Category: Media

It ain’t a house warming party

Clemens debut “spoiled” by Lirano.

Twins put a “damper” on Clemens’ return.

No “welcome wagon” for Clemens.

and so goes the sports media with their metaphors. Something about them that doesn’t ring right. I bet even Clemens, ego and all, would think they’re missing the point. He’s here to do a job and while he or his team didn’t get the win, he didn’t pitch half bad considering he hasn’t thrown a pitch in the majors since 2005.

But I suppose it’s more clever to spin the obvious story of the future HOFer/prodigal son who didn’t get the win against the hot young prospect.

And while we’re on the topic of Lirano and the Twins, Batgirl has not just one but two rather humorous articles on the Clemens/Lirano matchup.


Sutcliffe makes an appearance in the booth

…and belts out “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” to the Wrigley faithful. Yesterday, Rick Sutcliffe joined Cubs’ broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly in the booth after he and his daughter sang TMOTTB during the 7th inning stretch. It was good to see Sut back at Wrigley… even wearing a Cub jersey. Shoot, if … Continue reading “Sutcliffe makes an appearance in the booth”

…and belts out “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” to the Wrigley faithful.

Yesterday, Rick Sutcliffe joined Cubs’ broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly in the booth after he and his daughter sang TMOTTB during the 7th inning stretch. It was good to see Sut back at Wrigley… even wearing a Cub jersey. Shoot, if he didn’t look so pained after throwing out the first pitch, I’d say he get out there and throw a few innings. Seems he won a game here and there a few years back.

I remember Game 5 of the 1984 NL playoffs. I was on my way back from Washington DC with a vanload of people. There were enough people guys on the van who wanted to see the game so we stopped at a smoky bar to watch it. Sut pitched that game and got the loss. He couldn’t be held totally accountable… that was the game when the infamous (well, infamous to Cubs fans, at least) grounder went through Leon Durham’s legs.

The majority of us were Cubs fans, of course so we were pretty disappointed and I never forgave Steve Garvey who had a hell of series, I never held it against Sutcliffe unlike some fans. We would never had made it that far without him (he went 16-1 after the Cubs picked him up) and he pitched a hell of a game 1.

It was good to see the Sut in the booth and hear him talk about the old days with the Cubs. I normally don’t care for in-game interviews and feel they interfere with the action on the field. Maybe it’s because Sutcliffe is a broadcaster himself or because he has a tie with the team but I didn’t mind so much this time.

MLB.TV Mosaic is Blogging

For those of you who use MLB.TV’s Mosaic viewing interface, there is now a blog about Mosaic sponsored by MLB.com. and presumably monitored by the programmers of the interface. At the very least, you can keep up with the technical issues, bugs they are aware of (and hopefully working on), and future enhancements. To their … Continue reading “MLB.TV Mosaic is Blogging”

For those of you who use MLB.TV’s Mosaic viewing interface, there is now a blog about Mosaic sponsored by MLB.com. and presumably monitored by the programmers of the interface.

At the very least, you can keep up with the technical issues, bugs they are aware of (and hopefully working on), and future enhancements.

To their credit, they have enable comments so you can submit feedback on the Mosaic interface.

Speaking of fixing bugs, all good things must come to an end. I’m talking about my ability to watch Cubs games over Mosaic.

I’m not bitter (much). I read the small print when I signed up for MLB.TV. But I was happily surprised when Mosaic came out and lo and behold, Cubs games weren’t blacked out (they still were over the web interface).

But as I said, all good things do come to an end. I just wish the blackout hadn’t happened during the game.

MLB.TV’s Mosaic interface is really boss

Turns out the programmers at MLB Advanced Media have a sense of humor.  Who knew? The new Mosaic interface for MLB.TV which is brand new (came out May 23), has a BOSS button.  This is presumably to be used when your supervisor or nosy co-workers come by your desk to look over your shoulder while you … Continue reading “MLB.TV’s Mosaic interface is really boss”

Turns out the programmers at MLB Advanced Media have a sense of humor.  Who knew?

