For anyone who has the Sporting News season preview issue

by sectionop92 on Mar 1, 2008 6:16 PM PST Comment 9 comments

Is it just me or did the baseball writers of the Sporting News staff fluff this issue like Joe Everyfan was a porn star? Red Sox vs. Cubs world series predicition, "bad, bad Barry Bonds" interview with Lance Williams, the "rival" scouts blurbs reading like pragmatism is a overpriced claret when they'd rather have the moonshine in the coffee cup, etc. etc.

Loved reading how Tim Alderson was a "polished college pitcher" in the top 10 prospects section. Fact check, thy name is handing assignments down to interns to get $2 hot wings and eye humpage on deadline at 4 p.m. right before issue goes to print.

The article that related to the issues around whether the players out of high school should or shouldn't sign was pretty good (of course, since it had the Bumgarner's in it). And the college and high school stuff in back since it's a quick reference to the main names. But this is quite a horrendous preview none-the-less outside of those few highlights.

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Sporting News

They certainly did fluff the Red Sox like a mall Glamour Shots booth. I didn't mind the 'roids in baseball section, but I tend to gloss over "Evil, evil Barry" business (I also spent some time last night reading 130 pages of Bonds leaked testimony though).

I did not like that there were no Giants in the top 50 fantasy players to pick up. What about Cain? What about Lincecum?

Also when I tried to log on to the web site to see the top 300 it gave me some nonsense about need to subscribe. Hello, I am a subscriber. I got this magazine from my husband for Christmas. SUBSCRIBER! But it wouldn't let me see the spesh online-only content.

They need a copy editor.

Still the proud parent of Notgardo Alfonzo; hoping for a perfect spring.

by tk on Mar 1, 2008 6:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Sporting News

If Cain and Lincecum aren't going to get any wins, then they're probably not worth going in the top 50.

by cheno on Mar 1, 2008 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Wins count for a lot in most fantasy leagues. Cain and Lincecum could pitch great and be horrible fantasy value.

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 2, 2008 6:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

As an example

I had Matt Cain on my fantasy team for all of last season.

I came in sixth of eight in the final standings. I think there's a 1:1 relationship here. Totally not my complete laziness about the league for that last month or two....

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 2, 2008 9:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: For anyone who has the Sporting News season pr

Inside the magazine, it says the parent company of Street & Smith purchased the Sporting News and is now doing the annuals under the Sporting News banner (all except the NFL edition from the info).

That explains the outright crappiness and lack of detail and substance for the team previews. I would enjoy knowing who all of the best second basemen for each team were, if I were to buy an almanac. Maybe they can take a poll of the scouts on who the best corner infielders are in Colorado and put in Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly.

it's always noonan somewhere

by sectionop92 on Mar 1, 2008 10:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

TSN

I bought the issue off the magazine rack at the grocery store. I thought it was a lot better than the last few TSN Baseball Preview issues I've gotten and better than some of the other one's I've perused this year.

Yes, it's east coast heavy, but it's pretty hard to argue that the AL East is not where it's at the last few years. Let's be honest. The Giants/Dodgers rivalry pales in comparison to BoSox/Yankees right now.

I simply skip over any articles on steroids or Barry Bonds these days.

I thought they did a much better job with prospects this year than in the past. For a magazine that focuses on MLB, it was reasonably in-depth and accurate re. prospects, the slip-up on Alderson notwithstanding.

I also thought they did an outstanding job with the college and high school coverage topped only by Baseball America, and in some ways, I got more out of the TSN coverage because it was more concise and easier to put into a mental package/picture.

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 2, 2008 5:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: TSN

It's funny, I'd argue that the Giants-Dodgers rivalry has every bit as much bitterness and aggression in it as the Sox-Yanks rivalry...

I'd argue that, except that when one rivalry actually counts for something and the other is almost completely irrelevant (due to awful teams), it's a counterpoint with zero validity. Despite how much we all hate Dodger fans.

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on Mar 2, 2008 5:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: TSN

I know most Giants fans hate the Dodgers and their fans. But to be honest, I don't hold any grudge against the Dodgers or their fans. I just love the Giants a lot (and for a long time).

by sharksrog on Mar 3, 2008 1:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting Article

I just finished reading a most interesting article in the TSH Baseball Preview issue about young players choosing between college and the pros. The article finishes with a whole section about Madison Bumgarner and his negotiations with the Giants(hint: There weren't any) and how he decided to sign. It touched on his relationship with his dad and how his dad felt when Madison boarded the plane to instructional league. Good reading!

by DrBGiantsfan on Mar 3, 2008 7:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs