I’m not a negative person nor do I enjoy stirring up negativity towards anyone or anything unless I really feel doing so is justified. (I trust my posts here have made that clear.) But there’s something going on in the Cubs blogosphere right now that I think deserves the attention of every knowledgeable Cubs fan.
As I first mentioned here some weeks ago, Tribune beat reporter Paul Sullivan took it upon himself to block several (perhaps many) Cubs fans from his Twitter feed – apparently because we dared take issue with his utterly pathetic and unprofessional handling of the Milton Bradley story from start to finish (though it’s hardly over from Sullivan’s perspective). Those of us who were banned fumed about it momentarily and then moved on. Like I said at the time, it’s not like we can’t get the same or better info from Gordon Wittenmyer or Carrie Muskat. And, honestly, those of us who follow the team closely and have any working knowledge of the game whatsoever know that Bruce Miles is really the only beat reporter this town needs to begin with.
In any case, the Sullivan Problem exploded again yesterday on a couple of other Cubs blogs. First and foremost, see Tim McGinnis’ blog here. He sums up the issue quite well. And, most interestingly of all, a commenter implying close familiarity with Sullivan was kind enough to post several comments in defense of his good buddy. That defense revealed a staggering lack of understanding of the fundamental difference between professional journalism and fan-based blogging, as it included the following question/statement:
Why should newspapers be held to different standards than blogs?
I don’t even know where to begin with this statement. Because professional journalism should mean something? Because it should aspire to the highest levels of truth and objectivity? Because you’re asking us to buy your freaking product?! (Oh, and that product is dying by the way…for a reason.)
I guess we should be flattered that Paul Sullivan is so envious of the freedom bloggers enjoy that he has deigned to join our ranks. There’s just one last step you need to take, Paul: Give up your paycheck and stop calling yourself a journalist. And if your employers at the Tribune are telling you to “write like a blogger,” try to grasp the concept that “being a blogger” doesn’t necessarily require being negative at every opportunity and taking on personal vendettas against Cubs players – no matter how much of a jerk they might be in the clubhouse. Just an FYI.
The cause has also been taken up here on Another Cubs Blog, where mb21 makes several other important points about just where and how Paul Sullivan has gone wrong and essentially poisoned his relationship with the very fans he should trying to impress.
To sum up, I’d just like to reiterate the request I previously made to all Cubs fans: Boycott Paul Sullivan. Don’t buy his newspaper and don’t give his articles or blogposts your hits. And if you follow him on Twitter and have the great fortune of not yet being blocked, unfollow him. It’s really nothing personal, Paul. I have no reason to dislike you other than the exceedingly bad attitude and lack of professionalism you’ve shown in your work. It’s really rather amusing – you sought to ally yourself with the blogosphere with your snark but you’ve only turned us against you.
Here’s a few other stories* (besides the prospective Millar signing covered in Mark’s post) to check out today:
Aaron Miles is back in the NL Central! Woo-hoo! In a rather bizarre trade yesterday, the Reds sent light-hitting speedster Willy Taveras and infielder Adam Rosales to the Oakland A’s for our favorite 2009 punching bag Aaron Miles and that mythical slugger PTBNL. (Oakland GM Billy Beane then almost immediately DFA’d Taveras.) The Reds now have a fairly old infield - with Scott Rolen at third, Orlando Cabrera (also signed yesterday) at shortstop and Brandon Phillips at second. (Cubs killer Joey Votto at first is the lone exception. Er, well, on second thought, Brandon Phillips will be only 29 this year.) An injury to any of those starters could force allow Dusty Baker to give Aaron Miles significant playing time a la Neifi Perez in 2005.
Reed Johnson has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This Bruce Levine article from yesterday states the deal is pending a physical, but the latest word on Twitter is that RJ did, in fact, pass that physical and is now a Dodger. I’d guess most Cubs fans are somewhat sad to see Reed go. He’s one of those players who is virtually impossible to dislike: Plays hard, plays just about anywhere, great facial hair. Unfortunately, his skill set is somewhat limited. He’s effective at the plate mainly against left-handed pitching and, despite some spectacular plays in the field, his only really outstanding defensive position appears to be left field (per UZR, at least). He’s also been nagged by his surgically repaired back and other unlucky injuries (namely, the foul-ball induced broken foot last season). Anyway, Reed should be pleased playing for the team he grew up rooting for. Good luck, RJ!
