Buster Olney from ESPN and Jon Heyman from Sports Illustrated are two sports writers quickly losing ground of credibility with me lately. I honestly would rather not read someone's jibber-jabber unless they had their little ducks in a row and their sources correctly cited. Instead all we get are the standard unnamed source bologna in place of real writing because they have nothing else to come up with. We should be sick of it, and we don't deserve it.
Not these two pipers of the printed word. They cite their "unnamed" sources to stir the fan base and generate reactions. There is one thing they're not telling you, the fan, and I have this from a credible MLB.com source (ahahahaahah you like that don't you?) These guys know nothing more than the casual fan. They are typing these stories to generate either "heat" or interest for their name, their company or their benefit period. They honestly have no clue.
At both the winter meetings and the latest Winter Warmup, the St Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and first baseman Albert Pujols have vowed to keep the negotiations secretive. When asked, Pujols and his agent decline to comment. So how in the wide world of sports would Heyman or Olney have ANY IDEA of what is being discussed? They don't. They speculate just like you or I and it's sometimes annoying as hell.
"It’s apparent that talks between the Cardinals and Albert Pujols “are not going as smoothly as the Cardinals want,” Olney writes. That is a Buster Olney product. http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=6027102&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d6027102%26campaign%3drss%26source%3dESPNHeadlines
Notice in the article it's "sources said". Perhaps I would believe his drivel if it were the GM or heck even the water boy named in the article that gave him some inside info. Here's a tip: If the local media outlets don't get to report on it, neither do you Buster.
Here was Jon Heyman's article today:
"While neither side is talking publicly, early word is that Pujols has used A-Rod’s contract, the richest in baseball and one that guarantees him least $275 million over 10 years as the only comp … The Cardinals, meanwhile, are said to have initially suggested a contract that would guarantee Pujols at least a bit less than $200 million. The exact particulars of their offer or offers aren’t known, but there is a belief around the game that the Cardinals are hoping to keep the deal to seven years or less."
Laughable. Just how in the hell did Jon Heyman get word about the deals but not the local media? I have the answer to that: He's full of poopie. He's generalizing because he doesn't know.
Then there's the market worth. Look, I personally wouldn't pay this guy an annual salary of more than about 100K to play a game. In an economy like this, there needs to be a lockout and get these spoiled brat athletes back down to reality. Guys like Ruth and Mantle are rolling over in their graves right now.
The sad reality of it all is Pujols is no different than any other player in the game. He wants money and a lot of it. He is no saint, or savior of the St. Louis Cardinals. However, people will rebut with their arguments of "well wouldn't you want to get paid the most money, too?" Look people, that argument only goes so far until you become "worth" more than a small mediterranean country. However, players and agents have driven up the demand of services with these so-called heroes and ask the moon for these human beings and get every penny, regardless and it is only getting worse.
Let's recap.
1. No sports writer regardless of track record knows a darn thing of what's being discussed behind closed doors.
2. No sports writer regardless of track record knows a darn thing of what's being discussed behind closed doors.
3. See 1 and 2.
Get it? Got it. Good.
The lid is tight and that is where it is going to stay. Anything else is just speculation.
One more thing: Buster, your act is as tired as your name. Heyman, I am coming for your job. The people deserve better than the crap you two spew daily. Instead of preparing and writing something informative or even entertaining, you come up with the above examples of why journalism is heading south. Now, I'm no Mickey Spillane, but I would like to think some detective work and research would better suit the audience. It's called facts. Dig them, write them, harness them.
Thanks for reading.
-Todd
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