I know I am picking on Buster because this stuff seems to happen way to frequently with many of the games top reporters now but this seems to be getting foolish.
Last night at around 6:00 Buster made a Tweet that was seen on TRDM as well. Announcing that The Mets’ offer to Chris Young likely includes guaranteed money over $1 million.
This morning, as what seems to far to often be the case, we read the following from the NY Post. “The Mets remain interested in Chris Young, but the team denied a report last night that it had made the free-agent right-hander an offer. ”
So why in the new age of Twitter does this seem like a daily occurrence? Is it that the reporters are grasping at straws trying to drive hits? Is it the throw enough stuff to the wall and something will stick? Is it that teams are more aware of Twitter and blogs and are more guarded with their information? Are they indeed using the media to send mixed signals and try and control the market? All I know is about 2-3 years ago when an ESPN reporter reported something you could go on about your day knowing that was in deed the case. This morning I woke up half expecting to read exactly what I did. Mets deny…
Ah, what Twitter has done.
153 comments
kingman 26
1/5/2011-8:19am at 8:19 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for the post.
But it ain’t Twitter.
Buster Olney is a liar and a joke. Has been for years.
The blame goes to those who make the mistake of taking his total fabrications seriously.
kistics
1/5/2011-8:35am at 8:35 am (UTC -4)
Busta move~!….
Sorry.. just had to do that…
rustyjr
1/5/2011-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
Here’s busters reply to my question if he stands by his tweet
@lagranderusty One exec’s ‘concept’ is another exec’s ‘offer’. So, in short, yes.
web • 1/5/11 8:51 AM
in reply to…
TRS86
1/5/2011-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
So in short uh… no.
That statement makes no sense. So one exec in the Mets organization says the Mets MADE an offer and the Mets are saying they have not? Well then, you need to fire that exec.
kistics
1/5/2011-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
You are a popular guy on tweeter world. You are practically buddies with Heyman…
kingman 26
1/5/2011-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
And one pathologically dishonest, unaccountable, joke writer’s fabrication is, well, nothing!
Sorry, Olney has been a serious liar for years.
He’s supposedly banned from some clubhouses, and thought of as a joke around MLB.
rustyjr
1/5/2011-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
Did you see my Coleman reference today ?
kingman 26
1/5/2011-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Yes sir, just commented over there!!
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Jeez, man….Did I ever go out of my way to defend the Vince Coleman signing after we lost Straw……Ahh, to be young and naive.
Ceetar
1/5/2011-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
semantics. Everything makes stupid arguments to justify what they say. Look at the HOF stuff. same deal.
sounds to me like the Mets thought outloud “Okay, here is our offer to Chris Young. What do you think?” without actually offering it to him yet.
They have made, as in created, an offer, but not yet presented it.
Or it’s just random smoke blowing.
I don’t think it’s Twitter making reporters less accurate, I think it’s Twitter (and blogs, and all of it) exposing how inaccurate these guys have always been.
Also, Olney could ‘write’ that the Mets made an offer, and it wouldn’t appear until later, or tomorrow. And no one would cover “they didn’t make an offer” because they hadn’t seen the rumor yet. By the time the rest of the guys catch up to confirm or deny it, the offers been made or Olney has gone back and corrected himself anyway.
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
All of these guys should be working for The Star or The Enquirer.
Olney, Rosenberg, Stark, Heyman, Verducci, even Gammons…..
They report of vague rumor as if it’s Gospel.
Really though, the guy I’m getting tired of already is Young himself.
At some point, he needs to stop acting like he’s some sort of long time
Ace coming off injury, seeking the most money and best position and
wake up to reality. He’s got alot to prove and has never been that good a Pitcher to behave like a diva. Make a friggin’ decision already!
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
Fongy, it’s not that simple. At this point we do not even know if he has an offer yet.
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
From anyone???
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
No one. Young himself has said there is interest but no offers.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
The shame of it all is that people look at the Star or the Enquirer as they check out from their supermarket, if not purchase them. As long as people are buying, they’ll keep printing.
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:19am at 9:19 am (UTC -4)
Also…..Back to my Jack Morris argument from yesterday….Jeez…….
