Todd Jones Column:

[MrStrunz]

In case you missed Sunday's Free Press...Jonesy is whining about Detroit Talk radio.

Here it is..........

This is my one attempt to help you through the Detroit media. All these people who sit there and cast opinions and try to shape your sports mind in our fair city. Most times, you can't make hide nor hair of who knows what, who knows who, who has got a hot tip, or who is just filling space.

As fans, you are at a tremendous disadvantage. You don't have a choice. You want to know what is going on with the Pistons, Lions, Red Wings and Tigers. So who do we look to? We look to our papers.


The Free Press and the Detroit News are in the city. It's important to have two papers in one city as kind of a check-and-balance system. Each paper is just as good as the other, so it's a personal choice.

Clearly, the main media guy in the city is Mitch Albom. Hey, you got to respect him. Like him or not, he has Oprah on speed dial, and you know she picks up, so you can't mess with him. Mitch is a columnist; he's paid to form opinions. Other columnists are Bob Wojnowski (News), Drew Sharp (Free Press), Terry Foster (News), Pat Caputo (Oakland Press), Rob Parker (News) and Michael Rosenberg (Free Press). These guys chime in on social commentary, but they don't get specific in one sport. They give you the broad overview as to what's going in Detroit sports, but they are paid to pull on our emotional strings and get us thinking. So as a rule of thumb, you take what they have to say with a grain of salt.

You get the baseball story from the beat writers, starting off with the guy I respect the most, the Free Press' John Lowe. The beat writers are Tom Gage and Lynn Henning (News), Danny Knobler (Booth Newspapers), Jim Hawkins (Oakland Press) and Jon Paul Morosi (Free Press). There are more, but these guys are the main ones. All of these guys are members of the BBWAA (Baseball Writers' Association of America). Reporters have to show up for at least 81 games to be considered a baseball guy.

The beat writer's job is just to report on the game. They sometimes get a bad rap as having to be homers because they have to be with the team on most days, and they won't write some controversial stuff just to stir the pot because it's not their job. And if they ever want players to talk to them and help them do their job, they sometimes turn their heads and don't print controversial stuff although they see it all because they are around the team all the time.

The one section of people who you need to stay away from, in my opinion, is the talk-show guys. The radio talk-show guys have ruined the credibility of the other guys in the media. They, for the most part, are the troublemakers in town. They whip all the fans into a frenzy by design every day. These guys, who wore blue socks in gym class, criticize the players and try to get fans to take the bait. But remember, they have a job to do; they have to fill four or five hours a day. How do you do that?

By saying that Todd Jones sucks and Joel Zumaya should be closing. Or whatever the topic of the day is. Case in point is the Fire Matt Millen crusade these dum-dums continue to pursue.

Here's a tip: If the Lions fired Matt Millen, it would validate the guys who want him fired, so in a reverse way, they are creating job security. A good rule of thumb is listen to them as entertainment, but they would not know baseball if they worked at Cooperstown as a guide.

Always remember, it's easier to sit back on a Monday and say what we or the Lions or the Pistons did wrong than to have to make the decision at the moment of the contest. That way, these guys who wore blue socks in gym class are never wrong and can look like geniuses. Meanwhile, we're on the field making tough decisions based on the info we have at the time, and we live with it.

The plan of attack for fans is to read the baseball men. Start with your summary of the game from the beat writers. Read all articles from the game and take with a grain of salt what the columnists have to say. Or better yet, watch the game and form your own opinions.

Start with USA Today. There is no hometown emotional influence, just the facts. Then get XM Radio and turn the shock jocks off; make your life less stressful. Remember, they speak after the fact. I've never been wrong when I look back.

The media are a necessary evil of life. They judge and form opinions, and sometimes I just wish they would not forget that fact. They have a platform, and the way some of these guys choose to use it just too bad.

[FloridaTigers]

Well, I don't listen to sports-talk radio. The idiotic people seem to call in usually and the hosts are annoying.

[sloan]

not real sure it's a good idea to critisize these guys

[thewave84]

What's with the blue socks in gym class bit? Is he saying that they are not athletic enough to have opinions about sports?

[sloan]

and i'm alittle offended that he thinks they form OUR opinions for us.. sorry big guy, but people call in and vent their frustrations because they watch the games (like you said they should) some are sheep for sure but for the most part, especially after the games on 1270 the hosts let people call in to give their opinions not nec to reiterate their own.

