|
Post by jmei on Feb 13, 2013 20:56:57 GMT -5
Speier's obviously being cultivated by the FO. That has risks as well as rewards of course. That said, it's good to get a look inside the sausage making factory. I agree that this is a bit of a risk, especially since Speier is one of the better analysis-focused writers whose priority isn't just generating noise through ridiculous opinion pieces. Access almost always comes with strings attached, and I worry about Speier losing his objectivity, both in terms of being hesitant to criticize the front office but also in terms of failing to do his due diligence on information passed on by front office sources. For instance, there are certain national sportswriters that often just act as Boras mouthpieces, and you don't want to see that happen to Speier.
|
|
|
Post by elguapo on Feb 14, 2013 10:27:26 GMT -5
If I wanted to feed information to a source I'd prefer someone like Speier who isn't an asshat with an agenda.
|
|
|
Post by brianthetaoist on Feb 14, 2013 10:54:01 GMT -5
I don't know if there's anything to this worry ... I don't think this is the start of Speier losing any kind of independence or anything like the concerns expressed above.
I've worked in a number of situations that involved the media member/source relationship, on both sides of it. It's pretty rare that there's direct transactional strings attached, "write this, and we'll give you that." Sure, it happens, and there are plenty of negotiations around what's on the record and what's off ... but it's mostly about relationships instead of direct transactions.
In this case, Speier's shown himself to be a very intelligent, fair-minded reporter and writer who does not particular care about the ax-grinding that happens with many writers. With a piece like this, that has so much information involved, you're going to need to have some trust on both sides. The team would trust that he'd take the time needed to really understand what they're trying to say and report it accurately, and he'd have to trust that the team was giving him a fairly-open accounting of what happened. If either side burned the other, it would harm the working relationship going forward, and both sides know it. Their interests align in this case since Speier likes to explain the broader perspective, and the team wants to get beyond the hysteria and present the broader perspective.
Sure, there's perhaps a little bit of beat sweetening going on with the positive portrayal of Cherington, but that's just part of the deal ... and it seems fairly accurate and doesn't get into hagiography or something.
|
|
|
Post by dcri on Feb 14, 2013 17:12:07 GMT -5
Cherington does not seem the type to leave the office in a costume, but he appears to have had to go through some of the same things Epstein went through. He is more of an organization guy and seems more the type to try to work things out quietly. His off-season moves are consistent with the strategy he says he has.
I haven't been happy with the Sox front office for a while, going back to Epstein. There have been too many bad deals. However, I think what they did this off season was OK, and probably almost as good as they could do. I would have resigned Youk, but another chance at that will come at the end of the season, and maybe waiting to see how he does makes sense. Of course, maybe they really didn't want him back. I don't know.
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on Feb 14, 2013 20:27:41 GMT -5
Or maybe Youk didn't really want to come back - not quite yet anyway
|
|
|
Post by sarasoxer on Feb 15, 2013 8:12:51 GMT -5
Or maybe Youk didn't really want to come back - not quite yet anyway Yup. I think as far as both parties were concerned it was time to close that chapter. Maybe there will be a reunion as time passes and a focal point, BV, recedes. I suspect tho that we will see Youk in a Boston uniform on old-timers day.
|
|
|
Post by sibbysisti on Feb 15, 2013 10:24:07 GMT -5
Do they still have those? I remember when they used to be a scheduled annual event. The old timers even played an inning or two. Good fun.
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Feb 15, 2013 21:29:50 GMT -5
Speier is so well respected right now he will end up at some national outlet soon, unless he doesn't want that for whatever reason.
|
|