I’m really starting to sound like The president of The Jack Morris Fan Club……But anyway, having taken a few mins to look back on his career
I note the following: 254-186 in 527GS, Winningest Pitcher for the decade of the 80s, most opening day starts in history, won 20gms 3X
AND 18 or more 6X, likely would have been 7 if not for the strike/lock out of ’81, in 17 seasons was a 5x Allstar, major factor in 4 World Championships, WS MVP and 7 top 7 Cy Young finishes.
Blyleven, in 23 seasons(6 more than Morris) 287-250, just twice Won
18 or more, 2x Allstar and only 4 top 7 Cy Young finishes.
Blyleven, who was rarely ever the Ace of his staff, gets in AND
Morris not???
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
What frustrates me about the whole process is the players numbers don’t change after they have stopped playing. If they aren’t a hall of famer in the first ballot, why are they a hall of famer in the 12th or the 14th? Mike Tyson summed it up best. It’s Ludacrisp.
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Ha, ha, ha…..Funny….Mike Tyson….
Ya know, Steeler fans think alike. When I was quick checking
the careers of Morris and Blyleven last night I too noted that
he started out with a very low pct of votes and has steadily
increased his number of the yrs. Not to sound all Fatcessa
about it BUT for the past few yrs I think I have a pretty good idea
of the players now being voted on for The HOF since I’ve seen
their entire careers. Like i said yesterday, you’d have a tough time finding any quote or story indicating Blyleven was a more
highly thought of pitcher while they played.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
I think that one reason that the votes change is that voters are starting to use more advanced stats than in the past. Formerly it was wins and K’s for pitchers and that was about it.
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
Understood BUT what the player was and meant while
they played is supposed to mean something. Right?
To me Goose Gossage is a prime example. While their
are plenty of RPers with “numbers” and most who didn’t
bounce around to 9 or 10 teams AND whos career was
two-thirds unworthy….From about 77to85 no one wanted
to see him come into a game.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
I agree but those guys I expect to get voted in right away, when that player is still fresh in the mind of the voters. Guys like Bert I expect later when people take a step back and see how good he was and how long he was at that level.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
And think of Koufax. No one doubts he is a hall of famer, yet if he was up for the hall this year, everyone would question his length of service. It’s one Effed up system.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know. Do you think Pedro is a 1st ballot guy. Let me rephrase that. Do you think Pedro will be elected 1st ballot? His prime did not have the longevity either. he is sitting there with only 219 wins.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
I think he should be, no doubt. Like Koufax, there was no one as dominant for a 4-5 year period like Pedro was in his time period. You could arguably say that for all time.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Question is do you think he will be? If you do then most likely Koufax would have still been 1st ballot in today’s system as well.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Some clown is going to shoot him down due to Pedro throwing an old man zimmerman to the ground or some crap like that.
To me, they (the voters) like to flex the only power they have by saying “see, i can make you wait and you’ll get in, but on my time and on my terms.” It’s B to the S.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
No question about it! During the most skewed statistical
period in MLB history in favor of hitters, Pedro was THE
BEST and most dominant Pitcher in the game.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Example, Ralphy finished with an OPS+ of 132. McGwire finished at 162. That’s a huge difference. In fact McGriff was better at 134. I think you also have to consider defense and I always thought McGriff was solid in that respect.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
Delgado is at 138. Would you put him in? No way for me.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
And looking at it, Delgado deserves to be in there more than McGriff or Palmerio.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Giambi: .281 .405 .524 .928 142.
McGriff: 284 .377 .509 .886 134
Palmeiro: .288 .371 .515 .885 132
Delgado: .280 .383 .546 .929 138
Bagwell: .297 .408 .540 .948 149
Helton: .324 .424 .555 .979 137 (yeah I know the Coors field argument I just used)
Will Clark: .303 .384 .497 .880 137
Sorry but McGriff and Ralphy just don’t cut it.
fongy2
1/5/2011-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I pretty much agree TRS. Also, like I said these all guyswe’ve seen lots of ….. In their prime who you
taking to be your 1Bman, Delgado, Helton, Bagwell,
Raffy,McGriff or Giambi? To me I think its a no brainer
for Delgado with Bagwell likely the #2 man in that group.
