Joe Christenson writes that beat reporters "walk a fine line when stating our opinions."
I'll bet that is only the case when his opinion differs from that of the Twins organization.
Beat writers report facts basically, and I don't have much of a problem with that. In order to get access to those facts, they have to have relationships with players. The players that treat them well make their jobs easier. Players and managers are more inclined to treat the beat writer better when there is positive stuff in the newspaper. So, positive stuff gets put in the newspaper. Negative stuff, like a star player berating a minor league beat writer, does not make the paper.
Our intrepid beat writers are so afraid of losing access that they tremble when they work up the gumption to suggest that batting Punto ninth and Joe Mauer second would be a good idea.
Christenson:
La Velle weighed in with an opinion about the batting order a few weeks back, and Ron Gardenhire really let him have it. “Nice blog,†Gardy kept saying, and while it was all in good fun, it was a reminder that beat writers — those of us who face these guys every day — walk a fine line when stating our opinions.
Yeah, wouldn't want to have to face the manager after suggesting that he is less than perfect. No wonder everyone thinks that the Twins are just better human beings than the rest of major league baseball (except for that mean Kyle Lohse).
Nothing I read or see on the field changes my opinion that the weasel is one of the dumbest, most intrenchable men in baseball. He was simply lucky to inherit a decent team in a historically putrid division. When faced with a legitimate question - which he could answer by either refuting the point or by agreeing with it - he instead chose to demean and belittle the questioner. You see, he has a blog. He must be a geek. He probably lives in his mother's basement and doesn't have a girlfriend. What a loser.
Everyone knows the light-hitting infielder hits second, so he can bunt over the lead-off guy. That's the way it was one when the weasel played for the Mets back in the 70s. That's the way it is today. At least on this team.
Ack. I'm in a bad mood anyway, and reading drivel like this just exacerbates the problem. As Clark W. Griswold would say, "Where's the Tylenol?"
Don't think that this phenomenon is limited to sports reporting. Just look at the sorry state of the White House press corps and you'll see how manipulating access is a great way to tame any reporter who relies on it to do his or her job. It basically turns the watchdogs into nothing more than lapdogs.
Our intrepid beat writers are so afraid of losing access that they tremble when they work up the gumption to suggest that batting Punto ninth and Joe Mauer second would be a good idea.
That's a bit of an overstatement - especially since they both did just that and lived to tell about it. Most of these guys (beat writers) are not afraid to call a spade a spade. There going to do it in a little classier way than calling someone a 'tool or a weasel. And the impetus is not on the club as you suggest. It's the reporter's job to get to the story in any ethical way he can. You can see that even if a reporter is stonewalled, (just look at the Vikings fiasco) it's a totally short term phenomena until they revert to more civilized behavior. I'd venture to say both of the current beat writers are OK at their craft, but are nowhere as skilled as even Ruesse, as putting out stories, that are prickly enough for this readership.
Nothing I read I read or see on the field changes my opinion that the weasel is one of the dumbest, most intrenchable men in baseball. He was simply lucky to inherit a decent team in a historically putrid division.
Having a negative opinion of the manager is certainly within the bounds of reason and this manager specifically is not beyond reproach, - but I think, personally calling someone one of the dumbest people in baseball is uncalled for, and it's not likely remotely close to being true.
There's plenty of opinion in these blogs, almost all of it in support of the Twins management. If you admit that you are leery about even thinking about writing a negative opinion piece, I'm much less inclined to put much stock in the positive opinion piece.
One might conclude these guys might not be the best reporters.
If anything, I think this emphasizes that separating reporting and analysis is a good idea. (At least for sports coverage.) If LEN3 is getting me the juicy quotes, and he's telling me the stuff that I wouldn't otherwise know because I don't have access, then he's doing his job. For me, he doesn't need to suggest that Mauer hit second, because I can hear that from SBG, or AG, or TG (or something-G), or I can figure it out myself. It doesn't take access to have an opinion on how the lineup should be ordered.
