Late To The New Media Blogging Party

Back in the day as a youngster, I would stay up late at night and watch 120 minutes on MTV. The good ol' days, when it was actually Music Television. I recall the personal discovery of a band that I had never heard of nor had any of my friends. Awesome! I could be the trailblazer introducing the finest that music had to offer. So I bought their TAPE, talked 'em up and shared with anyone that would listen. Not too many paid me any mind. In fact my taste was openly ridiculed by two people close to me. Whatever.

Within the year this band blew up to the nth degree and there was nary a soul not listening to the groundbreaking band charged with ending the days of glam-rock. Those that ridiculed me were on board proclaiming their love for this band........but I knew better. Many of these people were late to the game, a game that I had told them about, long before. I was the trailblazer that introduced Nirvana* to my group long before they were saturating every aspect of the music industry.

In the figurative sense: The Padres FO versus their fans

Ultimately it did not matter that I was at the forefront of this trend, it only mattering that people were in recognition of Big Hair-Glam Rock as a sort of Anti-Christ and that Nirvana was our musical salvation.....or our nirvana.

Now there is a reason that I share this piece of historical music awesomeness. Newspapers are dying, as those who are awake can attest, and it is through alternative sources of information that sports fans will be forced to sift. Some of us already recognize this and we have sought like minded people who can provide content and analysis......the kind that is sorely absent from the San Diego Union Tribune. For those who disagree with that statement I recommend clicking the following link to a UT article that gave virtually ZERO pertinent information regarding the players acquired from the White Sox in the Jake Peavy trade.

If you wanted information you needed to be visiting the San Diego blogs to satiate your Padre fix. That's a fact folks........a bunch of dudes who don't get paid a cent did all the leg work on the biggest Padre trade since 1993. (Bloggers were the content providers if you aren't quite catching my drift**).

So it is the blogs that are changing (and have been) the landscape of traditional media and we have many new and exciting choices in addition to the existing ones. It is the existing media however that must adapt; a choice of survival or extinction. But in the end it does not matter if your blog has been around for 5 years or if you are late to the party like me***. It only matters that there is a committed group of individuals at the forefront who can still passionately follow and research a Padre team that currently sits at 43-63, 22 games out of first. Only those with passion could do such a thing.....

Post Impetus
Former talk-show hosts embrace new media [UT-Posner]
Response to Posner's article [GLB]

* I happen to think that Nirvana is one of the most overrated things in the history of overrated things. It's three chord rock, with unintelligible lyrics, screamed not sung....c'mon? I mean I like 'em but they're not Deities.

** Look in the sidebar under "The Good The Bad & The Ugly" for a list of sites that you would be better served to consult when in need of real information.

*** If I were you, I wouldn't depend wholly on this blog for intelligent analysis and dutiful research. We're rarely David Spade's Richard from Tommy Boy (me and my fellow nerds shall return to our nerdery to crunch these numbers) and usually Chris Farley's Tommy (fat guy in a little coat/falls down and breaks table). But there are other solid non-table breaking blogs out there.

Here's The Laundry List Of "Nutbar-Type-Fans" Who Raul Ibanez Should Be Lashing Out Against

Raul Ibanez came out guns blazin' against "42 year old bloggers who live in their parent's basement" when it was proclaimed that his HR production could possibly be the by-product of performance enhancing drugs. The point of the blog post was that, unfortunately in MLB, everyone is suspect because---history tells us so. Ibanez would hear of this 'accusation' by the Midwest Sports Fans, and claim:

"You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool - anything you can test. I'll give you back every dime I've ever made [if the test is positive]."

"I'll put that up against the jobs of anyone who writes this stuff. Make them accountable. There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother's basement. It demeans everything you've done with one stroke of the pen."

In reality, Ibanez's frustrations are somewhat misdirected. After all, the bloggers in question really only discussed (and tried to refute) what many fans have thought to themselves.........

"Who was the last 37 year old slugger who saw a marked increase in HR production?"

We're about to help redirect Raul Ibanez's frustration......these 42 year old basement dwellers are but a microcosm in the long line of humans who he should really be lashing out against. Let us begin with:

Dudes Who Don't Like Sports:
Ibanez should be gathering his recent 2009-All-Star-Bid-Supporting-Cabal to attack this segment of the population. These 'men' do absolutely nothing to contribute to Ibanez's $10 million dollar salary. They are a drag on the MLB's economy as well as a thorn in the side of all sports talking men.

These are the boyfriends/husbands who we are forced to hang out with when the ladies have a get-together. They are quickly ostracized for not being able to follow our conversations. To them, Raul Ibanez might as well be a Latin American dictator installed via a CIA sponsored coup de etat. Attack these 42 year old homeowners, Raul.....they do not contribute to your bottom line and they provide awkward moments of silence in the social settings we are forced to be a part of.

Blog Commenters
Bloggers can be critical but it's often those that comment who wield the mightiest sword

That is Fuc%*ng foul!!! But funny nonetheless.