TRS86
1/5/2011-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
I would rank them
Bags
Delgado
Clark (man is he underrated)
McGriff
Giambi (again ignoring roids debate)
Helton
Palmeiro.
kistics
1/5/2011-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
How about Roger Clemens?
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
Or Barry Bonds… Or Raffy Palmero. All have amazing numbers, but they come with an asterisk and a syringe. so no, they, like pete rose, will be blackballed from the hall.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
C’mon…..Take another llok at Clemens career and
where he was when he landed in Toronto and began
juicing. Pedro was the best pitcher in the game at
the height of the ‘roid era AND won 3 Cy Youngs,
finished 2nd twice, once to Clemens which if Roger
hadn’t been juicing, Pedro would have won, giving
him four in a row.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Palmero is not as close as people think. He won’t get in because of the steroid issue but I am not sure he’s a cut and dry case either way.
kistics
1/5/2011-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
I would think you would have to apply the same logic to Walker or Bagwell even though they have not been caught with PED. Their numbers jump out during the ‘steroid era’.
Bonds have never been caught either…
kistics
1/5/2011-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
Fongy, perhaps the school system in Toronto has helped him to pitch exceptionally well…. wait that’s not Clemens…
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Fact is though that alot of these guys were caught.
Bagwell and Biggio will eventually get in. Walker, i
don’t think so. Playing in Colorado hurts him.
Palmiero put up alot of numbers,very likely juiced
BUT in an era where everyone did, wasnot look at
as a truely dominant player. Sort of like McGriff.
The Crime Dog hit alot of HRs in the HR era BUT
was he ever really one of the best couple, three players of his era?
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
Yeah that’s my point on Palmero. He put up good offensive stats compared to history but not really compared to his time.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
Sorry but Larry Walker is just NOT a HOF.
Home: 348 .431 .637 1.068
Away: .278 .370 .495 .865
Coors: .381 .462 .710 1.172 in 2500+ AB’s.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
Agreed TRS on Larry Walker. Very good player…
Much better in the rarifiedair of Colorado where he played half his games…AND….Never was in a position
to really help himself on a big stage.
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
Read an article the other day using Keith Hernandez as an example of how ludicrous it’s become.
Author said the voters will only vote a % of each decades worth of players into the Hall. Said since the 80s were getting close to ‘saturated’, Keith was deemed not worthy b/c of low HR totals.
Say what??? Author goes on to note how Keith has better stats than many 1st baseman already in the HOF.
And wasn’t it a few years ago where they were debating whether Blyleven was worthy? Now he is and Morris isn’t?
As long as the voting remains in the hands of a few, without any clear cut guidelines and personal opinions counting for much, it’s going to remain very subjective.
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Agreed…….I would respectfully like your opinion MF4D as someone who also saw their whole careers, because I always
acknowledge I could be wrong. During their day wasn’t Morris
considered by almost everyone a better and more important pitcher?…I’m not saying he was a Tom Seaver lock 1st time on
the ballot HOFer….BUT a borderline guy. Blyleven, similar BUT
less so.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
I just can’t see based on stats, I did not see Bert pitch much and grew up watching Morris, how you can really compare the two. As Kingman pointed out yesterday Bert’s stats are close to Ryan’s.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
Yeah and I think Ryan’s getting in so easily was due to
his unreal durability, the 5700Ks, which is still 2000 more than Blyleven, the 7 no hitters and most important, the
fact that he was likely the best Pitcher in the AL for
a 5 or 6 yr period in the 70s with The Angels.
Like I said i think both Morris and Blyleven are close to but
not HOF locks BUT again, I’d made a pretty damn good educated guess that just about every team in Baseball
would have taken Morris over Blyleven during their primes.
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
I think this is were the new era of stats/sabermetrics will help some and in the same respect, hurt some. I read a very interesting article yesterday by J. Stark on ESPN on the reason he voted for J. Morris:
I know the sabermetrics crowd hates this vote. Sorry.