[Imminent Threat]

I have always loved Todd Jones' columns. I think he speaks from the heart on whatever matter is at hand. He may not be the best closer in baseball but he is our closer, and I'll continue to root for him each time out. As for his columns? I'll read those every time, I haven't read one I disagree with yet. I love his honesty, I like a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, it makes me look at him as human, not just a guy being paid to play a game I wish I had the talent to play!

[Lousluggage]

Sounds to me like WEEI in Boston...I have a feeling there's there's one in every sports market.

But do you guys have a player who calls in from his car and offers opinions on pretty much everything? Gold star to whoever can guess which guy I mean.

[thewave84]

Originally Posted by Imminent Threat

I have always loved Todd Jones' columns. I think he speaks from the heart on whatever matter is at hand. He may not be the best closer in baseball but he is our closer, and I'll continue to root for him each time out. As for his columns? I'll read those every time, I haven't read one I disagree with yet. I love his honesty, I like a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, it makes me look at him as human, not just a guy being paid to play a game I wish I had the talent to play!

So you agree that geeky guys who wear blue socks to gym class grow up to be bad radio talk-show guys but the cool guys who are into athletics become cool XM-radio talk show hosts and USA Today columnists?

[tigerfanfromchicago]

For the most part I don't disagree with him, however I think it's pretty inappropriate to say. You'd think if he didn't like the talk show hosts, he just wouldn't go on their talk shows. What kind of message does this send to the Tigers who do go on the talk shows? It just seems arrogant to me. Why does he get into the Matt Millen stuff? What does that have to do with anything?

If I say "Jones sucks," it's not because someone on talk radio said so. It's because he didn't do his job.

I think it's stupid that he would say this in the middle of a pennant race.

[eastside billee]

I love Todd Jones. I think he's a wonderful guy HOWEVER --

You, me and everyone else on here is paying his paycheck, and Matt Millen's and Dave Dombrowski - and if we got something to say - SOMEBODY BETTER
START Listening.

This is the whole problem with the Lions. THEY DON'T LISTEN and they suck and they suck and they suck and sooner or later, the stands are not going to be packed. Then they'll be begging us back. The Tigers finally woke up
and fixed some problems and we rewarded them with packed houses night after night. However, if they go back to sucking, so will the crowds.

Wakeup call for Mr. Jones -- Stop blowing saves or you'll be addressing
the Texas Rangers, The KC Royals, and the Tampa Bay columnists.

[Imminent Threat]

Originally Posted by thewave84

So you agree that geeky guys who wear blue socks to gym class grow up to be bad radio talk-show guys but the cool guys who are into athletics become cool XM-radio talk show hosts and USA Today columnists?

He isn't saying that they all do, I think he was just poking fun at them, he can't just come out and say they suck can he? Dude compared to the atheletes that we see playing professional sports.....



WE ALL ARE THE BLUE SOCK WEARING GEEKS!
Get over yourself fellow moron!

[djhutch]

From the stuff I've read on here before about the sports talk guys, Jonesy is right.

[MrStrunz]

FYI....Mike Valenti sez that he's putting on his blue socks tomorrow and will talk about Jonesy.

[thewave84]

Originally Posted by Imminent Threat

He isn't saying that they all do, I think he was just poking fun at them, he can't just come out and say they suck can he? Dude compared to the atheletes that we see playing professional sports.....

WE ALL ARE THE BLUE SOCK WEARING GEEKS!
Get over yourself fellow moron!

Not me, I am the kind of guy who writes for USA Today. I don't actually write for them, but that's the kind of guy I am.

[DrWho17]

Originally Posted by FloridaTigers

Well, I don't listen to sports-talk radio. The idiotic people seem to call in usually and the hosts are annoying.

Talk radio is fan driven, he's insulting the fan base going down this route.

[sloan]

Originally Posted by MrStrunz

FYI....Mike Valenti sez that he's putting on his blue socks tomorrow and will talk about Jonesy.

haha you knew that was comin.. too bad i'll be at work

[erinc]

Originally Posted by eastside billee

Wakeup call for Mr. Jones -- Stop blowing saves or you'll be addressing
the Texas Rangers, The KC Royals, and the Tampa Bay columnists.

I totally agree with you on this and it was kind of funny in a way that this article would be released on a day that Jones blows a save in a pretty significant game. But I think Jones has it pretty much wrong in assuming some fans go to shock jock sports radio for their information: I honestly don't know too many people who listen to sports radio for information - they listen to it to hear the goof balls call up and vent. It's their job to rile people up and get them to call in - it makes for better radio.

