Jacob Pomrenke
@buckweaver.bsky.social
Curling, cats, and crimes. And occasional baseball. (Also, baseball crimes.) Living in Chicago with @pulhitzherprize.bsky.social. Never quite sure which century I’m in. https://jacobpomrenke.com
Pinned
Well, this escalated quickly. Welcome to Bluesky, y’all. Here’s a starter pack of SABR members I could find who appear to be active here: go.bsky.app/4oQpXLh
And if I accidentally missed somebody and you want to be added (or removed), please let me know.
And if I accidentally missed somebody and you want to be added (or removed), please let me know.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Thread:
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
February 5, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Thread:
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
As an old I am required to inform everyone there was a time when there were a lot of journalists working full time and it was considered a pretty good and stable career
February 4, 2026 at 4:59 PM
As an old I am required to inform everyone there was a time when there were a lot of journalists working full time and it was considered a pretty good and stable career
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Me on the death of the Washington Post sports section.
This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry.
www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...
This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry.
www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...
Death of a Sports Section
The Washington Post sports department was dismantled before its leaders gave it a chance to change
www.theringer.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Me on the death of the Washington Post sports section.
This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry.
www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...
This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry.
www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” was released on this date in 1977.
February 4, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” was released on this date in 1977.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
the Swiss mixed doubles curling team is married and when their game ended the Peacock stream just showed them playing with their Curling Baby for like 5 minutes with the Olympics music playing
February 4, 2026 at 8:04 PM
the Swiss mixed doubles curling team is married and when their game ended the Peacock stream just showed them playing with their Curling Baby for like 5 minutes with the Olympics music playing
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Hooo boy, so much this. And saying to someone, "I'm sure someone will snap you up right away!" isn't helpful. If you can give specific leads, awesome. Anything else is just wishful thinking. I hate to be this doomer about it, but as I've said, I've been through this so many times.
I know everyone means well with their 'scoop this reporter up immediately' endorsement posts but christ — who's doing the scooping? What's left?
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
February 4, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Hooo boy, so much this. And saying to someone, "I'm sure someone will snap you up right away!" isn't helpful. If you can give specific leads, awesome. Anything else is just wishful thinking. I hate to be this doomer about it, but as I've said, I've been through this so many times.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
I wrote this about Teen Vogue getting nuked near the end of last year, and today, especially, it feels particularly apropos.
Made it public and sharing here again, in case you want a little bit of expressed rage in your afternoon reading.
Made it public and sharing here again, in case you want a little bit of expressed rage in your afternoon reading.
It was never about the numbers
On trying to work in the dying American news industry
www.wordsaboutwork.news
February 4, 2026 at 8:44 PM
I wrote this about Teen Vogue getting nuked near the end of last year, and today, especially, it feels particularly apropos.
Made it public and sharing here again, in case you want a little bit of expressed rage in your afternoon reading.
Made it public and sharing here again, in case you want a little bit of expressed rage in your afternoon reading.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
so after 40 minutes of curling we have had a power outage, a three rock measure, and blood from a dead insect on the ice
February 4, 2026 at 6:41 PM
so after 40 minutes of curling we have had a power outage, a three rock measure, and blood from a dead insect on the ice
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
UPDATE: four minutes into the first event of the Winter Olympics, there has been a power outage
February 4, 2026 at 6:15 PM
UPDATE: four minutes into the first event of the Winter Olympics, there has been a power outage
RIP Mickey Lolich, 85, a three-time All-Star and 1968 World Series MVP who won three complete games for the Detroit Tigers in the fall classic that October. Read his SABR bio: sabr.org/bioproj/pers...
February 4, 2026 at 6:24 PM
RIP Mickey Lolich, 85, a three-time All-Star and 1968 World Series MVP who won three complete games for the Detroit Tigers in the fall classic that October. Read his SABR bio: sabr.org/bioproj/pers...
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Beyond the perpetual interest in as an entertainment product worthy of good coverage in its own right, sports can draw people to consider the world beyond the box score. Race, gender, health, money, politics, fill in the blank: all of it intersects, eventually, with who won the game.
February 4, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Beyond the perpetual interest in as an entertainment product worthy of good coverage in its own right, sports can draw people to consider the world beyond the box score. Race, gender, health, money, politics, fill in the blank: all of it intersects, eventually, with who won the game.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
And that is exactly why this is happening. People who were at risk of being held accountable through primarily investigative journalism have worked tirelessly to ensure that such journalism is too legally risky, too financially unstable, and too unpopular to thrive.
February 4, 2026 at 3:42 PM
And that is exactly why this is happening. People who were at risk of being held accountable through primarily investigative journalism have worked tirelessly to ensure that such journalism is too legally risky, too financially unstable, and too unpopular to thrive.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Meanwhile,
BREAKING: @ajc.com on Tuesday evening said it will lay off approximately 50 staffers, about 15% of its headcount, as it seeks to cut costs and marshal resources to invest in its growth.
The AJC published its last print edition on 12/31. About half of those laid off will come from the newsroom.
The AJC published its last print edition on 12/31. About half of those laid off will come from the newsroom.