I’m as grateful for the invention of WAR, WPA and VORP as anyone else in my profession. But I still believe we’re allowed to consider more than just raw numbers when we evaluate what a Hall of Famer is, or isn’t.
And if we look back on Morris’ career, it sure looks as though the teams he pitched for, and the people he played with and against, were trying to tell us something.
This man started on Opening Day 14 years in a row (1980 to 1993) — for three different teams. The only pitcher to start more openers than that since World War II was Tom Seaver (16). Just real aces are allowed to do that. Don’t you think?
Morris also started three All-Star Games. The only pitchers in the division-play era to start more were Jim Palmer and Randy Johnson. One thing I’ve noticed throughout the years: They don’t run just any old stumblebum out there to start an All-Star Game — let alone three of them.
Then there’s October. Of the seven postseason series that Morris’ teams played in, he started Game 1 in six of them — again, for three different teams.
And his teams brought him back to start on short rest five times — always in a Game 4 or 7 — in those postseasons. There must have been some reason they liked the idea of trotting him out there when their seasons were hanging in the balance.
So I understand why Morris’ 3.90 ERA gives people the shakes. But for all the reasons I’ve just laid out, it obviously wasn’t just a couple of hundred misguided voters who looked at this man and thought: “Ace.”
******************************************
I have to say, he’s got a point. What constitues ‘dominant’? Is it only the advanced stats we’ve now got available?
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
Thank you and sorry about my earlier era on opening
day starts. How could I have forgotten about Tom Terrific.
Also, Morris didn’t exactly Pitch in Pitcher’s parks.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Earlier era???….Imeant earlier error….Hello…Not much
sleep the past couple nights.
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
LOL…I hear ya.
I think Morris is borderline. I certainly thought he was very good back in the day and he commanded the respect most aces do. However, when you look at his stats, I guess you could make a case for not voting him in, just comparing with stats of others who have been voted in.
Pedro, on the other hand, is a no brainer to get in, IMO.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Yeah look I agree. A few yrs ago when I looked back at Morris’ stats, I was surprised they weren’t a little
better. Again though throughout the 80s and into the 90s, you could count on one hand the Pitchers
you’d take over him to lead your staff. And I’m talkin’
then….not a decade or two after he retired. Plus,
thanks again on the Jason Stark thing. I knew Morris’
Post-season/ Big game stats were pretty good BUT
those quotes really stamp my opinion about him.
It’s no knock on Blyleven BUT with just a couple of
exceptions, everyone felt Morris was a better pitcher
than Blyleven in the 80s.
kistics
1/5/2011-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Dang… Adrian Beltre 6/96M…. jeez…
At $16M per season, Bay and Beltre are now getting paid the same $$. Not considering the years and positions, who would you rather have?
fongy2
1/5/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
I’d want neither…..BUT except for last yr, Bay’s a better player.
kistics
1/5/2011-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
I knew you were going to say that LOL.
I agree at $16M I would want neither, but if I had no other choice I would choose Bay.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
That one is a tough one. I would want Bay over Uggla but then Beltre’s defense is so solid. However he is for sure a contract player.
kistics
1/5/2011-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
Yes his defense is solid. But it’s not like Bay is a bad defensive player either.
Beltre is 1 year younger.
Both their career BA is similar but Bay is superbly better in OBP, SLG, and OPS (.882 vs .791). Beltre only has had 1 season with 30/100 (and 2 seasons over 100 RBIs). Bay has had 4 seasons with 30/100.
TRS86
1/5/2011-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
While Bay’s defense is solid, Beltre’s defense is exceptional.
stickguy
1/5/2011-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
normally though a 3B will “age out” of the position quicker than a LF will, right?
stickguy
1/5/2011-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
beltre might be a year younger, but his contract will take himto a year older, right? I keep forgetting if Bay is 3+ option left, or 4+ option. I think it is 3 guaranteed.
damn, I hate that contract.
