Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 26, 2007
Schilling vs. Shaughnessy

Daniel Drezner explores why Dan Shaughnessy is jealous of Curt Schilling blogging:

If blogs can beat newspapers to the punch in reporting inside information, what is their comparative advantage? Three possibilities: 1) better analysis; 2) better writing; and 3) better controversy.

I've read enough of Shaughnessy's baseball analysis to know that's not his strength (Rob Bradford demonstrates more baseball knowledge in a single story than Shaughnessy does in an entire season). He's an OK writer, but there are plenty of Red Sox beat writers and bloggers who are better (note to Globe sports editor: give Amalie Benjamin her own full-time Sox blog). No, Shaughnessy's specialty is using his acid pen to ignite public feuds with Shaughnessy.

Dan Shaughnessy shows no respect for Schilling or the people who submit questions to him. As a reporter, Shaughnessy should be happy for the availability of more information. Instead, he shows why he's a cut rate Murray Chass.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:26 AM | Blogs | TrackBack (0)
Comments

It's not surprising that Shaughnessy hates blogs. He's a frequent target for online criticism, including one very funny, well-written blog devoted to criticism of his writing, reporting, and hairstyle.

Generally, a lot of sports reporters and columnists hate blogs, because (a) it provides a platform for critics of their work (Dan's colleague Ron Borges was suspended after a blog pointed out a case of plagiarism), and (b) they are being pressured to provide fresh content for their newspapers' websites, meaning they have to work harder.

Posted by: jvwalt at March 26, 2007 11:16 AM

My god, Shaughnessy's column is the most ridiculously sophomoric tripe I've read from a "major" sportswriter in oh, I dunno...two weeks. SRSLY though, this is just embarrassing to him.

Posted by: Jeff B. at March 26, 2007 12:07 PM

Dan Shaughnessy and Murray Chass are both (to borrow a Simmons-ism) the homeless man's Peter Gammons. Actually, I think that might be an insult to Gammons.

Posted by: Gordon at March 26, 2007 12:56 PM

and to the homeless man!

Posted by: SamW at March 26, 2007 02:12 PM

To quote Schilling - "Putting his inherent 'toolness' on display for all the world to see did far more than I could ever hope to do by trying to explain what a dope he is. "

Another reason why sportswriters should hate blogs, you can go directly to the fans and show how someone is a complete idiot.

Posted by: wayne at March 26, 2007 05:27 PM

Dan's job is to stir the pot - and that is what he does. Which is why people, love him or hate him, READ him.

Posted by: Coco Laboy at March 26, 2007 07:57 PM

Funny, i don't read him precisely because he's shown himself repeatedly to be a jerk and a douchebag.

Posted by: rone at March 26, 2007 09:27 PM

When we watch baseball we expect to see the greatest players in the world. Unfortunately, when we read about baseball in the newspaper we do not read the greatest that the world of baseball writing has to offer. Most newspaper baseball writers are redundant, trite and boring. This is why we read blogs. Sooner or later these folks are going to have to recognize that.

Posted by: Blastings Thrilledge at March 26, 2007 10:18 PM

Well...I guess if you don't read him, you really can't comment on this, can you...

Posted by: Coco Laboy at March 27, 2007 06:28 AM

"Generally, a lot of sports reporters and columnists hate blogs".

The best Yankees blog is now Peter Abraham's, because he combines a natural talent for blogging with a beat writer's access to the team. In New York, at least, this is setting a new standard for both the regular bloggers and for his competitors at the other papers. For the fans, it's great.

Posted by: TomP at March 27, 2007 09:43 AM

@Coco -- I "read" him on Fire Joe Morgan. I think they do a pretty good job communicating what I need to know.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/03/blogs-bad-old-media-good-nerds-nerdy.html

Also, feel free to chew on these:
http://www.firejoemorgan.com/search/label/murray%20chass

Posted by: Gordon at March 27, 2007 12:42 PM

re: dan shaugnessy

can you spell neanderthal irish hard-drinking south boston race-baiting anti-intellectual harvard-hating statistics ignoring old school asshole boston globe hack long time sportswriter?

--arthur j kyriazis, philly

Posted by: arthur john kyriazis at March 30, 2007 12:16 PM
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