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Friday, January 22, 2010
MLB really loves having unpaid writers cheerleading them
Jayson Stark makes a seemingly excellent suggestion: have a reliever’s award.
Now, there are already two awards out there: the Rolaids one, that is purely on the numbers, and The Sporting News has its Fireman of the Year award, based on selections by a panel of 31 GMs and assistant GMs.
Stark however thinks it’s time that the media have an award for relievers. As you know, I think the media should get out of the business of reporting on news they create. I’m not sure why the media does not more heavily report what 31 GMs and assistant GMs think about the players they have and trade for, than on what the media itself thinks of those same players.
So, I’m in favor of the BBWAA sponsoring a reliever award… as long as the BBWAA doesn’t vote for that award. If you want to do something bold, commission SABR, Primer, BPro, and SBNation to vote (in some constructive way). BBWAA creating an award that they will vote on, write articles on… well, many editors believe there’s a conflict of interest there. Maybe they are right.
MLB for its part can commission their own awards (and have them, though I have no idea if they have one for relievers). But, why would MLB spend one breath of air when they can get all the free publicity it wants from Holy Writers who act like giddy school girls when it comes to baseball? MLB loves this free publicity.
And I see myself like a giddy school girl too.