kistics
1/5/2011-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
# 4 years/$66M (2010-13), plus 2014 option
* signed by NY Mets as a free agent 1/5/10
* $8.5M signing bonus
* 10:$6.5M, 11:$16M, 12:$16M, 13:$16M, 14:$17M club option ($3M buyout)
* 2014 option guaranteed with 600 PAs in 2013 or 500 PAs in both 2012, 2013
* full no-trade clause
So basically if he stays healthy in ’12 and ’13, his option gets picked up. Dang…
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Fine by me because if he is healthy based on his career he is going to produce.
stickguy
1/5/2011-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
entirely possible if his skills continue to fade that by 12-13 he could be more of a platoon type (or less than FT) player, even if healthy enough to be on the roster.
one injury requiring a month or so on the DL either year would be enough to have him miss the PA limits anyway.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, hey. Lets see how he does this year before we say he is in decline. Again, I point to those numbers at home in citi as hope for this year. If he hit that well at home he should hit better on the road.
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
On one hand, today we’re kept informed almost up to the minute on the latest and greatest.
The down side is weeding through rumors that are nothing more than that.
Olney isn’t one I normal read or follow to get the latest info so I really don’t know how accurate/inaccurate he can be. I’ll take your word for it though.
There are other beat writers who I routinely take anything they say with a grain of salt. There are a couple that just downright annoy me. They shall go unnamed….
saltygary
1/5/2011-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
OK Real Dirty Buster Hating Blog, this is not a Buster issue but a blogger issue that relates to all form of news and the information that these outlets provide. As a society we are used to reading a newspaper or an internet article from a reporter that has had time to check sources and facts and provide a well detailed article. Blogs and twits allow immediate information and most of the individuals that push this “news” will state that they are passing information maybe from one source and take it for what it is.
For the article of course Young is denying it, he needs as much leverage as he can get and doesn’t want other teams to know what one team is offering. Of course the Mets are denying it because they don’t want to be bid up. Those guys over at ESPN have extremely deep sources that provide information for favors in other areas and Buster probably had an accurate snippet that may change as negotiations with the Mets and other teams move along.
Don’t hate the player hate the game.Buster does well with the role he is in, if you don’t like that type of information stream then turn off the twit. Personally I could care less who twits what, I just don’t give enough weight to the stream to waste my time swimming in them.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
“Those guys over at ESPN have extremely deep sources”
It’s common place to have 2 ESPN representatives report conflicting information. So in that manner, ESPN always “broke” the news and is always correct.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
I guess I just expect more reliability from someone in his position.
fongy2
1/5/2011-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Exactly. Half the time we get more accuracy from unknown bloggers whos only direct access to stories is combing the internet.
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I stopped short of ever signing up on Twitter. However, I do routinely look at the tweets on this blog over on the left. If something catches my eye with a link to a story, I’ll go read it.
I spend entirely too much time on here the way it is (when I should be doing other things like, uh, working…..) so signing up on Twitter I decided was not a smart move….
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
I am by no means a buster olney fan but I don’t know if too much may have been read from his tweet?
Olney was reporting a rumor not a fact I thought most would realize that because whenever he tweets stuff with an opening of “Heard this” that is usually what I take from it.
Sometimes his rumors are correct and sometimes not I suppose but definitely anything that starts of with “Heard this” rather than him just stating the Mets made an offer should always be taken with caution. At least that is how I saw it.
I also like TRS got up waiting to see if the Mets denied it as well today and I was not surprised when a report came out that they supposedly did as well.
TRS86
1/5/2011-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
“I also like TRS”
Framing that one. LOL.
Yeah I realize that he put the heard this in there. But how do we know that he indeed did hear that from an executive?
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
You don’t, that is up to the individual to decide or not.
TRS86
1/5/2011-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. I guess my point is that now with Twitter I seem to trust some of these guys less. I think we have been through that discussion.
stickguy
1/5/2011-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
well, teams discuss concepts all the time. Pretty much “what if”, but certainly short of a formal offer that the guy could sign.
Say you were looking at a new car, and the salesguy gave you the old “IF we could get it down to $220 a month, would you buy it?” line. Is that an offer? No.
so it certainly sounds like here Olney took some framework negotiating and translated it into an actual order.
He is a boob, but I guess we should take from the whole situation that the Mets are actively in some kind of talks with him! And they do need another SP.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
You may be right.
kistics
1/5/2011-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
Buster is a boob… !!
stickguy
1/5/2011-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
well, that too. But even a boob gives milk sometimes.
