Blogger Guidelines
Please keep the following guidelines in mind while blogging on YanksBlog.com. We don't try to hide it - we are Yankees fans. We are in the corner of Yankees players, are supportive of them and loyal to them. Heck, we love them. And we blog from that perspective. This is the truth and the reason you are writing for YanksBlog.com. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Posting Entries
This is a blog about the New York Yankees, so stick to the New York Yankees. For instance, who cares if the Red Sox signed so and so? Ok, we do. But, we're not a Boston Red Sox blog. If the Red Sox (for example) sign someone - talk about how it affects the Yankees and how it relates to the Yankees, don't just report it.
Being a part of this team is a responsibility. At the minimum, you should make 3 posts per week, if not more, if the opportunity presents itself. There is plenty to blog about. Plenty of news, plenty of action. You should make blogging a part of your daily routine. That doesn't mean you have to blog every day, but it does mean you should see if there is something to blog about.
When adding a blog post, feel free to use the formatting options (bold, italic, etc.) that are available. Likewise, feel free to upload photos for use within your piece. Make sure that these photos are positioned appropriately and optimized for web viewing. If you do not know how to do that, please do not upload images. Do not ever hotlink images to another server. They should always be uploaded to ours.
Always check to make sure that what you are blogging about hasn't already been blogged about. No one wants to see "Yankees trade for Johnson" posted twice, unless there are updates in the story or you are speaking from a very different perspective (analysis).
If your entry is going to extend more than a full screen length, place the first few paragraphs in the body field and then place the rest in the extended field.
Head Shots
Do you want to add the head shot of a particular Yankees player or coach onto your entry? It's easy. If you want it to be at the top left, use this code:
<div class="leftbox"><img src="/img/headshots/lastname.jpg" /></div>
If you want it to be at the top right, use this code:
<div class="rightbox"><img src="/img/headshots/lastname.jpg" /></div>
The farther you move it down in the entry, the lower it will be, but you always want to put it directly before the start of a paragraph, on the very same line. To see the list of available last names, please see the directory.
In Season Recaps
During the season, we'll have a basic schedule for recap posting. This means that specific people will be responsible for posting recaps on specific days. Our goal should be to post a recap for every game. Are we going to be able to do that? No, things happen. But, that's what we are shooting for. Obviously, if you get sick or have an emergency, don't worry about it. If you have a planned absence, please try to notify me ahead of time. We're going to miss days, but a schedule like this will help us to have more consistent coverage. If you miss your game and another game has already been played, do not try to play catch up.
On your given day you will be responsible for the game(s) that are played on that day. If it is an afternoon game, that may mean posting the recap in the evening of that same day, if it is a late game - that might mean posting it really late or the next morning. Whatever fits into your schedule. If there is no game played that day or the game is cancelled or rained out, you will have no recap to post.
A recap can consist of any number of things. You can include descriptions of key innings, notable events (career milestones, players being thrown out of the game, injuries, fights, etc.), notable performers, stats and so on. After you finish your recap, you may want to mention what is in store for the Yankees tomorrow (who they face, what the pitching match up is, etc.).
On occasion, if your schedule permits, you may want to live blog the game. Live blogging a baseball game is basically updating your entry throughout the game (after each half inning at least, but usually after each out). It is basically play by play done through the blog. You simply "edit" your entry to include new info, hit the "Edit Item" link, go back and do it again. Over and over again. As soon as you enter something new, hit the "Edit Item" button so that it is added on the site. The idea is that people can reasonably keep up with the game by refreshing the blog entry. Live blogging a game is not, in any way, required. It is simply an "if you enjoy it, want to do it and have time" thing.
Family Friendly
Bear in mind that this is a site for all ages. How you write should be in line with this. This includes no vulgarity or offensive material. What is a vulgarity? Basically any type of profanity that you can think of. I don't want you saying cr*p, ars*, as*, pis*, etc. The worst words you can use are heck and freaking, if that gives you any idea. If you are quoting someone who used those words, please sub asterisks (*) in for every letter except for the first one in the word.
Do not make any inflammatory comments. No Red Sux, etc. No "Anti" comments. We can be critical, but to come out and say "Anti" something is to cross a line and that's not what this site is about.
Politics and Religion
Please keep politics and religion out of your posts. Obviously, things like "President Bush was in attendance today" and "My prayers go out to him" are perfectly acceptable, but giving or inferring views in these areas is not acceptable.
Styling
When quoting a blog post, article, etc. only quote small, relevant bits and pieces. Always link directly to the piece you are quoting and encase the quote with <div class="quote"></div>. Place a line break between the last line of text before the quote and the quote itself. Place the opening tag on the same line as the first line of the quote and place the closing tag on the same line as the last line of the quote. If you type anything below the quote, start it on the very next line, do not put a line break between the </div> and your next line. For example:
Here is a quote about Derek Jeter:
<div class="quote">I would have to say that Derek Jeter is the greatest short stop in baseball.