The AJC to cut staff as it continues digital transformation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Tuesday it will lay off staffers in the newsroom and other segments of the business.
www.ajc.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Meanwhile,
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
This whole thing where billionaires snap up media properties so they can run them into the ground to make it harder for people to call them and their cronies to account is extremely obvious and very tiresome. It also limits our access to largr information about culture and the world, also by design.
February 4, 2026 at 3:44 PM
This whole thing where billionaires snap up media properties so they can run them into the ground to make it harder for people to call them and their cronies to account is extremely obvious and very tiresome. It also limits our access to largr information about culture and the world, also by design.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Good morning sports fans.
We have finally reached Olympic competition day in Italy. Mixed Doubles Curling starts in snowy Cortina.
It’s still raining here in Milano. Two days away from the Opening Ceremony. I’m ready to get this party started. And chug all the espresso.
We have finally reached Olympic competition day in Italy. Mixed Doubles Curling starts in snowy Cortina.
It’s still raining here in Milano. Two days away from the Opening Ceremony. I’m ready to get this party started. And chug all the espresso.
February 4, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Good morning sports fans.
We have finally reached Olympic competition day in Italy. Mixed Doubles Curling starts in snowy Cortina.
It’s still raining here in Milano. Two days away from the Opening Ceremony. I’m ready to get this party started. And chug all the espresso.
We have finally reached Olympic competition day in Italy. Mixed Doubles Curling starts in snowy Cortina.
It’s still raining here in Milano. Two days away from the Opening Ceremony. I’m ready to get this party started. And chug all the espresso.
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Oh, how sad! Ron Teasley was the only living Negro Leaguer who “became” a “major-leaguer” when MLB finally recognized the Negro Leagues as major leagues. At least he got the honor, an honor denied to the couple thousand Negro Leaguers who died too soon. www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues...
February 4, 2026 at 4:23 AM
Oh, how sad! Ron Teasley was the only living Negro Leaguer who “became” a “major-leaguer” when MLB finally recognized the Negro Leagues as major leagues. At least he got the honor, an honor denied to the couple thousand Negro Leaguers who died too soon. www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues...
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865.
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
February 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865.
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
I cannot confirm if this is the first SABR Zoom to end with the line “Now I’m gonna go grill some steaks!” But it’s definitely the first time that line was spoken by a Hall of Famer. And yes, we’re gonna leave it in the recording.
SABR members, join us for a special virtual event next week: a live oral history interview with Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux! Register now to attend this free Zoom event on Feb. 3: sabr.org/latest/sabr-...
February 4, 2026 at 1:47 AM
I cannot confirm if this is the first SABR Zoom to end with the line “Now I’m gonna go grill some steaks!” But it’s definitely the first time that line was spoken by a Hall of Famer. And yes, we’re gonna leave it in the recording.
Early registration is now open for SABR 54! Join us in Cleveland this summer for SABR’s 54th annual convention on July 29–August 2, 2026: sabr.org/convention
February 3, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Early registration is now open for SABR 54! Join us in Cleveland this summer for SABR’s 54th annual convention on July 29–August 2, 2026: sabr.org/convention
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
holy crap olympic curling starts, like, tomorrow
February 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM
holy crap olympic curling starts, like, tomorrow
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
From Jose Feliciano's groundbreaking interpretation of the National Anthem at the 1968 World Series to Jennifer Lopez's Super Bowl halftime performance, Puerto Rican artists have brought memorable moments to U.S. sports history. Bad Bunny is about to add to it. www.axios.com/2025/10/04/b...
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl backlash part of history for Latino performers at sports events
Musicians Jose Feliciano, at the 1968 World Series, and JLo, at the 2020 Super Bowl, have seen similar reactions.
www.axios.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:43 AM
From Jose Feliciano's groundbreaking interpretation of the National Anthem at the 1968 World Series to Jennifer Lopez's Super Bowl halftime performance, Puerto Rican artists have brought memorable moments to U.S. sports history. Bad Bunny is about to add to it. www.axios.com/2025/10/04/b...
1 day away!
SABR members, join us for a special virtual event next week: a live oral history interview with Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux! Register now to attend this free Zoom event on Feb. 3: sabr.org/latest/sabr-...
February 3, 2026 at 12:24 AM
1 day away!
Reposted by Jacob Pomrenke
I feel like this should be a major component of the story, and yet I've never seen it explored.
sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...
sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...
February 2, 2026 at 10:07 PM
I feel like this should be a major component of the story, and yet I've never seen it explored.
sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...
sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...
It’s awesome to have free access to all of these collections through a SABR membership. I just sent a bunch of Chicago Defender articles to help out a HS student with their National History Day project on Larry Doby.
Excited to unveil a brand-new SABR Research Resources portal today at sabr.org/latest/sabr-.... Tons of links to baseball archives, databases, publications, and websites — plus members-only access to newspaper archives and other online collections.
February 2, 2026 at 8:34 PM
It’s awesome to have free access to all of these collections through a SABR membership. I just sent a bunch of Chicago Defender articles to help out a HS student with their National History Day project on Larry Doby.