He reportedly had to be separated from DOB in the Braves clubhouse, blaming the reporter for Griffey’s decision to sign with Seattle.
To repeat: 1.) Does anyone really think Griffey’s decision was swayed by something a reporter wrote? 2.) If that was indeed the case, do we really want such a fragile ego?
Huddy’s a cool dude, and we don’t know the whole story so I won’t pile on. I suspect he’ll make amends.
DOB was just doing his job. Fellow professionals should recognize that.
–CB
DOB also wrote a story saying that if both Glavine and Junior signed some guys would be cut from the 40 man roster, and he named names. Which is the manager’s job, not DOB’s job. The combination of the two was probably what drove Hudson to anger. I do see Hudson’s point: Griffey was leaning towards ATL and then the DOB report comes out and the Mariner’s said “we’ll pay you whatever you want” before the Braves can close the deal, and the Braves are back at square one.
I don’t see anything wrong with discussing the roster implications of signing new players. I mean, those implications exist, and would have to be discussed by the front office.
This might be a stretch, but it seems to me that Hudson is reacting to the new journalistic paradigm, in which the writer (DOB in this case) is engaged in a two-way conversation with a readership that’s fully engaged in the topic, all the way down to the last spot on the 40-man roster. If enough people want to discuss it, it has to be discussed, or else DOB isn’t doing what the job now entails.
Great point, sansho. If this were 10 years ago and there was no blog, he might not have written about the roster implications. But it’s fair game. If anything, the ajc’s coverage of the Braves is far less aggressive than teams in New York, Boston, Philly, Chicago, etc. get. Huddy’s a good guy and I give him a pass, but he shouldn’t have done that. If he’s mad at anyone, he should be mad at Griffey. According to Chipper, who’s as candid as they come, Griffey initiatied contact with the Braves, basically called and said, “I’d like to play for you guys.” Then he changed his mind to play for his original team. That’s certainly his right. But to blame it on the newspaper is ridiculous. When a guy covers a team every day, this kind of thing will occasionally happen. If it didn’t, then the writer isn’t doing a very good job.
I’m back, biches! Glad to see one of them baseball pussys finally showing sum fire! Ol’ Timmy musta been hanging with Rocker, the only Braves players Ive ever really rooted for. I hate to complemint an Auburn boy, but anyone who tries to beat up the media is awright with Dawgman! Sic’ em, Timmy!