Nice to get a Splendid Splinter reference....also a shout for San Diego.

Poetic...yet a mockery of Ibanez's plea for acceptance.

What's worse, Raul? The Deadspin article or those who comment? Those fellas are vicious and will unleash their cleverness on you like a hammer. Although, as sports fans who are committed to reading about sports they probably watch a fair amount and also help line your pockets. Just get a thick skin for this one....Philadelphia thick.

Fans Who Road Trip To See Their Teams
Raul----These people are dangerous. They will seek you out on the road and pester you to have a drink with them. Before you know it you'll be reliving the movie The Hangover. You'll never see these guys again so no explanation will be forthcoming as to why you woke up still bald, but with sideburns and mayonnaise in your ear. There will still be no explanation that accompanies the pictures distributed country wide that include you passed out with an unidentified nut-sack dangling over your forehead. Do not accept drinks and shots from these fans.....they are dangerous.....much more dangerous than bloggers. They too are 42 years old but very willing "to get crazy" because their wives gave them hall passes for the weekend. Be wary, Raul.

Fans Who Cry Over Team losses
You weren't crying as the losses mounted in Seattle nor should these pathetic fans. It's really sad and we'd be better off Raul, if you went after kids like this....although they do contribute mightily to your bottom line. Without this group of die-hards multi-year contracts in excess of $30 million would be impossible. You might need to go easy on him......your choice.

Jersey Wearing Autograph Seekers
These fools are living vicariously through you via your #29 pin-striped Philly jersey........and they WILL sell your autograph once they get it. Do not allow this exploitation of your labor and renown. These 42 year-olds who accost you are assuredly living in their mom's basement. Shun them.

Face/Body Painters
On the Spectrum of Over-the-Top Sports Fans these people are the most dangerous as their most defining characteristic is having a chemical imbalance. They are a minority and contribute very little to society in general. They contribute even less to Raul Ibanez's bottom line. These are 42 year-olds who have their mothers paint them silly before heading out to the ballpark and Raul Ibanez would do well to issue a public condemnation of their idiocy. Bloggers have nothing on this faction....

In summation: Raul Ibanez should worry less about keyboard wielding bloggers (and what they didn't actually write) and instead focus his energy on the miserable spectrum of fans discussed above....they are the true antagonists. Of course he could also lash out at his contemporaries......the ones who have been found to be drug cheats, and in the process, tarnished the images of all clean players in Major League Baseball.

Editor's Disclaimer:
I AM a dude who likes sports but I have never cried over a loss.

I do comment on other blogs but do not seek out autographs while wearing my jersey in support of said team I am following around the country......all illicit photos of compromised ball players "getting clowned" are under lock and key awaiting an appropriate time for release.

I would NEVER be a body painter....I am however, ashamed of the ONE time I painted my face in high school. Sometimes experience is the best teacher.

Obviously I write a blog that unwittingly creates an environment where Raul Ibanez can maximize his profit potential through unwarranted hype and exposure. He is a benefactor of my dedication to a frivolous hobby.

Due to California's daily battle with plate tectonics my mother is precluded from having a basement. I am not 42 years old.

Jake Peavy Hates You Bloggers

On Tuesday Jake Peavy was on the hill to disastrous effects. At the time I wanted to analyze it and perhaps make some comparisons to previous athletes who had to face adversity (sickness, injury, etc.) yet battled through it. Eventually I optioned out because it required research which I didn't have time for and I didn't want to "call out" Jake Peavy....dude wasn't feeling well, and he's about all we've got to claim as our own.

However, I decided I would touch on the Peavy Start, and would look at in a broader context based on something I read over at Gaslamp Ball. What was written over at GLB was a break down of Jake's comments of a radio interview with Darren Smith on XX1090 on Thursday afternoon. After reading the quotes I listened to the interview so I could get the context as well as hear the tone in which Jake gave them. The whole interview essentially revolved around Jake's illness and subsequent reports that were either visible on Twitter:

or other 'inaccurate' reports on blogs by fans:

The above quote is what shall drive my attempt to be as fact based as possible in looking at Jake's career.......that's right, it's stats time!

Jake Peavy has asserted that blogs are riddled with inaccuracies so it is with that in mind that we have turned to ESPN to provide Jake Peavy's game log for each season in question so as to give the most accurate view possible. I want to look at this week's start as well as some of the more important games from the last few seasons.