But honestly Jonesy (who I think is a very good dude off the field) are people that far off in wishing Joel would start closing next season instead of you? If he thinks the fan base is waving around the torches on the closing issue because of shock jock radio - he is really delusional.

[holygoat]

I really like the guy, but this is not how to deal with bad press. The best way to deal with it is to ignore it. Jones comes off as a spoiled little brat in that piece.

[sagnam]

Originally Posted by DrWho17

Talk radio is fan driven, he's insulting the fan base going down this route.

I disagree. Sports talk radio is attention whore driven. I don't think many true fans call into radio shows, instead they have intelligent conversations with other fans about happenings with the sport and ways to improve the team. Calling in to cry "Fire Millen" or "Jones sucks" is not productive at all, it's just a way for a certain type of person to get on the radio.

Sports talk radio used to be a way for people to get to know players and get the latest news about their favorite teams. With so many ways to get this information on the internet now, sports talk radio has morphed into a sports version of the "shout out."

I have no problem with sport radio, I just don't listen to them.

[tiger337]

Originally Posted by thewave84

So you agree that geeky guys who wear blue socks to gym class grow up to be bad radio talk-show guys but the cool guys who are into athletics become cool XM-radio talk show hosts and USA Today columnists?

That's right and people that write for the sporting news wear stupid mustaches and look like beer league softball players. When they were young, they wore white socks in gym class. They needed to get an A in gym class to boost their grade average to D level and keep themselves eligible for sports.

That being said, I enjoy his column. He's not the brightest bulb in the world but I appreciate his honesty and his humor.

[DrWho17]

Originally Posted by sagnam

I disagree. Sports talk radio is attention whore driven. I don't think many true fans call into radio shows, instead they have intelligent conversations with other fans about happenings with the sport and ways to improve the team. Calling in to cry "Fire Millen" or "Jones sucks" is not productive at all, it's just a way for a certain type of person to get on the radio.

Sports talk radio used to be a way for people to get to know players and get the latest news about their favorite teams. With so many ways to get this information on the internet now, sports talk radio has morphed into a sports version of the "shout out."

I have no problem with sport radio, I just don't listen to them.

Well, we disagree then. I think sports radio is very similar to a message board. Many of the ideas/thoughts seen here, were first initiated via talk radio. It's just a convenient whipping boy these days, since Jones doesn't have to answer them directly. He is certainly lucky he doesn't visit motownsports.com, he'd really be hurt, of course he doesn't have any convenient talk show host to single out here.

[sagnam]

Originally Posted by DrWho17

Many of the ideas/thoughts seen here, were first initiated via talk radio.

I think you have that one backwards.

[tiger337]

Originally Posted by DrWho17

Many of the ideas/thoughts seen here, were first initiated via talk radio.

That's a scary thought.

[sevenstring]

Originally Posted by Imminent Threat

Dude compared to the athletes that we see playing professional sports.....



WE ALL ARE THE BLUE SOCK WEARING GEEKS!
Get over yourself fellow moron!

I've often wanted to express similar sentiment in the face of numerous "he sucks" type comments, but you did it much better (and nicer) than I could.

[tiger337]

Originally Posted by sevenstring

I've often wanted to express similar sentiment in the face of numerous "he sucks" type comments, but you did it much better (and nicer) than I could.

You are right. The next time somebody should think before saying that a player sucks. They should say, "he is vastly inferior to the typical Major League Baseball player".

[DaYooperASBDT]

"(the talk-show guys) would not know baseball if they worked at Cooperstown as a guide"

That's signature material, LOL !!

[BringbackBrocail]

Originally Posted by DrWho17

Well, we disagree then. I think sports radio is very similar to a message board. Many of the ideas/thoughts seen here, were first initiated via talk radio. It's just a convenient whipping boy these days, since Jones doesn't have to answer them directly. He is certainly lucky he doesn't visit motownsports.com, he'd really be hurt, of course he doesn't have any convenient talk show host to single out here.

I don't know, most the time I listen to those guys they seem to know very little about baseball. Sure, it's easy for anyone to say "Todd Jones sucks", but these people never seem knowledgable about our farm system or the intracacies of the Tiger organization. Maybe that's snobbish to say, but for people who make their living only off discussing Detroit sports they don't seem to know any more than a slightly above casual fan. I think there are more than enough people on this site who are FAR more knowledgeable about the Tigers and their organization than the people who get paid to discuss it daily. Ask Mike Valenti and the like what their thoughts are on Gorkys Hernandez future as a player, and you'd be lucky to get more than a blank stare. Ask that question here and you'd probably start a day long discussion.

