Meet the Bloggers: AngelsWin
By Joe K
I am running a segment here at SoCal Sports Hub where I will be interviewing some of the best and brightest bloggers in all of Southern California. So, what’s the point of this little feature? Well, these guys spend countless hours writing and promoting their blogs so a little recognition is well-deserved. So without further ado, the second edition goes to AngelsWin.com.
1. The Breakdown
Name: Chuck Richter
Age: 37
Location: North Bend, WA
Education: CET Technical School
Occupation: Systems-Software Analyst Engineer
Favorite Teams: Los Angeles Angels, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Seahawks
2. Where did the idea for AngelsWin.com come from?
After the 2002 World Series I looked around for a place that a fan could have everything he or she would want as an Angels fan and I couldn’t find anything. The official website’s columns were from its own stable of writers from MLB.com and its forum didn’t have that community fan feel to it, just loaded with trolls and childish arguments. After corralling a few writers for us and pumping out weekly Angels related content, along with providing a fan community forum that Angels fans enjoyed, AW.com became the #1 hangout for Angels fans around the world. An Angels Web site of the fans, by the fans, for the fans.
3. For a person who has never visited AngelsWin.com, why should they make it a daily stop?
They should stop by because they’re going to read about the Angels and Future Halos by our own staff of AW.com writers who are Angels fans, while engaging in Angels’ related Baseball conversations 24/7. We also provide interviews with the Angels personnel, prospects, Minor League Journals, Weekly Prospect Hotlists, a monthly column from Director of Scouting-Eddie Bane and the best part of all, making new friends from our community forum who share a similar interest in Angels Baseball.
4. Do you simply blog for fun or are you trying to make a career out of it?
What does the future entail for Angelswin? The website was created for the fans, by a fan so I’ve never thought about making any $$ off AW.com. Things could change of course, but AW.com wasn’t ever designed or intended to be a $$ maker.
5. Many young blogs struggle to get good readership. How did you promote Angelswin? Message Boards? E-mails? Link Exchanges?
We’ve done all of those, but I think the reason Angelswin.com receives a tremendous amount of hits per day and the reason our memberships have spiked in the last years is due to word of mouth and candy to the eye. I believe there is no other Angels’ fan site on the net that provides Halos fans with everything that they would want as a fan in one central location than what we provide fans with here at Angelswin.com
6. What are the most rewarding and frustrating things about blogging?
The rewards outweigh any possible frustrations. Obviously having a stage and a large audience to communicate your thoughts re: the Angels is rewarding. I like following the Angels future stars, so doing the Monthly Crop Report, Weekly Prospect Hotlist with David Saltzer and Jason Sinner is rewarding, as well as touching base with the Angels Director of Scouting-Eddie Bane, is a kick as well. Having as many talented writers’ as we have at AW.com is also rewarding. The only frustrating part I can think of would be that there are some Angels fans out there that still haven’t found Angelswin.com and they’re missing out. 9 out of 10 new members that register say the same things “I can’t believe I didn’t find this great site earlier”.
7. One of the things that impresses us about AngelsWin is its a narrow focus, blogging solely about Angels baseball. How difficult is it, during the dreadfully long off-season, to come up with enough material to keep readers entertained?
Funny you mention that because if you look at our off-season activity on both the Blog and our Forum, you’ll find that we’re just as active if not more active in the off-season. Potential trade talks or free agent signings take center stage for columns and fan discussion throughout the winter and into Spring Training.
8. Most blogs and websites will typically have just one or two writers. How were you able to amass such a large number of contributors?
I think the combination of ones talented ability and love and knowledge of the club spurs interest from fans that have both and they realize that Angelswin.com is the one place where they’re given a microphone and center stage to exercise their talents and love of the Angels for readers to appreciate.
9. You have interviewed the young Angels GM Tony Reagins. In twenty years, what will Angel fans think of Reagins?
I think they’ll love him. He knows the organization and the kids down on the farm and that will benefit him in GM role. His personality should also bode well in potential trade talks with other teams’ GM’s. Right now his approval rating is pretty high among Angels fans.
10. Before we let you off the hook, do you have any bold predictions for 2008?
Joe Saunders, Casey Kotchman and Ervin Santana all have solid seasons. Oh wait, we’re a month into the season already, never mind. No, my bold predictions are as follows: Vladimir Guerrero takes a considerable drop in production, Torii Hunter is the teams’ MVP, Casey Kotchman wins his 1st Gold Glove of his career and Erick Aybar has more ESPN highlight reels on defense than any other Angels player this year.