Keep the long posts coming, please. Lots of people can write relatively short posts that stay interesting. I would enjoy your short posts as much as anyone, but really, I don't need more of those. Very few writers can handle the longer form the way you do, reaching conclusions that require a bunch of careful, precise refinements that play out in sequence. It's a rare joy to see what you come up with.
I'd happy read either, but I enjoy the long because you do them so well and it makes me set aside the time to read them deeply, as opposed to a shorter one I might read quickly between other emails. Also extremely happy to hear about the possibility of a return to podcasting, your podcasting led me to your writing which led to me subscribing to this, and it's a format I'm excited for you to take up again.
My response to basically any other writer on any topic would be, “Shorter and more frequent,” but you are my lone exception, Sam. You crush the longform stuff.
If I were to offer one piece of feedback—and I am in for the long haul no matter what, so this comes within that context—it is that when a new Sam Miller article lands in my inbox, I drop everything and read it. For that reason, some modicum of predictability would be helpful: “Sam usually publishes on Thursday mornings” or “It tends to drop very late on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays,” etc. Because I would literally plan my life around it.
I know some stuff is time-sensitive and I’m sure you want to push it out ASAP, but for the more evergreen pieces, a regular time or times during the week to look for it would be modestly helpful.
Awesome news that you'll likely be podcasting again sometime soon! As for the request for feedback - my cop out answer is to say mix and match quantity and depth as you see fit because so far I've enjoyed just about anything you write in any and all formats. But all else being equal, I generally about the longer, more comprehensive pieces a bit more than quick hitter-type posts!
Sam, I'm enthralled by the way you see and think about baseball. I'm so glad this platform has given you freedom and latitude, and it's an easy choice to subscribe.
I have sampled quite a few sports-related Substacks - this is the only one that has stuck; I can’t even name another writer who covers sports that I would think to follow or subscribe to. The Ringer occasionally has some unique insights (insightful NBA story on Sam Merrill a little while ago) but that’s all I can think of.
And to just confirm the value of this newsletter - today we get a Matt Christopher reference, taking me back to the grade school library, searching for a title I hadn’t read yet. Matt Christopher!
This newsletter provides unusual insights- evolution of the check swing, the expressions on people in the stands, the Chris Sabo video - all gold and “can’t find anywhere else” stuff.
Great work, publish whenever you want, thanks for what you do.
Incredible work! So glad to have you back writing about baseball. My preference would be for less frequent, longer posts. There's a dearth of longer-form essays about baseball right now, and your newsletter really hits that need for me. I especially love the essays from the 18 or so fun facts series.
I would vote for the long pieces over more short pieces. Like most of the earlier comments noted, there are few who can do the long and even fewer who can do them long like you. So glad you're back.
+1 for podcasting. the topics you would bring up with Ben, and even the banter ... it was like listening to the smartest guy in my high school English class
moderate plug for the substack pieces to have still photos in place of gifs, because I print and read on paper, but not sure how many of me there are!
Sam. So glad that others feel the way I do about your writing. Enough for you to feel bolstered by the support.
As for length of post, I definitely would like more Sam content, your observations are astute and I think your readers would value them more regularly than you would expect. Thanks for the words. And look forward to the prospect of hearing you podcast again.
After coasting as a free subscriber until last month, I finally bit the bullet. I love the longer form pieces and your storytelling. They’ve helped get me through your podcasting absence and I’m so glad to hear you’ll be back! (I’ll stick around here, though.)
You're really good at long posts. Also short posts, but your long posts set you apart more because they're harder to do well. Also good news about the podcast. The you and Ben era of EW is one of only 2 or 3 podcasts I've ever consistently listened to, and the others were scripted.
Keep the long posts coming, please. Lots of people can write relatively short posts that stay interesting. I would enjoy your short posts as much as anyone, but really, I don't need more of those. Very few writers can handle the longer form the way you do, reaching conclusions that require a bunch of careful, precise refinements that play out in sequence. It's a rare joy to see what you come up with.