[sagnam]

Originally Posted by BringbackBrocail

I don't know, most the time I listen to those guys they seem to know very little about baseball. Sure, it's easy for anyone to say "Todd Jones sucks", but these people never seem knowledgable about our farm system or the intracacies of the Tiger organization. Maybe that's snobbish to say, but for people who make their living only off discussing Detroit sports they don't seem to know any more than a slightly above casual fan. I think there are more than enough people on this site who are FAR more knowledgeable about the Tigers and their organization than the people who get paid to discuss it daily. Ask Mike Valenti and the like what their thoughts are on Gorkys Hernandez future as a player, and you'd be lucky to get more than a blank stare. Ask that question here and you'd probably start a day long discussion.

I agree with that. To be fair to the sports talk guys, they have to try to keep up with multiple sports on both college and professional level. I think it's much harder for them to keep up to date on all the minute details of each team in each sport at each level than it is for the minor league experts here to stay on the ball about the future of the Tigers. I think there are several posters here that are much more knowledgeable about multiple sports than many of the guys on the radio.

That being said, I think their job has become more about drumming up controversy than about reporting. Sports talk is soon going to have to admit that it's not about the sports they talk about, but the entertainment generated by stirring the pot. I think talk radio survives because of the listener interaction. I don't think there are many people that would listen to local sports radio if all it entailed was reporting and interviews. It's the connection people make when they get to call in and say "Grilli blows, get that guy out of town" and the connection that like-minded people make hearing others with the same views as them.

[billfer]

Originally Posted by BringbackBrocail

I don't know, most the time I listen to those guys they seem to know very little about baseball. Sure, it's easy for anyone to say "Todd Jones sucks", but these people never seem knowledgable about our farm system or the intracacies of the Tiger organization. Maybe that's snobbish to say, but for people who make their living only off discussing Detroit sports they don't seem to know any more than a slightly above casual fan. I think there are more than enough people on this site who are FAR more knowledgeable about the Tigers and their organization than the people who get paid to discuss it daily. Ask Mike Valenti and the like what their thoughts are on Gorkys Hernandez future as a player, and you'd be lucky to get more than a blank stare. Ask that question here and you'd probably start a day long discussion.

I agree with this and as sagnam said I believe it is because they have to be generalists. People will always have sports they are stronger in, like Karsch knows Michigan, Valenti knows football, Baligian knows hockey, but to speak with the same expertise on every topic is difficult.

As for the blank stare from Valenti when bringing up Gorkys Hernandez, you're probably right. Especially since every time he references him he talks about that "Gorky Gonzalez kid."

What I find frustrating about the ignorance is that all the information is out there, and there are many places such as here, or blogs, that there really isn't an excuse for the ignorance. I also get frustrated, and mind you I'm a little sensitive about this as a blogger, but when I hear the sports talk types refer to bloggers as "guys in their parent's basement spouting opinions." It is just as disparaging as the blue socks comment, and yet bloggers and sports talk folk are doing the EXACT SAME THING -just with a different medium. Okay, that soap box done. And to get to Jones point about it all being second guessing, forums and blogs actually have an advantage in that those guesses can be made during the course of the action. You don't have to wait until after the fact.

As for sports talk in general, I don't think it forms peoples opinions necessarily, but it does create kind of a mob mindset. How often did we hear that the Tigers slide last year was due to Placido Polanco's injury despite the FACT that the Tigers got more production out of 2nd base while he was out than when he was playing.

And on Todd's recommendation to trust the beat writers, I'm not sure why we should do that either. We can all watch the game, or read a box score, and even now watch Leyland's presser on FSN, so they aren't adding a lot other than "he'll be out of the lineup today because..." A part of the news cycle to be sure, but the stuff that may really be of interest doesn't get reported - at least not while it's relevant - because the beat writers have to maintain relationships.

When Ugueth Urbina was with the team he was a character who was a little flaky. After he's traded he's the anti-Christ. The beat writers didn't report any of the issues between Pudge-Tram, or didn't even criticize Tram until after he was gone. According to Danny Knobler Jim Leyland is always right. And when I most want to find out something from Leyland - like why he left Macay McBride in to face Cust after it was clear he was gassed, or why did he inexplicably leave Todd Jones in to surrender all those runs against Cleveland - that never gets asked or reported on. Or with Pudge's weight loss, nobody rpeorted that Pudge had spent with the winter working with dietitian Sari Mellman who has worked extensively with other athletes by doing an extensive blood analysis to find which foods work best for each person.