2009 Season
On June 2nd JP started at home against the defending champions. His start had been pushed back a day due to a sprained ankle in his previous start against Arizona. Jake pitched poorly against Philly and most of the camera angles were geared towards his left 'plant' foot to try and explain the problems. He didn't seem to favor the ankle but lasted just one inning. We would later hear that JP was suffering from an upper respiratory infection.
L 10-5 to Philadelphia 1IP 3H 4R/4ER 0HR 2BB 0K

2008 Season
On June 18th, with the season essentially over, JP got the start on a Wednesday night in The Bronx. The game lacked true meaning but at the minimum was a stern test that would be covered ad nauseum by ESPN. I was at this game and in Jake's defense he was thrown off his routine by approximately 6o minutes due to rain delay....a lot can happen in an hour.....especially in a beer garden (It wasn't a beer garden. Yankee Stadium was a dilapidated shit hole so really it was a beer stand next to a bathroom....but there was no line/it was dry/and we had an hour to drink/.......so it might as well have been a beer garden)
L 8-5 to NYY 4IP 6H 4R/3ER 1HR 2BB 4K

2007 Season
On June 24th the Padres were facing the eventual 2007 WS winner at home. The Gaslamp Quarter was teeming with Massholes and WE had just watched Chris Young pitch the series even on Saturday night (We were the guys skewering JD Drew all night out in RF). Jake had the opportunity to get the series win on Sunday afternoon against Josh Beckett.
L 4-2 to Boston 5IP 9H 3R/3ER 1BB 3k

On September 5th Buddy Black decided to pitch Jake on short rest to try and halt the surging Arizona Diamondbacks.
L9-6 Arizona 4IP 7H 8R/8ER 2HR 3BB 4K

On October 1st after having debated throwing Jake on short rest in game 162 against the Brewers they instead opted to have him on full rest in case there was a game 163 in Colorado. The Rockies hadn't lost in a month and Trevor blew game 162 when Anthony Gwynn Jr. scored after hitting a triple. Jake took the hill in Denver on full rest the next evening:
ND/L 9-8 Colorado 6.1IP 10H 6R/6ER 2HR 4BB 6K

2006 Post Season
On October 3rd JP had a home start in the opening round of the playoffs. The Cards jumped Jake like a back alley mugger and I sat in the LF bleachers in painful dismay......by the mugging and the fact that Cardinal Fans wearing Pujols jerseys walked through the aisles with impunity. Not even a 'go home', a 'you suck', or a 'stick it in his Pujols'. 'Tis baseball in San Diego.
L 5-1 St. Louis 5.1IP 11H 5R/5ER 1HR 1BB 2K

2005 Post Season
On October 4th JP started in St. Louis. He got bombed. It was later discovered that he was pitching with a broken rib received during a celebratory dog pile the previous week.
L 8-5 St. Louis 4.1IP 8H 8R/8ER 2HR 3BB 3K

The above games are factual in that the statistics are accurate however they are accompanied with my opinions as well as perceived value which I have attached to each game.

Nobody would argue the importance of the '05 and '06 playoff games nor game 163 in '07. It is my opinion that the '07 Red Sox game was of importance in that it was an opportunity for a home series win in an always difficult inter-league schedule as well as an opportunity to go against Josh Becket who was dominating the AL coming into that game. It is also my opinion that the short rest AZ start in '07 was an excellent opportunity for Jake Peavy to assert himself as a big game pitcher by dominating during a pennant race.

With nothing to play for but pride in an abysmal 2008 season Jake had a shot at the Yankees during their Stadium's farewell season. I'm personally irked by that one because I was there for the series and the Padres did nothing to convince New Yorkers that they weren't a AAAA team.

As for the game against Philly this week: I seem to recall Michael Jordan not only playing with the flu during an NBA championship series but dominating and winning. I think we can all agree that the demands on the human body made by basketball are significantly more than that of baseball. Didn't John Kruk famously say,

"Lady, I'm not an athlete. I'm a baseball player." ?

I was disappointed to see that Jake couldn't gut it out a little more and at least save the bullpen. As a pitcher it was he who controlled the pace of the game and this should have allowed him to last if he was ill (I'll go ahead and say that I feel entitled to demand more from Jake since I completed a game in my sport after having dislocated a shoulder and detached my left retina...not saying I'm bad-ass.....I'm just saying).

So while I have included indisputable statistics this post is riddled with my opinions thus making it unpalatable for Jake Peavy. That's fine. What I'm more concerned with is that Jake Peavy seems so surprised with the fact that someone twittered his whereabouts on a game night or that someone speculated that something might be amiss because he wasn't at a gym working out...

It is precisely because people care about that crap that he's able to make $11 million dollars a season.

For Jake to be peeved about a a fake Twitter account is understandable but to discuss fan interest in a tone that suggests contempt is bothersome to someone who has long been a fan of #44. The information age and instant access is making you a lot of money pal, and you'd be wise to acknowledge this fact.

Maybe all of those blogs (see:fans who write them) written out in the big cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York are on to something about our Ace.......maybe he is scared....maybe he knows he'd fail pitching under a microscope......God knows there are no microscopes in San Diego......This is merely speculation and opinion: the kind of 'inaccuracy' in blogging that so upsets Jake Peavy and his handlers.

Editor's Note: I'm a huge Jake Peavy fan and I wore my #44 to the game yesterday. I have also written defenses of JP on the following two blogs:
Peavy: scared or smart?
Peeved about the Peavy hype
While I love the usual competitive fire, I'm starting to grow a little tired of the off-field comments (trade speculation and fan critique) and the lack of results when the stage is at its biggest.