I wouldn't want anyone else playing at that position for the Yankees.</div>
Next line starts here.
Do not double space to begin a new sentence.
Break your post into meaningful paragraphs (no indentation). Do not post one big block of text.
Spell words according to their correct spelling in the United States. So, color instead of colour, etc.
Spelling is important. Make sure that you spell check your entry before you post it. If you are an Internet Explorer user, check out ieSpell. If you use another browser, some sort of plugin is most likely available for it.
If you use an ellipsis, make it three periods (...).
Specific Words/Terms
YanksBlog.com is the name of the site. Not Yanksblog, not Yanksblog.com. YanksBlog.com is it. It can be abbreviated to YB.
A-Rod, not A-ROD, Arod, etc.
Stat abbreviations should always be in caps. As in RBI, HR, AVG, OBA - not rbi, hr, avg, oba. Do not add periods in between each letter (as in R.B.I.). The same goes for positions. 1B, 2B, OF, LHP and not 1b, 2b, of, lhp.
American League/National League, not american league/national league. Can be abbreviated to AL/NL.
The issues of styling and the formatting of specific terms and words may not seem like very important issues - but they are. At YanksBlog.com, we want to offer Yankees fans something of real value - content worth reading. Consistency is important because it allows us to accomplish this and that is why styling rules exist.
Linking
The nature of blogging is the giving and sharing of information. To that end, most of our ideas for content will come from other sources. Always mention and link to these. If you are updating something we may have previously written, link to that old entry.
One exception is links to your own sites. If you intend to post one of those, please let me know first so that I can approve it. Do not post links to outside sites that lead to you earning cash, credits, etc.
Sabremetrics, etc.
These kinds of stats should not become a focal point of the blog. This is not to say they should never be mentioned, just that they shouldn't be mentioned with great frequency. There are plenty of places where people can read about sabremetrics and the scientific examination of baseball exclusively, but this is not really the place. Generally, the basic stats that everyone knows should be utilized.
Long Posts/Short Posts
Long posts are fine. Short posts are fine. Use your discretion and I will let you know if there are any issues. When you post a bit of news, try to give your thoughts on it. However much that amounts to is usually alright. Not every post is going to or should be long.
Posting to the Future
If we have already published a long piece today and you have a long piece in mind that is not time sensitive, the software that we use can post to the future. So, you can make a post that will appear in the future at a specific time of your choosing (such as tomorrow).
Posting Corrections, Editing Entries, etc.
Mistakes happen. Although we do our best to prevent it, sometimes we will post something that is incorrect. Whether it is a factual error where you thought you knew something you didn't or a typo. However, mistakes generally can't just be corrected. When you edit or update an entry to correct a mistake, make a note of it near the correction or in the entry, such as "Edit: It was 3 innings, not 2." If a reader pointed it out to you, add "Thanks Reader's Name."
Finding News to Post About
You can find news and items to talk about in a number of places. Our links page is a great place to go as are the blog links in the side menu. Ideally, whenever there is a notable news item, an entry should be posted. That won't always be the case, but keeping up with Yankees news is part of the job.
Site Related Content
If you are planning some sort of entry that is related to YanksBlog.com and/or uses the YanksBlog.com user base in any way (such as a fantasy baseball league, a survey, anything), please clear it with me ahead of time.
Responding to Comments
People won't always agree with you, that's the way it is. But, you shouldn't debate every little point with them. You are the blog author. You had your say in the entry. Allow people to have their opinion. Allow people to comment. Do not get defensive. Do not feel like you have to address every point. If you feel inclined to respond, that's fine, but keep in mind that our User Guidelines and then some apply to you. More is expected from you than a regular visitor to the site. You are an example of YanksBlog.com and must carry yourself as such. Let people have their say and do not get into arguments with them.
Comment Moderation
It is currently not in your power to moderate comments. This may change in the future. However, you should have a complete knowledge of our User Guidelines so that you can spot a violation. When you spot one or believe that you have spotted one - do not respond to it.
Finally
I reserve the right to edit any entry at any time without reason or notice. If I contact you in regard to a change, I expect you to be receptive to that change and to do your best to keep it from happening again.
In everything that you do here, be responsible. When you blog, you have a responsibility to me, to the readers, to the people that you talk about and to yourself. Be tasteful. We are not hear to be snarky or mean spirited, we are here to give people something worth reading and to be responsible in doing so.
If there is ever any question as to whether or not your piece or proposed piece will be appropriate, please contact me at patrick@ifroggy.com and I will give you a definitive answer. It is always best to do this as opposed to risking having your piece pulled.
