Lets start with congratulations to David Price.  In fact, lets add congratulations to the Rays’ crack PR staff for helping ensure that the Cy vote didn’t come down to established market vs. “small” market.

There is more to say about Price’s win but I am not going to be the person to say it.  After 2.5 seasons of writing in this space, I have decided to move on to other obligations so a better writer can step in.  The official change will come after the details get finalized but I will not be writing on a regular basis in 2013.  Don’t worry.  The Rays are not going to be unrepresented in the ESPN landscape nor is another newby going to fill my shoes.

This is good news.  While I’ll miss the conversation we’ve had in this space.  My departure all but ensures a magical summer.  I am leaving primarily because my wife and I are expecting our fourth child in January and I only have kids in playoff years.  To wit:

• Gwendolyn was born in May 2008.
• Catherine Grace was born in February 2009.
• John was born in September 2011.

I don’t know a lot about advanced stats, but I do know that my “infant to playoff” ratio is the best in baseball.

So, let me end with a thank you to everyone that clicked and read.  A thank you to everyone that commented — including my all-time leading commenter Merrill.  And a thank you to everyone that humored my crazy theories.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t add a thank you to the incomparable Justin Hancy at H&H Unlimited Media.  You cannot imagine how computer illiterate I am.  Justin not only built this blog for me.  He taught me to use it.  A feat to be celebrated in the annals of American history.  Sober Justin is a god among men and anyone in need of internet assistance would be wise to call on him.

When Rob Neyer called me three years ago and asked if I’d be interested in starting a blog, I sort of chuckled.  I didn’t know if I had the time.  I didn’t know if I wanted to be referred to as a “blogger” (my wife has had an unhealthy amount of fun taunting me with that title).  I didn’t know if I had enough to say or if anyone would even read it.

I have been consistently stunned by the response.  Thanks for alleviating all those concerns and giving me a shot.  I am hopeful that I’ll find a place to continue to write occasionally.   But, until then, I bid you farewell.