Just Like That: Rob Neyer Leaving ESPN.com

In a programming note on his SweetSpot blog, Rob Neyer announced he's leaving ESPN.com. This is quite a shock to me and, I imagine, the rest of the online baseball-loving community.

Thanks for all your work, Rob. We hope to see you again real soon.

2 days ago J-Doug 15 comments 0 recs |

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Hard to imagine anyone who contributes or comments on this blog not being affected by Rob Neyer.

Twitter: @Ben_Duronio Stop calling Tommy Hanson "Big Red" -- This is the cause I support the most.

by BenDuronio on Jan 31, 2026 3:04 PM EST reply actions

Wow.

Very surprising. Best of luck to Rob on whatever’s next.

On Twitter: @baseballtwit

by adarowski on Jan 31, 2026 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Wow

I owe a lot of my passion for this stuff to Neyer, he was arguably the first “saber” writer that I ever got into.

I’ve branched out a lot more the past couple years, but the saber movement probably wouldn’t be remotely the same without Rob.

Baseball is my preferred sport. It should be yours, too.
I'm a columnist for Beyond the Box Score, an SB Nation blog.
Oh, I'm on Twitter, too.

by Satchel Price on Jan 31, 2026 3:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I must say that I'm kind of in a state of shock

Good luck to Rob on his future endeavors. I have to say that, personally, I owe a lot to Rob due to his frequent link-backs to this site, and I’m sure that many of you here feel the same way.

by Lucas Apostoleris on Jan 31, 2026 3:35 PM EST reply actions

Wow, indeed

Dave Cameron wrote a peice at FanGraphs that nicely sums up the feeling for many of us, I think.

Beyond the Box Score

by BillPetti on Jan 31, 2026 3:36 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, I feel like I'm part of that Neyer Army

I know I wasn’t really there in the 90’s (8-year-olds were never really at the front of the saber movement), but he was probably the first guy who exposed me to sabermetric concepts, and he pushed me towards a lot of really great work done by other people, too.

Baseball is my preferred sport. It should be yours, too.
I'm a columnist for Beyond the Box Score, an SB Nation blog.
Oh, I'm on Twitter, too.

by Satchel Price on Jan 31, 2026 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

Oh yeah. John Barry died too.

You 3rd tier celebrities better be watching the hell out.

See Data Differently: Beyond the Box Score | @justinbopp

by Justin Bopp on Jan 31, 2026 4:19 PM EST reply actions

The guy who wrote the 007 theme?!?!

Noooo!

Of course Rob’s not dead yet. Also, great 30 Rock reference.

Blogger and Editor, Rational Pastime Blog. Twitter: @RationalPastime.

by J-Doug on Jan 31, 2026 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

"Is this a rule of threes thing?!"

—Betty White

Blogger and Editor, Rational Pastime Blog. Twitter: @RationalPastime.

by J-Doug on Jan 31, 2026 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

NOOOOOOOOOO

See Data Differently: Beyond the Box Score | @justinbopp

by Justin Bopp on Jan 31, 2026 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

Don't joke!

by Lucas Apostoleris on Jan 31, 2026 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

I don't like linking to my own stuff here

But I had this to say on the subject.

"The WAR folks like yunel apparently. i know this, bobby cox hated going to war with this guy." - Jon Heyman

Beyond the Box Score / Capitol Avenue Club / shwitter: @CapitolAvenue

by PWHjort on Jan 31, 2026 5:04 PM EST reply actions

I read it and that's class, Peter.

See Data Differently: Beyond the Box Score | @justinbopp

by Justin Bopp on Jan 31, 2026 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

where will he go?

Surely he’s not coming home to root for the Royals? robandrany returns! Make a believer out of the pessimist.
-trust the process

DH: Where's the party!
Danny: David Howard and Mike Sweeney! Go away! Guys, you're gonna wake up my Mom!

by David Howards Legacy on Jan 31, 2026 7:31 PM EST reply actions

I guess we'll see him a lot sooner...

From The Big Lead:

Rob Neyer announced on his blog today that he’s leaving ESPN. He’d been with the company since 1996, and had put together a pretty decent blog network over there ("Sweet Spot.") Where’s he going? The word on the street is that he’s going to SB Nation … to presumably help those guys put together a baseball blog network.

If Derek Jeter clubbed a baby seal on earth day while wearing a mink coat and crocodile skin boots while burning tires on an iceberg, the reaction would be "Its OK Derek, you’re a Yankee." -First mammal to wear pants

by Tonley on Jan 31, 2026 8:52 PM EST reply actions