Likewise, if you ever have any question about anything (including the blog software, etc.), please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your contributions to YanksBlog.com.
Posting Entries
This is a blog about the New York Yankees, so stick to the New York Yankees. For instance, who cares if the Red Sox signed so and so? Ok, we do. But, we're not a Boston Red Sox blog. If the Red Sox (for example) sign someone - talk about how it affects the Yankees and how it relates to the Yankees, don't just report it.
Being a part of this team is a responsibility. At the minimum, you should make 3 posts per week, if not more, if the opportunity presents itself. There is plenty to blog about. Plenty of news, plenty of action. You should make blogging a part of your daily routine. That doesn't mean you have to blog every day, but it does mean you should see if there is something to blog about.
When adding a blog post, feel free to use the formatting options (bold, italic, etc.) that are available. Likewise, feel free to upload photos for use within your piece. Make sure that these photos are positioned appropriately and optimized for web viewing. If you do not know how to do that, please do not upload images. Do not ever hotlink images to another server. They should always be uploaded to ours.
Always check to make sure that what you are blogging about hasn't already been blogged about. No one wants to see "Yankees trade for Johnson" posted twice, unless there are updates in the story or you are speaking from a very different perspective (analysis).
If your entry is going to extend more than a full screen length, place the first few paragraphs in the body field and then place the rest in the extended field.
Head Shots
Do you want to add the head shot of a particular Yankees player or coach onto your entry? It's easy. If you want it to be at the top left, use this code:
<div class="leftbox"><img src="/img/headshots/lastname.jpg" /></div>
If you want it to be at the top right, use this code:
<div class="rightbox"><img src="/img/headshots/lastname.jpg" /></div>
The farther you move it down in the entry, the lower it will be, but you always want to put it directly before the start of a paragraph, on the very same line. To see the list of available last names, please see the directory.
In Season Recaps
During the season, we'll have a basic schedule for recap posting. This means that specific people will be responsible for posting recaps on specific days. Our goal should be to post a recap for every game. Are we going to be able to do that? No, things happen. But, that's what we are shooting for. Obviously, if you get sick or have an emergency, don't worry about it. If you have a planned absence, please try to notify me ahead of time. We're going to miss days, but a schedule like this will help us to have more consistent coverage. If you miss your game and another game has already been played, do not try to play catch up.
On your given day you will be responsible for the game(s) that are played on that day. If it is an afternoon game, that may mean posting the recap in the evening of that same day, if it is a late game - that might mean posting it really late or the next morning. Whatever fits into your schedule. If there is no game played that day or the game is cancelled or rained out, you will have no recap to post.
A recap can consist of any number of things. You can include descriptions of key innings, notable events (career milestones, players being thrown out of the game, injuries, fights, etc.), notable performers, stats and so on. After you finish your recap, you may want to mention what is in store for the Yankees tomorrow (who they face, what the pitching match up is, etc.).
On occasion, if your schedule permits, you may want to live blog the game. Live blogging a baseball game is basically updating your entry throughout the game (after each half inning at least, but usually after each out). It is basically play by play done through the blog. You simply "edit" your entry to include new info, hit the "Edit Item" link, go back and do it again. Over and over again. As soon as you enter something new, hit the "Edit Item" button so that it is added on the site. The idea is that people can reasonably keep up with the game by refreshing the blog entry. Live blogging a game is not, in any way, required. It is simply an "if you enjoy it, want to do it and have time" thing.
Family Friendly
Bear in mind that this is a site for all ages. How you write should be in line with this. This includes no vulgarity or offensive material. What is a vulgarity? Basically any type of profanity that you can think of. I don't want you saying cr*p, ars*, as*, pis*, etc. The worst words you can use are heck and freaking, if that gives you any idea. If you are quoting someone who used those words, please sub asterisks (*) in for every letter except for the first one in the word.
Do not make any inflammatory comments. No Red Sux, etc. No "Anti" comments. We can be critical, but to come out and say "Anti" something is to cross a line and that's not what this site is about.
Politics and Religion
Please keep politics and religion out of your posts. Obviously, things like "President Bush was in attendance today" and "My prayers go out to him" are perfectly acceptable, but giving or inferring views in these areas is not acceptable.
Styling
When quoting a blog post, article, etc. only quote small, relevant bits and pieces. Always link directly to the piece you are quoting and encase the quote with <div class="quote"></div>. Place a line break between the last line of text before the quote and the quote itself. Place the opening tag on the same line as the first line of the quote and place the closing tag on the same line as the last line of the quote. If you type anything below the quote, start it on the very next line, do not put a line break between the </div> and your next line. For example:
Here is a quote about Derek Jeter:
<div class="quote">I would have to say that Derek Jeter is the greatest short stop in baseball.