It’s Groundhog’s Day! You know what that means, right? No, I’m not referring to Punxsutawney Phil nor the great Bill Murray movie. I’m talking about Mark Prior’s annual comeback bid! It’s on, people. Again. (Actually this story is a few days old but, as I mentioned on Twitter, Prior’s agent REALLY should’ve tied this to Groundhog’s Day.)
Lane Tech high school may get a Wrigley Field replica. The Cubs are working with the Chicago Park District to possibly build it. Hey, why not. Between this and the new spring training facility in Mesa, the Cubs should get some kind of construction industry award. Oh, and no word yet on whether Lane Tech will upgrade their boys’ bathrooms to include troughs. C’mon, troughs and high school students – what could go wrong?
*As always, the bolded phrase leading off each paragraph is a hyperlink.
I think I speak for several in wanting to use Aaron “Mendoza” Miles as a literal punching bag instead of a figurative punching bag. That guy was flat-out awful.
Dave, I’m starting to think that Sullivan’s Twitter account is a fake, a la Fake Jim Hendry. Nobody who wants to engage a fanbase can spew such poison. Then again, he has ALWAYS rooted for the Cubs to fail…
@jswanson: Yeah, we didn’t call Miles “Ol’ 4-3 putout” for nothing. It should be interesting to see how much playing time he gets under Dusty. At the very least, let’s hope he gets some key pinch-hitting appearances vs. the Cubs. Baker/Fontenot/Blanco better be ready at second base.
@Jose Hernandez: I’m pretty sure Sullivan’s Twitter account is real, sadly enough. You may be on to something, though – I have a feeling the person who blocked all of us on Twitter isn’t Sullivan himself (who probably doesn’t know how the hell to use Twitter in the first place) but this sycophant who’s defending him.
One small correction, the commenter on my site did not identify himself. Sullivan’s editor corresponded with Wrigleyville23 on his site, but the commenter on my site who didn’t think that newspapers should be held to higher standards than blogs identified himself only as “Someone Who Should Know.”
He implied he was a colleague of Sullivan’s though not necessarily another Tribune writer. Some have speculated it is Bruce Miles, though I would be surprised if that were the case. I have guessed it might be Dave Kaplan because Kap actually follows my twitter feed, and we had a touching moment yesterday where we buried the hatchet on previous disagreements.
I think it is probably more likely to be someone from ChicagoNow, though it really doesn’t matter who it is. I disagree with them, but at least they kept their arguments civil.
Thanks for the link!
@Aisle 424: Thanks, Tim. I’ve updated my post to reflect your clarification. That’s what I get for, as usual, trying to do three things at once.
Prior is lucky he hasn’t been convicted of grand theft larceny.
Prior should come clean about how he got his 97 mph and help clean up the sport. He and McGwire could go on tour and splain why the juice ain’t good for you.
I’m not sure I can boycott somebody I never really paid any attention to.
I have a Prior signed ball and bobble head. Fat chance I can sell them for postage on eBay.
Yeah, I’m going to miss Reed, but it’s purely for the scrappy factor. The team’s got a lot of that in others. I wish him well though, I did enjoy having him around.
What do you want for the Prior bobble head? I have a Smitty rookie card to trade
BTW — what happened to cartoon sherm? It doesn’t appear anymore. Much like me…I suppose. Is that irony?
@sherm: Your cartoon may have been lost when Joe upgraded the site recently. He’s been recommending we all set up avatars on gravatar.com.
Why should Sullivan be trying to “impress” fans? Especially since the “fans” you’re talking about are over-sensitive wannabe reporters who couldn’t write a deadline story or work a clubhouse if their life depended on it?
Objectivity in a beat writer’s case is basically limited to not unfairly focusing a coach or player, in the context of his work, not showing their opinions on said player.
The way I see it, Sullivan tells it like it is.
