Around The Web: Player Honesty And Journalistic Style

Baseball IQ: Why aren't players more honest with the media? Morgan Ensberg explains why.

Again, I have to state that his blog is quality. He tends to write as if he is speaking to the computer, so it comes off a bit awkward at times, but he conveys his meaning clearly, and I enjoy his perspective.

Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was the first reply to the post.

As a journalism major and a journalist (I’m a copy editor for the Oregon Daily Emerald), I can tell you that framing an issue such as this in a neutral light is difficult for myriad reasons.

It’s hard to draw readers into a story with straightforward news-style leads, so setting the scene is often required to create a more dynamic story. A scene is naturally subjective, as not every person is going to see the same thing in clubhouse that Jerome Solomon did.

I stand on both sides of this issue. I don't consider myself a journalist, but I do write a blog and I did take journalism classes, so I can understand where the commenter is coming from.

That said, i'm becoming less and less convinced that an eye catching opening and closing is necessary. Quality writing is always welcome, of course, but I believe that a straight forward neutral perspective is exactly what the public wants.

Maybe i'm a little off in my own world here, but I rarely encounter individuals who actually enjoy reading exaggerated hyperbolic articles, especially those regarding sports. Usually people only read those newspaper articles because they don't know any other option exists, and once they find blogs, the newspaper articles become secondary. Since, generally speaking, blogs have a more straight forward approach to opinions and writing, I question how much people want the stylistic and story telling approaches of mainstream sports journalism.

Now i'm well aware that journalists like Bill Plaschke win awards for their writing, but then again, i'm not exactly sure why, since i've never enjoyed reading his stuff. For me, it's far easier to write ridiculous rants using a "signature" style than it is to actually do research.

Defiance.

As much a personality trait as it is his hometown.

Chad Billingsley sits emotionless in the corner of the locker room after his latest implosion.

But make no mistake.

He's brimming with defiance.

Billingsley dodges questions about his obvious regression like he was Neo in The Matrix.

"He's just fighting his mechanics a bit," Joe Torre pontificates from behind his desk of God. "He just needs time to figure it out."

But he has had years to change.

Billingsley has yet to do so.

Defiance.

Not just a river in Africa.

...

Wait, that's correct, isn't it? That's how that joke isused, right? No? You sure? Okay, whatever. Print it anyway.

That took me about three minutes to write. On the other hand, my own take on Chad Billingsley's mechanical struggles took me hours to complete. The writing didn't take long, but the effort it took to find the graphs/tables, to make the pictures, and to analyze the mechanics did take a while.

The bottom line is that writing stylistic tripe is often thought of as what real writers do, but I think it's simply the easy way out.

Baseball America: An interview with Jerry Sands.

Baseball America: The Dodgers projected pick come this June is currently catcher Justin O'Conner.

28. DODGERS: Frank and Jamie McCourt's divorce proceedings make it unlikely that Los Angeles will spend extra money on the draft. O'Conner would be the best available slottable player in this scenario, and he'd become Russell Martin's heir apparent.

PROJECTED PICK: Justin O'Conner.

He recently converted to catcher, but also plays shortstop and pitches. I sort of like the pick given the lack of catching depth in the minors right now. An athletic player with big power.

MLB.com: Chad Billingsley was figuratively abused by his coach in high school.

What were the most of his amateur career?

The stunning answer: 189.

Yes, that's pitches.

FanHouse: Frankie Piliere compiles a list of the top amateur international free agents available.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers probably aren't in the running for any of them.

@ChadMoriyama Poking around the lower $ guys from what I've heard which isn't always bad but from what I hear not bidders on the big guys

Shocking, right?

Dodger Divorce: Josh recaps the latest news in the McCourt divorce saga.

Perhaps the most disturbing news comes from a quote in his recap from John Weinbach.

Over the past 18 months, the Los Angeles Dodgers paid nearly $4 million in "consulting services" to [the John McCourt Company], an entity that has done virtually nothing for the club, even as the team has made a concerted effort to raise ticket prices, trim payroll and acquire players on the cheap. Moreover, the club paid two of Frank and Jamie McCourt's adult sons large salaries -- $400,000 and $200,000 per year, respectively -- for services that are undefined and could not be described by either Frank or Jamie McCourt, according to court documents filed in the couple's divorce case.

Joy.