I mean this with all sincerity... as long as Sam Miller ends up in my inbox, I don't care if it's 100 words or 10,000. Thanks for year 1.
I'd happy read either, but I enjoy the long because you do them so well and it makes me set aside the time to read them deeply, as opposed to a shorter one I might read quickly between other emails. Also extremely happy to hear about the possibility of a return to podcasting, your podcasting led me to your writing which led to me subscribing to this, and it's a format I'm excited for you to take up again.
My response to basically any other writer on any topic would be, “Shorter and more frequent,” but you are my lone exception, Sam. You crush the longform stuff.
If I were to offer one piece of feedback—and I am in for the long haul no matter what, so this comes within that context—it is that when a new Sam Miller article lands in my inbox, I drop everything and read it. For that reason, some modicum of predictability would be helpful: “Sam usually publishes on Thursday mornings” or “It tends to drop very late on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays,” etc. Because I would literally plan my life around it.
I know some stuff is time-sensitive and I’m sure you want to push it out ASAP, but for the more evergreen pieces, a regular time or times during the week to look for it would be modestly helpful.
I would pay a reckless amount of money to get Sam's podcast subscription list tbh
Awesome news that you'll likely be podcasting again sometime soon! As for the request for feedback - my cop out answer is to say mix and match quantity and depth as you see fit because so far I've enjoyed just about anything you write in any and all formats. But all else being equal, I generally about the longer, more comprehensive pieces a bit more than quick hitter-type posts!
I very much prefer the longer form pieces.
Also, your section on lost ball/scary neighbor reminded me of the the 1980s movie Birdy (Nicolas Cage, Matthew Modine).
Sam, I'm enthralled by the way you see and think about baseball. I'm so glad this platform has given you freedom and latitude, and it's an easy choice to subscribe.
Be you.
I sent a column awhile back to a friend thinking he'd get into it and he said "man, this guy really gets into the weeds!"
Please continue to be green, verdant, irregularly mowed and never Dichondra.
I have sampled quite a few sports-related Substacks - this is the only one that has stuck; I can’t even name another writer who covers sports that I would think to follow or subscribe to. The Ringer occasionally has some unique insights (insightful NBA story on Sam Merrill a little while ago) but that’s all I can think of.
And to just confirm the value of this newsletter - today we get a Matt Christopher reference, taking me back to the grade school library, searching for a title I hadn’t read yet. Matt Christopher!
This newsletter provides unusual insights- evolution of the check swing, the expressions on people in the stands, the Chris Sabo video - all gold and “can’t find anywhere else” stuff.
Great work, publish whenever you want, thanks for what you do.
Incredible work! So glad to have you back writing about baseball. My preference would be for less frequent, longer posts. There's a dearth of longer-form essays about baseball right now, and your newsletter really hits that need for me. I especially love the essays from the 18 or so fun facts series.
I would vote for the long pieces over more short pieces. Like most of the earlier comments noted, there are few who can do the long and even fewer who can do them long like you. So glad you're back.
+1 for long form substack posts
+1 for podcasting. the topics you would bring up with Ben, and even the banter ... it was like listening to the smartest guy in my high school English class
moderate plug for the substack pieces to have still photos in place of gifs, because I print and read on paper, but not sure how many of me there are!
Sam. So glad that others feel the way I do about your writing. Enough for you to feel bolstered by the support.
As for length of post, I definitely would like more Sam content, your observations are astute and I think your readers would value them more regularly than you would expect. Thanks for the words. And look forward to the prospect of hearing you podcast again.
After coasting as a free subscriber until last month, I finally bit the bullet. I love the longer form pieces and your storytelling. They’ve helped get me through your podcasting absence and I’m so glad to hear you’ll be back! (I’ll stick around here, though.)
You're really good at long posts. Also short posts, but your long posts set you apart more because they're harder to do well. Also good news about the podcast. The you and Ben era of EW is one of only 2 or 3 podcasts I've ever consistently listened to, and the others were scripted.