TRS86
1/5/2011-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
I have yet to see a boob give milk and then have that milk recanted though.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
He’s not a boob.
He is a liar, and a very serious, calculating, successful liar.
His lying is what has gotten his where he is today.
kistics
1/5/2011-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
a lying sack of boob!
kingman 26
1/5/2011-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Now THAT’s what I’m talkin’ about!
saltygary
1/5/2011-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Kong, we have been agreeing with each other too much lately, and I knew this day was coming…
I think these words are pretty harsh. Buster’s job is to post rumors and mumblings via tweets and opinions based on pieces from creditable newspapers that he links to. This is an extremely tough position to be placed in. The tweets that he posts are permanent but what he tweets about could only be true for only a short time. It is nothing more than “tabloid journalism” that has a huge market. Guys don’t want to speculate about “BranJolina” they want to speculate where Matt Garza is going to be traded to. It;s not for everyone and unfortunately people take too much of what is said and take it as fact when in the end it is just entertainment.
Buster does have a deep reporting background and has built up credibility over the years and unfortunately the type of reporting that he has been doing over the last 5 years pretty much takes a giant dump on his past work.
TRS86
1/5/2011-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
I think that is our problem however. We expect him to be an accurate reporter when he seems to want to just be a celebrity.
saltygary
1/5/2011-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think he wants to be a celebrity it’s that he is reporting on athletes like they are celebrities. Also his accuracy is fine we just need to learn that it might only be accurate for that brief window when it is reported.
The best example is during the GM meetings this year. All these guys were shooting 100 tweets a day and the information that they report on just evolves and morphs at a speed that is still very new to us bystanders. It is also possible that a percentage it is incorrect or misinterpreted. But now more than ever we are becoming a fly on the wall in areas that we as bystanders never had immediate access and it will take time to learn the right way to post and digest this information.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Accurate? How do we know? Do you really think there was a Mets executive that told him they had made a 1M offer to Young? If they did then it was a planned leak.
saltygary
1/5/2011-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
Or is it a secretary of Young’s agent and they are pushing the information to attempt to drive the market up?
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
But then if he is passing it off as info from a Mets executive then that’s lying.
saltygary
1/5/2011-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Is it?
“Heard this: The Mets’ offer to Chris Young likely includes guaranteed money over $1 million. He’s a good fit for the ballpark.”
he does not say whe he heard it from.
TRS86
1/5/2011-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry, he did in a reply to Rusty on Twitter. Something like one Mets executive might have different terminology than another or something along those lines.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I see other viewpoints, and despite Mr. N’s silly hyperbole below, of course I know Olney got where he is via hard work and talent, as well as sensationalism and outright fabrication.
But as one who has followed ESPN for 30 years, the network today has largely become the National Enquirer of sports, as the latest about Brett Favre’s dick and TO’s latest nonsense and the latest college athlete to accept a quarter from an agent to make a call from a payphone is what ESPN is primarily concerned with.
ESPN is now a mammoth corporation who sees sports the way Fox sees news—-sensationalize and lie to get ratings. That is all that matters.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, had to throw that last part in and ruin any argument you had.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, it strengthens the argument.
And CNN and CBS and NBC and ABC do it as well.
Fox is just way more blatant and obvious and shameless about it.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
As a republican of course I see it the other way. I agree Fox does it but think that CNN and NBC are worse.
Not the point, just did not think it should have been brought into the argument.
Obviously any TV corp or News agency has one goal in mind. Money. Can’t really fault them for that I guess.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
You’re right; I should have simply said “Network news.”
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
Has nothing to do with politics….and everything to do with reality.
saltygary
1/5/2011-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
But the Terror Babies are REAL!!! Muhahaha
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
saltygary
1/5/2011-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
YES! You are absolutely correct and that is how it should be interpreted. I can’t even tell you the last time I actually watched a sportscenter for those reasons. What I do watch is actual sporting events (hard to muck those up) and what they did with 30 for 30 was fantastic. They are in the business in making money not appeasing intellectuals like us
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Bingo. Truth is always in the middle. Most likely Mets are interested and have yet to make an offer but do have a budget. It’s however, unlikely that any Mets executive told Onley what their terms were.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
All I can do is apologize for disagreeing with you in the past.