So when the beat writers report the facts, that is true, but they are only telling the clean part of the story.

That's one of the reasons why, despite the fact he's wrong sometimes and harps on the same point too much, that I actually respect Lynn Henning. He'll offer his actual opinions and isn't afraid to criticize.

[tiger337]

What I find frustrating about the ignorance is that all the information is out there, and there are many places such as here, or blogs, that there really isn't an excuse for the ignorance. I also get frustrated, and mind you I'm a little sensitive about this as a blogger, but when I hear the sports talk types refer to bloggers as "guys in their parent's basement spouting opinions." It is just as disparaging as the blue socks comment, and yet bloggers and sports talk folk are doing the EXACT SAME THING -just with a different medium. Okay, that soap box done.

The fact that they even notice bloggers and forums is a good thing. When people belittle a new phenomenon, it often means they are a little scared of the competition. Sabers went through the same thing. When Bill James first started, he was regarded as a joke. Now, he is employed by the Major Leagues along with a good number of other sabers.

As for sports talk in general, I don't think it forms peoples opinions necessarily, but it does create kind of a mob mindset. How often did we hear that the Tigers slide last year was due to Placido Polanco's injury despite the FACT that the Tigers got more production out of 2nd base while he was out than when he was playing.

I think the average sports fan has more confidence in the media than we want to believe. Motownsports has a sophisticated sports audience so it's different here but I find that the average fan often just repeats what he reads in the paper or hears on the radio that day. One of the reasons I spend so much time online is to get away from that mentality.

When Ugueth Urbina was with the team he was a character who was a little flaky. After he's traded he's the anti-Christ. The beat writers didn't report any of the issues between Pudge-Tram, or didn't even criticize Tram until after he was gone. According to Danny Knobler Jim Leyland is always right. And when I most want to find out something from Leyland - like why he left Macay McBride in to face Cust after it was clear he was gassed, or why did he inexplicably leave Todd Jones in to surrender all those runs against Cleveland - that never gets asked or reported on.

This is true. I trust them to report facts but they selectively choose which facts to report. This is especially true with Leyland who is one of the most media protected managers/coaches I've ever seen. Knobler's loyalty to Leyland is almost embarrassing to read sometimes but more than anyone else he is the first to report a breaking story. The two go hand in hand.

That's one of the reasons why, despite the fact he's wrong sometimes and harps on the same point too much, that I actually respect Lynn Henning. He'll offer his actual opinions and isn't afraid to criticize.

I also respect Henning for the same reason. That's not to say that I don't also enjoy Knobler's quick and accurate info.

[Oblong]

I get and agree with the general point of Todd's column. Of course the talk radio guys won't because it would negate their whole purpose. The talent that guys have on sports talk radio isn't sports knowledge and analysis... it's with how to do a radio show. The technical side of it. What buttons to push, how to talk, whatever... It's a specific skill set. But as for what they say. They are the same level as the dude sitting at the bar. The medium doesn't tolerate anything deep because people will switch stations. It has to be summed up in 10 seconds. Plus most of the callers are probably college kids who play video games all day.

[Mike E Monster]

Is Jones signed through next year?

[pfife]

Originally Posted by BringbackBrocail

I don't know, most the time I listen to those guys they seem to know very little about baseball. Sure, it's easy for anyone to say "Todd Jones sucks", but these people never seem knowledgable about our farm system or the intracacies of the Tiger organization. Maybe that's snobbish to say, but for people who make their living only off discussing Detroit sports they don't seem to know any more than a slightly above casual fan. I think there are more than enough people on this site who are FAR more knowledgeable about the Tigers and their organization than the people who get paid to discuss it daily. Ask Mike Valenti and the like what their thoughts are on Gorkys Hernandez future as a player, and you'd be lucky to get more than a blank stare. Ask that question here and you'd probably start a day long discussion.

Let me first admit, I'm a fan of Valenti. That being said....

I have no way to prove that what you're saying about Valenti is correct, and pardon the presumptuous nature of my message, but I don't equate the absence of a particular topic on sports radio to necessarily mean an absence of knowledge regarding that particular topic by the hosts. While its blasphemous in these parts, I think that the vast majority of sports radio listeners probably don't care about the minor league system, so discussing it would fall on deaf ears. Its all about ratings.

