Keith Law is the reason the Media sucks.

[Sven Draconian]

Not the most poetic way to put it, but Keith Law is the prime example of why I hate Sports Media...and ESPN.

He is a Scout now? Really, he is... he is treated, acts as and is referred to as a scout. What his scouting background...not deep (He was "trained" a few years ago).

Lets look at how he got his career started, writing a book (er, helping write) a book in which the book bashed scouts repeatedly (mostly, his writing from what I can tell). When I first started reading BBPro I wondered why they were so...bitter...Law left (or had his role diminished, whichever it was) and remarkably they are much more neutral.

He picked every playoff series incorrectly last season, which must be some kind of record.

Yet, amazingly, his opinion is sought after during the draft. Why is this? He doesn't have a deep background, so why do I want his opinion on a high school hitter? I don't care what his draft board is.

He has a job because he's a good writer, got his name out there and isn't afraid to be controversial. He has no credentials as an "insider", he doesn't even have a base anymore (at least as a stats guy I thought he had a unique point of evaluation...as a Scout what his background).

He just proves again that anybody with an English degree and big vocabulary and bigger ego can work in the media. Sports knowledge is secondary.

[zachcadillac]

I think he's more knowledgeable than just about anyone else at ESPN. He seems to be informed, but perhaps he's just tricking me with his "big vocabulary."

[zachcadillac]

I'd also argue that no network which employs Orestes Destrade is terribly concerned with locution or vocabulary.

[dt35456884]

His jaundiced screeds against the Tigers during last year's ALDS were pathetic. I was geniunely embarassed for the guy.

[FloridaTigers]

Originally Posted by zachcadillac

I'd also argue that no network which employs Orestes Destrade is terribly concerned with locution or vocabulary.

Destrade is cool and isn't an ***. He doesn't try to sound like he knows everything and is always right

[Oblong]

but ask him the "best anything" and he always mentions the hispanic players and goes overboard on the pronunciation.

[iceteebone]

am i the only one who doesn't like kruk? he was better on the best damn sports show snapping at john salley, chris rose, and michael irvin. when they asked him to do some actual analyzing, he sucks

[DetroitFolly]

Originally Posted by Sven Draconian

He just proves again that anybody with an English degree and big vocabulary and bigger ego can work in the media. Sports knowledge is secondary.

Thank you for completely discounting the skillset of DJhutch, OMF, Dave Troppens, Motor City Sonics and myself in one swipe.

[Tigercub33]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Thank you for completely discounting the skillset of DJhutch, OMF, Dave Troppens, Motor City Sonics and myself in one swipe.

I saw a clip of you on Van Sustren's show. Nice work (I know it was old - but just wanted to compliment you).

[Oblong]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Thank you for completely discounting the skillset of DJhutch, OMF, Dave Troppens, Motor City Sonics and myself in one swipe.

I think he meant sports media. In terms of analysis, he's correct.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by iceteebone

am i the only one who doesn't like kruk? he was better on the best damn sports show snapping at john salley, chris rose, and michael irvin. when they asked him to do some actual analyzing, he sucks

" the fat man in a little coat" is god awful. He's a huge Jeter butt kisser and really doesnt ever add anything to baseball tonight

[Buddha]

I too grew tired of the tiger-bashing from Keith Law last year, but he's usually pretty good and he's very smart. He was one of the first guys at BP and he didn't leave because he was forced out, he left to work for the Toronto Blue Jays front office.

I'm pretty sure he knows more about baseball and scouting than 95% of the people on this board and certainly more than me.

I don't know where all these BP and stat people get such a bad reputation around here. You write one or two articles where you mildly criticize - or don't kiss *** - the Tigers and you get branded as some sort of hack. Ask Dayn Perry.

[Tigercub33]

All I know of Keith Law is what I read last year and what I read last year was pretty bad.

[Shelton]

Originally Posted by Buddha

I too grew tired of the tiger-bashing from Keith Law last year, but he's usually pretty good and he's very smart. He was one of the first guys at BP and he didn't leave because he was forced out, he left to work for the Toronto Blue Jays front office.

I'm pretty sure he knows more about baseball and scouting than 95% of the people on this board and certainly more than me.

I don't know where all these BP and stat people get such a bad reputation around here. You write one or two articles where you mildly criticize - or don't kiss *** - the Tigers and you get branded as some sort of hack. Ask Dayn Perry.

Quoted for truth. His criticism of the tigers last year in the playoffs was fine. And as a former member of the Blue Jays front office, I think he has sufficient credentials to discuss draft picks.

[keystone]

He can discuss them fine. But whether he's actually seen them more than once is the question. Most probably he's just talking off someone elses notes.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by keystone

He can discuss them fine. But whether he's actually seen them more than once is the question. Most probably he's just talking off someone elses notes.

Everybody is... But even that is easier said than done.

[Sven Draconian]

Originally Posted by Buddha

I too grew tired of the tiger-bashing from Keith Law last year, but he's usually pretty good and he's very smart. He was one of the first guys at BP and he didn't leave because he was forced out, he left to work for the Toronto Blue Jays front office.

I'm pretty sure he knows more about baseball and scouting than 95% of the people on this board and certainly more than me.

I don't know where all these BP and stat people get such a bad reputation around here. You write one or two articles where you mildly criticize - or don't kiss *** - the Tigers and you get branded as some sort of hack. Ask Dayn Perry.

I don't particularly mind Tiger bashing, and before the season I agreed with a lot of them.

The problem is he just bashes everyone that isn't him, and has no consistant basis for his bashing.

Lets again, review his work. His inital backing was in sabermetrics, he was arrogant in his writing, but hey, he had a sound backing.

Gets a job with the Blue Jays (did he quit or get fired, Im not entirely sure).

Goes to ESPN as a scout now? His analysis switched from SABR based to scout based. He's on ESPN promoting high school players, when he previously bashed teams for backing them. When did this happen.

[Sven Draconian]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Thank you for completely discounting the skillset of DJhutch, OMF, Dave Troppens, Motor City Sonics and myself in one swipe.

I phrased that poorly. I meant to say main-stream media (IE, ESPN, Fox ect..).

[sir gene kingsale]

If I'm not mistaken, didn't Law and JP Ricciardi have a very public feud either at the end of his Toronto tenure or after he left?

Law is sometimes arrogant, but he is one of the only people at ESPN who is worth reading/listening to.