Could not agree more. They still do some great stuff, but if I see one more story about a Bengal wide receiver, I seriously might kill my television.
Yes, Olney worked to get where he is, but he is smart enough to know that Tweets like this, even completely fabricated ones, will get his name all over the internet. Q rating; that’s all he is after. Not accuracy.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I am sure you wish that was the case but somehow I think it takes a bit more than just being a good liar to get where Olney has gotten. Like simply being good at his job but I can understand your personal feelings getting in the way of you forming an un-biased opinion of him so I can understand your feelings toward him.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
Yes, Olney is most honest.
Keep posting his tweets!
Follow the Garza-to-the-Cubs ones…they’re great as well.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
I think we owe it to our readers to continue posting his tweets.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Your vote definitely counts for infinitely more than mine here, but I totally disagree.
Olney and Heyman tweeting means next to nothing.
Sometimes it become real news and sometimes it doesn’t.
And, the more people who post his outright drivel, the more airtime he gets.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Our job, however, is like NJ said. Report the information and let the reader decide the validity. As a fan it does get annoying but as a blogger it has to be done.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
I respect both of your opinions.
saltygary
1/5/2011-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Yea and we would have great discussions like this were we can dissect this information. It’s these conversations that help remove the blurriness or these reports.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Well you can be assured that any tweet from anyone that I deem worthy I will definitely post but I appreciate your approval nonetheless in regards to Olney.
As far as honesty goes I let the individual decide for themselves what they feel is honest or not as I do with you.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Yes again!
When Olney hears the wind outside his apartment whistling “GARZA TO THE CUBS!” let’s print an EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT edition!!
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
If you feel it needs to be posted then I would hope you do so.
I don’t think reporting the cubs rumors are what we are about unless it is to somehow connect it to something with the Mets that is.
Again, just because you have a strong feeling toward someone doesn’t mean your opinions are any more right than someone else that feels opposite you.
You can site there and berate Olney all you wish that is your right to do so if you wish but in the end it means no more than the opinion of 1 man. Nothing more.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Well, if someone else is suggesting that Olney would never exaggerate or fabricate something, my opinion sure is more valuable and worthwhile than that person.
Olney has been doing this for years.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
Let me know when you find that person suggesting that Olney would never exaggerate or fabricate something.
I’d love to see that since I don’t ever recall seeing anyone say it yet..
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
Fair enough; did not realize you thought that way.
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
I, for one, appreciate this. As previously stated, I have not signed up for a Twitter account. Therefore, I have to go searching if I want to read the latest tweets from whoever.
The twitter roll on the left of this blog is great and the quick posts from a tweet when deemed relative allows me to keep coming here first for ‘all the Met news that’s fit to print’.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
I enjoy the twitter roll as well.
Prismo
1/5/2011-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
I completely agree with you Kingman – Olney is a total hack. It’s his JOB to make sure his sources are correct. I don’t see why the standard for journalistic integrity and ethics should be any different in the sports world than it is for other realms, although Buster is lucky he’s a sports reporter and not a political one. Imagine if Olney scooped “Sources: Obama plans to declare war on Canada” and then it was found to be completely falsified days later.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
He would get Dan Rathered.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
You mean Karl Roved.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
That was possibly the single greatest political dirty trick in history.
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah that too.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Ted Koppeled sounds like it hurts. Ohhhhh, he was koppeled! down he goes! ohhhhh, the humanity….
metsfan4decades
1/5/2011-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Ouch.
Yeah, I would say sports writers are not held to the same high standard political journalists are. I’m willing to bet it’s now acceptable in the world of Sports to print/tweet any rumor heard, no matter how obscure.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Canadian Bacon any one? God Rest John Candy…
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Prismo; but I think the sports world is just viewed as entertainment, so ESPN’s new style of being the Enquirer of sports is tolerated.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
Well, to be technical, isn’t that what sports is?
