Roch: AM isn't putting on a show for the fans by making offers he secretly hopes are turned down

[waroriole]

Well, I would argue that post doesn't have the same tone as mikes. I don't see anything there that is questioning Melewski's professionalism unless I am missing something.

That's true. I think Mike was a little out of line, but this is status quo for Roch. If someone even hints that the local media doesn't put enough pressure on the O's, he flips out. From everything I've seen, they don't put any pressure on the team to improve, aside from Schmuck (and he is just clueless). Even when you ask them about international scouting, and arbitration decisions etc. they either ignore your question, or come up with some lame response.

I don't agree with Mike's tone, but essentially he is correct.

[waroriole]

I usually agree with what you post.

I don't see the personal question of ethics called out in a similar manner here.

You're right, there is a completely different tone.

[weams]

That's true. I think Mike was a little out of line, but this is status quo for Roch. If someone even hints that the local media doesn't put enough pressure on the O's, he flips out. From everything I've seen, they don't put any pressure on the team to improve, aside from Schmuck (and he is just clueless). Even when you ask them about international scouting, and arbitration decisions etc. they either ignore your question, or come up with some lame response.

I don't agree with Mike's tone, but essentially he is correct.

Again, I did not want to get into a fellow poster's right to express himself in any way that he chooses.

I know Roch personally. He is a guy who lifts a lot of weights and is physically fit. I think he was going a little Big Dog on his physical call out. I expect in retrospect, that he saw the better of it.

I do not think Roch's Blog or Comments are edited by anyone other than Roch. I'll ask him. He'll tell me.

[Dr. FLK]

How do you defend yourself when someone is calling you a lapdog? I guess I agree with you that the whole "say it to me in person" tone may be a bit much but seriously every time we get what some constue as negative news Roch's integrity gets questioned. I know if you cant stand the heat yada yada yada, but at some point I would think you have to stand up to it in some way.

It is also pretty pathetic for folks to over and over and over question the guy's integrity. If you really believe he is a lap dog, stop reading.

Well, if you can't handle yourself in a professional manner when dealing with questions like that, you might not be cut out to be a journalist who's gig is responding to questions from fans. It's not just "can't take the heat stuff"...this is his job. His JOB is responding to comments. When you respond to comments from an angry fan base of a horrible fan base, you really can't be surprised when you get comments like that. And, he responds in writing. It's not like this was an instance where he just reacted and said the wrong thing. He had time to think out a logical, intellectual, professional response...and that's what he came up with?

I understand him being mad. I understand him defending himself. I just don't understand him doing it like a middle schooler.

[Tony-OH]

I live in Central IL and listen to Chicago sports talk radio a lot. The guys are former journalists who covered the teams and still have several sources. Here is what they indicated about Konerko yesterday after the Dunn signing:

1. Kenny Williams definitely still wants Konerko

2. Konerko has a family issue (unsure of what exactly) that makes him want to be closer to home (Arizona). White Sox have spring training in AZ.

3. Williams is ready to make a deal with Konerko, but Paul and his agent want to go through the Winter Meetings and see what the market is like for him (the assumption is that he'll go back to the White Sox with whatever offer unless the team sufficiently satisfies criterion #2).

The conclusion is that it is not all about the money for Konerko. #2 is really important to him. All the Orioles are doing is setting the market (again) so that he can go back to the White Sox (or a team closer to his AZ home) with an understanding of his market value.

The O's need to forget about Konerko and move on, as I suggest to other posters on here.

the only way Konerko comes here is if we blow every other offer out of the water and we all know MacPhail is not going to do that. He made a nice offer to Martinez but was rejected than low-ballled Dunn. I think it's going to come down to Derek Lee or Berkman at 1B.

[Hank Scorpio]

Roch's good people.

I think he probably realized he went a bit too far, then removed the whole thing.

[TiredofLosing20]

That's true. I think Mike was a little out of line, but this is status quo for Roch. If someone even hints that the local media doesn't put enough pressure on the O's, he flips out. From everything I've seen, they don't put any pressure on the team to improve, aside from Schmuck (and he is just clueless). Even when you ask them about international scouting, and arbitration decisions etc. they either ignore your question, or come up with some lame response.

I don't agree with Mike's tone, but essentially he is correct.

Yeah it would be nice to have someone that could be a bulldog but the problem is that these guys and gals are walking a fine line. Their livelyhood depends on access. If they have no access they have no job.