Obviously, my message presumes that your argument is that an absence of a particular topic means an absence of knowledge of that topic, so please disregard if this is not your argument.

Now, if what Billfer says is true, and he doesn't know Gorkys' last name, then that's a whole different story.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Mike E Monster

Is Jones signed through next year?

Nope... free agent at the end of this dying season

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by Oblong

I get and agree with the general point of Todd's column. Of course the talk radio guys won't because it would negate their whole purpose. The talent that guys have on sports talk radio isn't sports knowledge and analysis... it's with how to do a radio show. The technical side of it. What buttons to push, how to talk, whatever... It's a specific skill set. But as for what they say. They are the same level as the dude sitting at the bar. The medium doesn't tolerate anything deep because people will switch stations. It has to be summed up in 10 seconds. Plus most of the callers are probably college kids who play video games all day.

I agree. Another one of their talents is being able to talk about nothing for 5 hours. They have to generate interest in the show in order to get callers and feedback.

In talk radio, like most other entertainment mediums, he who talks loudest usually wins. Which says more about the people who listen...

But back to Jones' article. It's a piece of crap. No offense to Jones, but that's a bad article. Dare I say that even Rob Parker may be able to write better than that.

All right, that's probably too harsh.

Does Todd Jones still think he is in high school? "You're a nerd and I'm a cool jock!" And then people come on here and worship the guy because he "tells it like it is" and "isn't afraid to speak his mind." So what if he isn't afraid to speak his mind? He should be! The ability to know when to shut the **** up is very underrated in society.

[billfer]

Originally Posted by pfife

Now, if what Billfer says is true, and he doesn't know Gorkys' last name, then that's a whole different story.

Seriously, repeated mentions as such. And this was during July when it was all talk about trade deadline stuff and who the Tigers should give up. And it wasn't a one time slip of the tongue, or one day when he was just confused. This was multiple days and multiple times per day and no one corrected him. In fact I don't know that I've ever heard Valenti call him Hernandez.

Is it a minor point, probably. But if you don't even know enough about a guy to know his name, how can you possibly advocate trading or not trading him or belittle those who don't share you opinion? And this isn't an obscure prospect. Take a glance at BA's top 10 Tigers prospects or the Futures Game roster.

I totally understand that during drive time the Valenti and Foster aren't going to break down the strengths and weaknesses of the minor leagues. But the glaring ignorance when the information is so readily available is what frustrates me to no end.

[JohnJMS]

I quit listening to sports talk radio LONG ago. The whole point of Sports Talk is to get the listener(s) emotionally fired up so they keep listening. Knowledge gets in the way of that. While there are some areas of Sports Talk that might not fall into this generalization, listening to those shows is at times as tedious as it would be for a Physics PhD to tutor a 6 year old on 1st grade math.

[Buddha]

I do admire one thing about Jonesy. He is either the most ironic or the most oblivious man on the planet, because for someone who doesn't like gay people, he has the gayest mustache in all of sports.

[pfife]

Originally Posted by billfer

Seriously, repeated mentions as such. And this was during July when it was all talk about trade deadline stuff and who the Tigers should give up. And it wasn't a one time slip of the tongue, or one day when he was just confused. This was multiple days and multiple times per day and no one corrected him. In fact I don't know that I've ever heard Valenti call him Hernandez.

Is it a minor point, probably. But if you don't even know enough about a guy to know his name, how can you possibly advocate trading or not trading him or belittle those who don't share you opinion? And this isn't an obscure prospect. Take a glance at BA's top 10 Tigers prospects or the Futures Game roster.

I totally understand that during drive time the Valenti and Foster aren't going to break down the strengths and weaknesses of the minor leagues. But the glaring ignorance when the information is so readily available is what frustrates me to no end.

I can dig what you're saying.

[tiger337]

Originally Posted by Oblong

I get and agree with the general point of Todd's column. Of course the talk radio guys won't because it would negate their whole purpose. The talent that guys have on sports talk radio isn't sports knowledge and analysis... it's with how to do a radio show. The technical side of it. What buttons to push, how to talk, whatever... It's a specific skill set. But as for what they say. They are the same level as the dude sitting at the bar. The medium doesn't tolerate anything deep because people will switch stations. It has to be summed up in 10 seconds. Plus most of the callers are probably college kids who play video games all day.

I think you are correct about the talents and roles of talk show hosts. I'm not interested in that kind of entertainment so I don't listen to it. Some people like it and that's fine. If you are looking for information rather than humor, then a talk show is not the place to go though.