TRS86
1/5/2011-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Well uh… well yeah. I guess to some anyway. LOL.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
LoL TX the way some react you would think it is more than entertainment at times.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
It’s when is somehow goes from entertainment to religion is where it starts to make people get wacky.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
agreed
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely. I guess that’s why I get a bit ornery about Olney and WFAN. I know Mr N is right to post it, but I never, ever listen to Francesa, I never ever read/watch Olney or Heyman, and I hate having them intrude into my life.
Bit I KNOW not everyone agrees with me.
To me, giving Olney airtime is just helping the ongoing project of turning the US major media into nothing more than a corporate-sponsored ratings/profit machine.
Yes, just my opinion.
But to me, no one loses anything by not ever seeing anything Olney Tweets.
TRS86
1/5/2011-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t help but disagree. As much as I am not a fan of him.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
I know many here disagree with this; no doubt.
I do like Steve Somers on WFAN though.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
I like the schmoooze too, but man, if he doesn’t sound half in the back more often than not.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
bag, not back. i’m typing like i’m in the bag.
saltygary
1/5/2011-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
I miss Steve Somers, he is the best over there.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
I guess another thing I think is that it just dumbs us all down a bit more….following the Tweets of someone like Olney.
It just does not raise the level of discourse or thinking in society. It does the opposite. More mediocrity.
TRS86
1/5/2011-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
You could approach it from the opposite end in that it actually makes us more intelligent by forcing us to question the norm and seek the truth?
kingman 26
1/5/2011-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
That’s a hell of a good way to see it!
Seriously, that really does make a lot of sense.
saltygary
1/5/2011-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
ESPN is one of the highest rated networks and Fox is by far the highest rated “News” networks. Until ratings go down, the formula will not change.
Probably the best example of this is Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen nightmare shows on Fox and BBC (I’m a sucker for cooking shows. If you have seen the latest South Park episode making fun of home cooks it struck me in the jugular and my wife hasn’t stopped laughing at me for a month). He does an American version and a British version where he goes into a restaurant and tries to turn the business around. The American version focuses on his swearing/antics/drama. The British version focuses on the operation of the restaurant/menu with an understated f-bomb here and there. Ramsey doesn’t change what he does for the people but he changes his approach and the production is way different. It’s our culture driving what we watch and companies are just being smart to capitalize on it.
TRS86
1/5/2011-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. I guess for some reason I expect more accuracy from reporters but I should not.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed again! I watch some cooking shows..I am VERY into chefs and good restaurants…Ramsey is too much.
I like Bourdain’s books a lot. And Michael Ruhlman’s.
Prismo
1/5/2011-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Gary – that SP episode destroyed me too; I watch food shows constantly (you name the food/cooking show, I watch it).
I agree that Kitchen Nightmares on BBC is better than the Fox version, which is basically just Ramsay discovering bad cooking and moldy food, then cursing out the owners. However, I love Ramsay. I can’t get enough of him calling full grown adults “fat cows” and them taking it.
I would HIGHLY recommend Eric Rupert’s show, which can be found on http://www.aveceric.com – it’s like the Zen of food/cooking shows. Must-watch.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Eric Ripert is amazing…..Le Bernardin might be the best seafood restaurant in the US.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Anthony Bourdain’s new book has a whole chapter on the guy who preps most of the fresh fish for Ripert at Le Bernardin. Unreal; hours and hours every day treating fish like they are priceless.
Prismo
1/5/2011-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
Then I hope Olney takes the same pride in his reporting that a reporter camping in front of Lindsay Lohan’s rehab center takes!
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Olney… Blurring the line between reporting and stalking. Film at 11.
Mr North Jersey
1/5/2011-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Good one TX.
kingman 26
1/5/2011-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Excellent analogy.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone know what Francis was looking for? 1 year, 4 million or something like that?
TRS86
1/5/2011-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
Hard to say. I am guessing that reports had Cap looking for more and have all had Young looking for 3M or more.
njstuckintx
1/5/2011-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
I get the feeling Yanks are going to get him. just a feeling.
TRS86
1/5/2011-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
To me Francis fits the Yanks more than Young.