Good morning, Viva El Birdos!

I have written this post to share some site news with you all. Later this afternoon, a post will go up announcing that Viva El Birdos is looking for a new site manager. I wanted to share the reason behind that post directly: October 31 will be my last day as site manager and as a writer at Viva El Birdos.

If you’ve noticed my recent posts leaning a little more sentimental in the last few weeks, you’re not wrong. I’ve been thinking about this decision for a while, and it hasn’t been easy. Managing and writing for Viva El Birdos has been one of the great joys of my life; a self-taught little writer getting paid to write about her hometown baseball team—her hyperfixation, her heart—has been a dream come true. This community has given me more than I ever thought possible. I’ve learned so much—about baseball, about writing, about myself. I’ve made lifelong friends. I’ve grown into a better writer, and I think, a better person. I owe that to VEB.

Which is why it’s so hard to say goodbye.

But I’ve always been the kind of person who gives 100% to everything she does. And lately, I know I haven’t been able to give that here. Baseball is a sport that tests you—not just in moments of brilliance, but in the daily rhythm, the grind, the quiet persistence. It asks you to show up, day in and day out, as spring turns to summer turns to fall. I love that about it. But I also know when it’s time to step aside.

I’ve written a lot about the Cardinals being at a fulcrum. The previous era has, after many years, given way to something new. And after 12 years of writing about Cardinals baseball—over 3,000 posts, some silly, some serious, some I’m deeply proud of—I think it’s time for me to do the same.

I believe the site is at a moment of opportunity. I hope I’ve helped contribute to something good here, something worth continuing. I know there’s room for new energy, new ideas, and new excitement—things I always wanted to bring, but couldn’t quite reach. Managing this site is a great gig. I’m hopeful that when the opening goes live, we’ll see some strong candidates step forward. If you’re sincerely interested, please apply. And feel free to reach out with any questions.

It’s impossible to fully express what this place has meant to me. I’ll probably try again in another post before I go. But for now, just… thank you. Thank you for everything, VEB.