I wouldn't want anyone else playing at that position for the Yankees.</div>
Next line starts here.
Do not double space to begin a new sentence.
Break your post into meaningful paragraphs (no indentation). Do not post one big block of text.
Spell words according to their correct spelling in the United States. So, color instead of colour, etc.
Spelling is important. Make sure that you spell check your entry before you post it. If you are an Internet Explorer user, check out ieSpell. If you use another browser, some sort of plugin is most likely available for it.
If you use an ellipsis, make it three periods (...).
Specific Words/Terms
YanksBlog.com is the name of the site. Not Yanksblog, not Yanksblog.com. YanksBlog.com is it. It can be abbreviated to YB.
A-Rod, not A-ROD, Arod, etc.
Stat abbreviations should always be in caps. As in RBI, HR, AVG, OBA - not rbi, hr, avg, oba. Do not add periods in between each letter (as in R.B.I.). The same goes for positions. 1B, 2B, OF, LHP and not 1b, 2b, of, lhp.
American League/National League, not american league/national league. Can be abbreviated to AL/NL.
The issues of styling and the formatting of specific terms and words may not seem like very important issues - but they are. At YanksBlog.com, we want to offer Yankees fans something of real value - content worth reading. Consistency is important because it allows us to accomplish this and that is why styling rules exist.
Linking
The nature of blogging is the giving and sharing of information. To that end, most of our ideas for content will come from other sources. Always mention and link to these. If you are updating something we may have previously written, link to that old entry.
One exception is links to your own sites. If you intend to post one of those, please let me know first so that I can approve it. Do not post links to outside sites that lead to you earning cash, credits, etc.
Sabremetrics, etc.
These kinds of stats should not become a focal point of the blog. This is not to say they should never be mentioned, just that they shouldn't be mentioned with great frequency. There are plenty of places where people can read about sabremetrics and the scientific examination of baseball exclusively, but this is not really the place. Generally, the basic stats that everyone knows should be utilized.
Long Posts/Short Posts
Long posts are fine. Short posts are fine. Use your discretion and I will let you know if there are any issues. When you post a bit of news, try to give your thoughts on it. However much that amounts to is usually alright. Not every post is going to or should be long.
Posting to the Future
If we have already published a long piece today and you have a long piece in mind that is not time sensitive, the software that we use can post to the future. So, you can make a post that will appear in the future at a specific time of your choosing (such as tomorrow).
Posting Corrections, Editing Entries, etc.
Mistakes happen. Although we do our best to prevent it, sometimes we will post something that is incorrect. Whether it is a factual error where you thought you knew something you didn't or a typo. However, mistakes generally can't just be corrected. When you edit or update an entry to correct a mistake, make a note of it near the correction or in the entry, such as "Edit: It was 3 innings, not 2." If a reader pointed it out to you, add "Thanks Reader's Name."
Finding News to Post About
You can find news and items to talk about in a number of places. Our links page is a great place to go as are the blog links in the side menu. Ideally, whenever there is a notable news item, an entry should be posted. That won't always be the case, but keeping up with Yankees news is part of the job.
Site Related Content
If you are planning some sort of entry that is related to YanksBlog.com and/or uses the YanksBlog.com user base in any way (such as a fantasy baseball league, a survey, anything), please clear it with me ahead of time.
Responding to Comments
People won't always agree with you, that's the way it is. But, you shouldn't debate every little point with them. You are the blog author. You had your say in the entry. Allow people to have their opinion. Allow people to comment. Do not get defensive. Do not feel like you have to address every point. If you feel inclined to respond, that's fine, but keep in mind that our User Guidelines and then some apply to you. More is expected from you than a regular visitor to the site. You are an example of YanksBlog.com and must carry yourself as such. Let people have their say and do not get into arguments with them.
Comment Moderation
It is currently not in your power to moderate comments. This may change in the future. However, you should have a complete knowledge of our User Guidelines so that you can spot a violation. When you spot one or believe that you have spotted one - do not respond to it.
Finally
I reserve the right to edit any entry at any time without reason or notice. If I contact you in regard to a change, I expect you to be receptive to that change and to do your best to keep it from happening again.
In everything that you do here, be responsible. When you blog, you have a responsibility to me, to the readers, to the people that you talk about and to yourself. Be tasteful. We are not hear to be snarky or mean spirited, we are here to give people something worth reading and to be responsible in doing so.
If there is ever any question as to whether or not your piece or proposed piece will be appropriate, please contact me at patrick@ifroggy.com and I will give you a definitive answer. It is always best to do this as opposed to risking having your piece pulled.
Likewise, if you ever have any question about anything (including the blog software, etc.), please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your contributions to YanksBlog.com.
