12:39:22 pm

Same here on Paul White and Baseball Weekly. Whatever happened to him? I never cared much for Bob Nightengale, another BW guy.

Paul White (and Baseball Weekly) was awesome. I subscribed for a decade-plus, from its first year until a few months after it ditched the baseball focus for broader sports coverage.

White retired in 2015:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/05/22/paul-white--baseball-lifer-game-goes-/27778199/

Navin R Johnson · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2018, 05:13:42 pm »

Quote from: GreatBagwellsBeard on February 12, 2018, 10:34:15 am

They're launching the Houston site now, and they've already grabbed Jake Kaplan and Steve Campbell from the Chron. Site is up here.

Where did you hear that about Steve Campbell, I cant find any mention of him joining.

Reuben · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2018, 09:59:46 am »

Quote from: Navin R Johnson on February 17, 2018, 05:13:42 pm

Where did you hear that about Steve Campbell, I cant find any mention of him joining.

I was wondering that too, last I heard Campbell had retired from journalism altogether.

GreatBagwellsBeard · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2018, 09:17:12 am »

Maybe just conjecture; he's retweeting practically everything they send out.

Duke · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2018, 09:46:15 am »

FYI for the cheapskates out there (of which I am one), Some of the articles from the Athletic show up on the Astros sub-reddit

moriartp · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2018, 01:06:48 pm »

I subscribed the other day once I saw their student discount. I can't say it's worth it yet, but I'm sure they'll continue to add good writers.

AtascAstro · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2018, 05:04:33 pm »

Just curious...for those that picked up subscriptions, how was the Spring Training coverage?

MusicMan · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2018, 05:56:21 pm »

Quote from: AtascAstro on March 22, 2018, 05:04:33 pm

Just curious...for those that picked up subscriptions, how was the Spring Training coverage?

I enjoyed it a bit more than Tags’ MLB.com coverage.

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VirtualBob · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2018, 08:44:09 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on March 22, 2018, 05:56:21 pm

I enjoyed it a bit more than Tags’ MLB.com coverage.

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Damnationby faint praise? I enjoy poking myself in the eye with a sharp stick more than reading McBraggart.