Jim Evans exclusive interview - part two

[Carl Childress]

Gang:

Over on Officiating.com we began today a many-part series on an interview we did with Jim Evans. We guarantee you'll find it interesting, amusing, amazing, informative.

Jim dodged only one question: "Tell us about how you left Major League Baseball." But that "dodge" wasn't because he didn't want to answer but because he's still party to a lawsuit that's working its way through the courts.

You want to know about the Ted Hendry's call in the ALCS (Yankees v. Cleveland) where Knoblauch let a run score from first while he argued for a batter-interference call? Jim provides the answer (not in this installment, of course) -- at length.

Right Sports is currently engaged in negotiations to publish an updated version of Jim Evans' Official Baseball Rules Annotated, which we call the JEA on the internet. Let us know if such a project would be of interest to you. (I mean, would you pay a reasonable price for a spiral bound copy? [grin])

[Rich Ives]

NTE $30

[mfs914]

I definetly would purchase a copy, i am attending Jim's Florida Classic in december and cannot wait. i have heard so many good things about Jim and the way he teaches and i look forward to it. i am 19 years old and have been umpiring for 5 years now and this will be my first formal training. After i graduate from college i would like to attend Jims 5 week school for a chance at a job.
But anyway now that i went on a tangent yes i would love a copy to add to my already large library of umpire books and videos.

Mike

[Carl Childress]

I must admit I am surprised.

[Tim C]

Why be surprised, Rats have no idea of the value of the work.

Tee

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by Tim C
Why be surprised, Rats have no idea of the value of the work.

Tee

Are you a Rat, sir? (grin) I couldn't figure out what you thought of the book. And before you, one of the two who valued the book is a full-fledged Rat, according to you guys.

Remember, come back Little Sherman: All would be forgiven, and those things you put up for free at the URC will be valued by Officiating.com -- and the subscribers.

[Rich Ives]

Originally posted by Tim C
Why be surprised, Rats have no idea of the value of the work.

Tee

Roder gets $29 for an e-copy of his book - and an e-copy is handier to search. (Yes, he gets $36 for the spiral bound copy)

CC gets $22 for his.

So $30 isn't out of line.

Abandon the use of "rat" I'll up it to $39.95.

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by Rich Ives

Roder gets $29 for an e-copy of his book - and an e-copy is handier to search. (Yes, he gets $36 for the spiral bound copy)

CC gets $22 for his.

So $30 isn't out of line.

Abandon the use of "rat" I'll up it to $39.95.

Rich: My e-copy won't search.

[Rich Ives]

Originally posted by Carl Childress

Rich: My e-copy won't search.

Bad word choice I guess

It doesn't do a true search but it has key hyperlinks that lets one bounce around.

[David B]

Originally posted by Carl Childress
Gang:

Right Sports is currently engaged in negotiations to publish an updated version of Jim Evans' Official Baseball Rules Annotated, which we call the JEA on the internet. Let us know if such a project would be of interest to you. (I mean, would you pay a reasonable price for a spiral bound copy? [grin])

I think it would be of great interest to those with a real interest in the rules.

Add me to the list of interested parties; however, I think the price needs to be competative.

Thanks
DAvid

[ChapJim]

Count me in -- reasonable price.

[Tim C]

You guys are making my sides hurt.

You are trying to equate the JEA (full version) to Roder's (an outright borrowing of JEA material AND the BRD) work. When I first got Roder's work it was on mimeographed paper.

Lah Me!

The JEA is the seminal work in rules history, common sense and interpretation. EVEN IF what is made available is an abridged version the research, development and production cost are far higher than Roder's Little Book.

Again, umpires (as a group) are the cheapest bunch of people I have ever met.

IF you respect the trade you'll spend money advancing your abilities and knowledge . . . if you don't, buy Roder's book and accept a JV schedule.

Tee

[cbfoulds]

Originally posted by Tim C
//SNIP//
Again, umpires (as a group) are the cheapest bunch of people I have ever met.

IF you respect the trade you'll spend money advancing your abilities and knowledge . . . if you don't, buy Roder's book and accept a JV schedule.

Tee

OK, Tim, I'll bite:
What do YOU think would be a reasonable price for a legit copy of JEA [full version]? Stop pi$$ing and take a position. Most of us own J/R 'cause we CAN'T buy a legit copy of the JEA or the MLBUM. I'm 48 years old, and not planning on going to pro school anytime in the near future.

Carl: count me in. Reasonable price? I'd have no trouble at around $40 or less. Make it much more, and I'd expect the darn thing to be REAL thick. After all, the thing's been written already, right? What we are talking about is the "paperback" version for the "mass market".

[Tim C]

The original JEA is over 1,000 pages . . . add the updated addenda that happened every year or so.

I know you cheapskates will faint:

The real deal (printed) should go for about $150.00 -- IF it was done on Disc the cost could be considerably lowered. I would expect that it should eventually cost about the same as a college text book.

A fully searchable disc, premium addition, could run about $75.00.

That makes it a value for the user, a profit for the writer and makes sure that it is a committment by the purchaser.

Of course I am just pi$$ing according to Master Foulds . . .

I would not expect many of the "free riders" on eUmpire to purchase the resource.

Tee

[Rich]

Originally posted by cbfoulds

OK, Tim, I'll bite:
What do YOU think would be a reasonable price for a legit copy of JEA [full version]? Stop pi$$ing and take a position. Most of us own J/R 'cause we CAN'T buy a legit copy of the JEA or the MLBUM. I'm 48 years old, and not planning on going to pro school anytime in the near future.

Carl: count me in. Reasonable price? I'd have no trouble at around $40 or less. Make it much more, and I'd expect the darn thing to be REAL thick. After all, the thing's been written already, right? What we are talking about is the "paperback" version for the "mass market".

I'm with Tee. If it's an updated version of the JEA, I would expect to pay at least $99 for it. More if it came alongside an electronic copy that I could search and put on a PDA. $30 is an insult to the effort Jim put in and the knowledge Jim Evans has. It's also the textbook used at one of the two approved professional umpire schools -- isn't that worth a little more than a book from an ex-minor leaguer (which I also have and like, but not like the JEA).

Tee, an unrelated question -- I'm looking to purchase a black plate coat --who's selling them? I've tried the usual suspects and either they don't have them or they don't want to bother having one made. Lots of people trying to sell me a "jacket" cause "nobody wears plate coats anymore." I will ALWAYS wear a plate coat.

--Rich