I tend to believe that Roch is not just a Warehouse spokesperson. But he has to balance that line between critic and having access. I do agree that with MASN it is probably a bigger balancing act.

I am guessing but I bet Tony had access on his mind when he wrote his article and interviewed AM.

[VeveJones007]

the only way Konerko comes here is if we blow every other offer out of the water and we all know MacPhail is not going to do that. He made a nice offer to Martinez but was rejected than low-ballled Dunn. I think it's going to come down to Derek Lee or Berkman at 1B.

I don't think I've heard your opinion on Lee for 1B, Tony. I'm in favor of it based on the rationale that SG has so frequently posted. But what do you think?

[TiredofLosing20]

Well, if you can't handle yourself in a professional manner when dealing with questions like that, you might not be cut out to be a journalist who's gig is responding to questions from fans. It's not just "can't take the heat stuff"...this is his job. His JOB is responding to comments. When you respond to comments from an angry fan base of a horrible fan base, you really can't be surprised when you get comments like that. And, he responds in writing. It's not like this was an instance where he just reacted and said the wrong thing. He had time to think out a logical, intellectual, professional response...and that's what he came up with?

I understand him being mad. I understand him defending himself. I just don't understand him doing it like a middle schooler.

I hear you and evidently Roch agrees with you (or maybe his boss) at this point.

I suppose I think questioning the guys integrity over and over again is just as ridiculous. Like I said, if you honestly think the guy is a shill then why bother reading his blog.

[maybenxtyr]

I am not trying to be a smart-a@$ here, but I think Konerko would be ok with calling it quits before signing in Baltimore. I think I had heard before that he was considering retirement after last season. He really has a couple of places that he would prefer, and I do not think money would be the determining factor.

[waroriole]

Yeah it would be nice to have someone that could be a bulldog but the problem is that these guys and gals are walking a fine line. Their livelyhood depends on access. If they have no access they have no job.

I tend to believe that Roch is not just a Warehouse spokesperson. But he has to balance that line between critic and having access. I do agree that with MASN it is probably a bigger balancing act.

I am guessing but I bet Tony had access on his mind when he wrote his article and interviewed AM.

Yeah, it's hard to expect someone at MASN to be a good critic. However, the Sun should absolutely be doing this. I'm guessing this is Schmuck's role, but he just doesn't know what he is talking about. He gets the average fan riled up with his "sign big FA to big contracts" talk. But, he doesn't get to the heart of the issues. He doesn't have any reports on why the scouting is so terrible, or why we seem to cough up draft picks at a moment's notice, or why we can't sign international FA.

There isn't much the O's can do to blackball someone at the Sun. It also might be good for the paper, as it could make them relevant again. Instead, I imagine we'll get a dumbed down version of O's reporting geared toward signing big names, and puff pieces.

[Stan P]

It's a lot more believable that he does make the offers and hopes they turn them down than to believe the offers he makes are serious. If he thinks 4/40 is a serious offer for Dunn we are in worse shape than I thought.

[TiredofLosing20]

There isn't much the O's can do to blackball someone at the Sun. It also might be good for the paper, as it could make them relevant again. Instead, I imagine we'll get a dumbed down version of O's reporting geared toward signing big names, and puff pieces.

This is a good point. For a paper looking to generate revenue being on the other side of the O's might not be a bad strategy. And quite frankly it would be an easy thing to do. Nonetheless I do believe the Warehouse could find ways to cut access.

[Dr. FLK]

I hear you and evidently Roch agrees with you (or maybe his boss) at this point.

I suppose I think questioning the guys integrity over and over again is just as ridiculous. Like I said, if you honestly think the guy is a shill then why bother reading his blog.

I'm not disagreeing with that. But, there are different expectations placed on professional journalists than there are on angry fans.

[waroriole]

This is a good point. For a paper looking to generate revenue being on the other side of the O's might not be a bad strategy. And quite frankly it would be an easy thing to do. Nonetheless I do believe the Warehouse could find ways to cut access.

What would they cut access to? It's never local media that is breaking big Orioles' news. It's not like they get alot of interviews with AM or PA. I doubt they would keep them out of the media room after games. Also, how would it look if the Sun wrote a fair piece on one of those issues and the O's responded by limiting access? The report doesn't have to be mean spirited towards the O's, it just has to point out their clear deficiencies.