Why is email notification off again? I don’t think Prior will ever play baseball again (at least as a pitcher). And if he does attempt to come back as a pitcher, he should attempt coming back as a reliever, not as a starter. Sorry Mark, but that 9-figure contract went out the window well before there was Facebook, YouTube, Gmail, and Twitter.
Prior who? Seriously, does anyone actually care about this guy anymore? I have debates with my coworker. He feels bad and wants Prior to make it. I just think he should recognize that his career is over.
@idiot: Ha, idiot, I see what you did there. You chose the username “idiot” to allow yourself to represent the opposing viewpoint while still revealing your true thoughts on Paul Sullivan. Kudos.
Because I’m all about having a good time, I’ll play along. Am I wannabe reporter? Well, I write a twice-weekly blogpost called “In the News” and even admit on my Twitter page that I like playing beat writer for an imaginary newspaper so, yes! Guilty as charged. I would point out, though, that I don’t (and wouldn’t) have any problem meeting deadlines as I happen to be a writer/editor professionally and do so all the time. Now, as far as being able to work the clubhouse, you may have me there. I’d probably be in danger of soiling my shorts if I ever got clubhouse access and actually had to go up to say, Big Z, and ask a question. (Good thing there are presumably toilets nearby.) But something tells me I’d get used to it eventually.
Oh, and I’d love to debate you on this sentence: “Objectivity in a beat writer’s case is basically limited to not unfairly focusing a coach or player, in the context of his work, not showing their opinions on said player.” But I’m going to need to read it another 50 times to figure out what the hell you mean. If you’re trying to say Paul Sullivan has been objective – specifically re: Milton Bradley – well, no, he hasn’t. That’s much/most of the reason so many of us don’t like (and won’t read) Sullivan in the first place.
Huh??
@CubbieDude: Who was that “Huh??” directed at?
You know, I don’t really care one way or the other about the content of what Paul Sullivan says. Whether I agree or disagree with a writer is irrelevant, everyone can choose to read someone or not, their choice. The part that makes him boycott-able (is that a word?) is that he’s selectively blocking people who don’t agree with him. That’s like if I wrote something here then proceeded to delete every comment that didn’t agree with my position. Administratively all the writers here have that ability. But we don’t act on it.
@Lizzie: Exactly. The larger issue is he refuses to even acknowledge the large number of knowledgable Cubs fans out here on the Internet. He’d probably get along with the vast network of bloggers and, uh, tweeters (I’ll never get used to that term) if he just engaged us in some meaningful dialogue. Go to Bruce Miles’ blog and ask a question – Bruce will respond, and people respect him for that. I’ve seen SI.com’s Jon Heyman respond to people on Twitter.
Paul Sullivan is a dope
Sully is just a reporter/writer with a little 'tude what's the matter with that? It's not the New York Times he tries to be lively and interesting. Hey, being a newspaper guy in this day and age ain't easy with all the info and blogs, etc., out there, how else do you stay relevant? Gotta have a shtick and Sully does OK he may not be perfect but he keeps us reading and up to speed on our favorite team.
Calling Milton Bradley an idiot is hardly offensive. He was a total bust and an A-hole. Think these folks are looking to pick a fight or find a fault that isn't really there. Sully may not be everyone's flavor or taste as a baseball "beat'' guy *(I agree Bruce Miles is excellent and more from the traditional mold, but he blogs also on paper's site) but he's a good voice to have covering the Cubs.
Sully is just a reporter/writer with a little 'tude what's the matter with that? It's not the New York Times he tries to be lively and interesting. Hey, being a newspaper guy in this day and age ain't easy with all the info and blogs, etc., out there, how else do you stay relevant? Gotta have a shtick and Sully does OK he may not be perfect but he keeps us reading and up to speed on our favorite team.
Calling Milton Bradley an idiot is hardly offensive. He was a total bust and an A-hole. Think these folks are looking to pick a fight or find a fault that isn't really there. Sully may not be everyone's flavor or taste as a baseball "beat'' guy *(I agree Bruce Miles is excellent and more from the traditional mold, but he blogs also on paper's site) but he's a good voice to have covering the Cubs.