Tomorrow morning they're going to go forward with an update to the blog layout. I know people hate change and everything, but all things considered it's pretty minor, and besides, I think the new layout looks pretty sharp. Improves readability and all that. Nevertheless, if you hate it or have particular complaints, the tech guys should be floating around listening to feedback.

The update should also serve to improve site loading time, which should bring us one step closer to all-.gif content. To the future!

Update: Feedback thread!

Pursuant to our awareness that the membership agreement/community guidelines do not always appear as prominently as we would like when new users from outside SBN join Lookout Landing, I have added them permanently to the sidebar. They are visible beneath the divisional standings, which is as elevated as is allowed. We are going to (continue to) be strict in enforcing these rules. Ignorance of them is no longer a viable excuse.

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Franklin Gutierrez reaches up for a sacrifice fly out by Kansas City Royals' Mike Jacobs

Browse more photos »

SB Nation and the AP have reached an agreement that lets us utilize their game photos automatically in stories. This will allow us to add a little more visual pizazz to game recaps or basically any story. If it weren't for the much more interesting writing and abundant use of swear words, this place might actually start resembling a quality media outlet.

As a test of this newfangled set up, I've decided to include a picture of something we hope to see plenty of this coming season, Franklin Gutierrez catching a fly ball. I would include a similar photo of Raul Ibanez not catching a fly ball, but the system seems to have a built in limitation of one AP photo per story. Lets work on that SBN, eh?

Overall thoughts? Is it cool? Distracting? Prefer MS Paint representations? Sound off in the comments and I promise that I will at least nod with a thoughtful expression on my face as I skip over them.

Continue reading this post »