For those with access concerned about ruffling feathers, if they don't have anything nice to say, I just wish they wouldn't say anything at all rather than saying nice things that aren't true.
If anything, I think this emphasizes that separating reporting and analysis is a good idea. (At least for sports coverage.)
I agree, at least for sports coverage... though one of the reasons I chose not to continue to pursue a potential journalism career was the lack of analysis in reporting. Somewhere along the line reporters stopped calling a spade a spade. So much of reporting now (and I'm talking political reporting now of course) is "A said this, but B said that." That's fine when they are both opinions I guess... problem is that you get the same thing even when A's position is backed by facts, while B's is a documentable falsehood. I think the past 8+ years the disservice such reporting does to the public and is a large reason for the rise of the blogs - lots of people were hungry for actual substance in their news coverage. (I think the same is true, to lesser extent, in regards to sports blogs.)
Or something.
I have the same attitude about this that I have about White House reporters. The bulk of what they do is done in a pack, not one-on-one, "exclusive" interviews. Both the W.H. and baseball clubs are in the business of selling their respective products, and the reporters are facilitators of that process. So fearing a freeze-out is largely misplaced.
and what would a freeze-out accomplish? It would prevent the reporter -- in the short run -- from getting a few quotes with which to color his/her stories. Wooo. That'll teach 'em a lesson.
sure, there are players/managers/politicians who will carry grudges against particular reporters so far as to try to deny them access to source material. But a good reporter won't let that stop him/her from doing the job.
ultimately, it's in the club's interest to provide "access" to the talent. It's free advertising, for criminy! The NFL understands this very well. Baseball could use a bit more pro-active approach to marketing.
sure, there are players/managers/politicians who will carry grudges against particular reporters so far as to try to deny them access to source material. But a good reporter won’t let that stop him/her from doing the job.
Assuming that the reporter's top priority is to get to the bottom of a story and present the unvarnished truth to the readers. :giggles:
Unfortunately, a lot of reporters prefer the spoonfed story from official sources. They like talking to Important People every day. They don't want an adversarial relationship with those people. They want to feel part of the club, and they don't mind being sales flacks for the official line as long as they keep getting their spoonfed stories and get treated like one of the gang when they come into work. Why bite the hand that feeds them? It makes their lives so much less comfortable.
Unfortunately, a lot of reporters prefer the spoonfed story from official sources. They like talking to Important People every day. They don’t want an adversarial relationship with those people. They want to feel part of the club, and they don’t mind being sales flacks for the official line as long as they keep getting their spoonfed stories and get treated like one of the gang when they come into work. Why bite the hand that feeds them? It makes their lives so much less comfortable.
Do you have a source on this or is it just speculation?
I should have said, "According to senior administration officials..."
I don't think it matters if LEN or Christensen do analysis if labled as such and I would argue that in today's day and age virtually unavoidable.
And I would hate to think they wouldn't provide at least some analysis - the access could enhance some of the analysis - not in all cases, but access to scouting reports, competitive scouts, wtaching workouts, talking to trainers, coaches, etc, can provide a rich and compelling amount of background for analysis.
Nice blog.
I wonder how many times LEN3 sat there and let Gardy say, "Nice blog." Maybe once or twice could be tolerable, but by the third time it's just demeaning and rude. If Gardy thinks it's a stupid suggestion, make him defend his judgment. And keep bugging him about it until the #2 hitter isn't a black hole in the lineup anymore.
Btw, since the Punto fans got all excited about his resurrection because he had a 4-game hitting streak, he's 1-for-15 with 6 walks in 5 games. Nice #2 hitter.
Actually, "nice #2 hitter" would have been a good reply to "nice blog."
On the fake blogs, ever get suspicious that the same three people are writing all the comments?
On the "real" ones, ever get suspicious that the same dozen or so people don't have a life?
Interestingly, during yesterday's game, either Dick or Bert said that when Mauer comes back, it will probably be as the number two hitter.
Oops, I see you guys already discussed this. Sorry. I've been out of town.