The new Mosaic interface for MLB.TV which is brand new (came out May 23), has a BOSS button.  This is presumably to be used when your supervisor or nosy co-workers come by your desk to look over your shoulder while you are following your favorite team.  What happens when you click the BOSS button? This pops up:

 boss.jpgclick to enlarge

Laying it on pretty thick, eh?  Still pretty funny.

While I’m on the topic, the new Mosaic interface for MLB.TV is very nice.  It is the newest feature available for anyone who is signed up for MLB.TV.  It has a few nice features that the web version didn’t. 

Continue reading “MLB.TV’s Mosaic interface is really boss”

Stay on the Mound, not the Mike

The whole Dempster-Guillen-Mike North affair is further evidence that ballplayers need to stay on the field and not in the media.  Let’s face it, the only person who benefits from all of this is North who gets free publicity for his radio show.  I’m sure the pitch to Dempster to do the show sounded appealing.  … Continue reading “Stay on the Mound, not the Mike”

The whole Dempster-Guillen-Mike North affair is further evidence that ballplayers need to stay on the field and not in the media.  Let’s face it, the only person who benefits from all of this is North who gets free publicity for his radio show. 

I’m sure the pitch to Dempster to do the show sounded appealing.  “Come on the show.  Talk about Cubs.  Give an inside look.”  The usual spiel.  But when something like the Barrett/Pierzynski debacle happens, do you think North is going to shy away from getting Demp from saying something he probably shouldn’t?  Doubtful.  I envision North with a widening smile his face egging him on.

Dempster, for the record, claims he never said some of things Guillen was upset about and the two of them have patched things up.  Meanwhile, North reaps the benefits. 

A few in the baseball world have called for North to air the tapes from Dempster’s original broadcast to “clear the air” as whether he made the offending comments.   To what end?  What purpose would it serve other than to draw out this already old storyline?  If Guillen and Dempster are man enough to put this behind them then we should be too.

The only thing Dempster should be concentrating right now getting hitters out.  Not what he what he’ll be saying on his next show. 

 

Bonds and #714

This link to ESPN’s Page 2 column came across my inbox today.  It’s an interesting read, I guess.  Worth a click especially to see photos of Bonds back in the ’80s and ’90s.  Bonds back when he was a skinny li’l feller  For some reason, I’ve been pretty ambivalent about the whole Bonds homerun run as … Continue reading “Bonds and #714”

This link to ESPN’s Page 2 column came across my inbox today.  It’s an interesting read, I guess.  Worth a click especially to see photos of Bonds back in the ’80s and ’90s. 

Bonds back when he was a skinny li’l feller

 For some reason, I’ve been pretty ambivalent about the whole Bonds homerun run as well as the issue of what to do with his record.  I do know I don’t care for some of some of the more drastic ideas I’ve heard. 

I may not be in the minority.  The headline in the USA Today baseball section is “Bonds meets Babe Ruth, but does anyone really care?”.  I find it amusing/sad that Tyler Snyder, the guy who caught #714, says he hates Barry Bonds.  Really now, I wonder if Mr. Snyder has taken the time to meet Bonds and talk to him.  Or is he willing to base his hate on what he hears on ESPN and other media outlets? 

One thing that Bonds said:

“I’m just glad it’s over with.  Now you guys can watch Albert Pujols. He’s doing some amazing things.”

Ok, maybe it was the right thing to say.  Maybe his PR person told him to say that.  But it’s still true.

News-Gazette Poll’s butterfly ballot

On the News-Gazette’s web page this is “Today’s Poll”:   I guess if you’re a Chicago fan, your team isn’t important enough to be listed above “Another team”. I don’t know, it struck me as weird.

On the News-Gazette’s web page this is “Today’s Poll”:

 ngpoll.jpg

I guess if you’re a Chicago fan, your team isn’t important enough to be listed above “Another team”.

I don’t know, it struck me as weird.