Much has been made of the way the "new media" (blogs, internet sites, etc.) is covering sports.  In a somewhat ironic turn, new media mavens often argue that they are doing a better job of covering teams because they LACK access; arguing that the old media (newspapers, broadcasters, cable outlets) was so close to teams and leagues that their journalism was compromised.

In some respects I agree with this sentiment.  (However, not for A section, news journalism, where reporters at the scene are still needed.  Take, for instance, the recent debunking by journalists in Iraq of John McCain's claim that Americans were safe walking the Baghdad streets).  Broadcasters often now get their paychecks from teams directly, cable outlets such as ESPN are mortified of offending professional sports teams and leagues, and mainstream journalists like Rick Reilly and Dan Patrick enjoy cozy relationships with athletes and coaches and save their vitriol for cheerleaders and deer hunters.  Beat writers have long been too close to the teams they are supposed to cover.  Drinking with, apologizing for, and becoming friends or sycophants for the likes of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Billy Martin was part of these scribes' daily life. 

The quotes taken from athletes, coaches, and management by old media types show the limitations of this "buddy" journalism.  Subjects spouted cliches and platitudes for decades, with no little or no follow-up questioning or pressing from sports journalists.  Readers are often forced to read between the lines.  In these examples, new media types are right: access is highly overrated unless you are enlightened by the phrase "one game at a time."

Yet some new media bloggers overanalyze quotations from managers and players even though they argue that what they say is usually meaningless.  Take for instance, the usually-stellar Twins blogger and new media exponent Aaron Gleeman's approach to Ron Gardenhire.  Gardenhire is not an intellectual; he is a career baseball man with little formal education.  Most of what he says in interviews and press conferences is not interesting or insightful.  Yet he has carved out an impressive career for himself as the skipper of the Twins, at least in the regular season.  Even though Gleeman brags of NOT having media access to the Twins, he often disects quotes from Gardenhire, frequently with a barely disguised agenda.

For instance, in May and June there was much debate both in the blogosphere and, presumably, within the Twins organization, over what to do with Juan Rincon.  Rincon was struggling mightily, and appeared to be on the downside of a otherwise solid (if chemically enhanced) career.  On June 12, Gleeman used a quote from Gardenhire:  "He's done a lot of great things here so you keep running him out there. He has a track record of getting people out. He's struggled lately, but he's continuing to work."  Gleeman jumped all over Gardenhire, taking issue with the word "lately" and then demonstrating, in typically thorough Gleeman fashion, that Rincon's slide was 3-4 years in the making.  But Gleeman's not out to simply edifiy readers on Rincon's performance, but rather to make Gardenhire look dumb, concluding, "There's nothing "lately" about his struggles."

In effect, Gleeman has taken a throwaway quote and made it in to evidence of managerial incompetence.  Gleeman's agenda is even more clear when you consider Gardenhire's alternatives.  Since the Twins rely on the media to promote their product, they insist that the manager speak to the media.  Also, the Twins were trying to deal Rincon.  Was Gardenhire supposed to say, "Rincon stinks, and he has for some time.  You should see his stats."?  Of course not.

I enjoy the new media.  Sometimes I participate in it.  But it also has its flaws.  Somewhere, journalists need to strike a balance between being so cozy with Micky Mantle that it covers up all his late night carousing, and ethical enough that they do not make Matt Leinart drinking with co-eds "news."  When a manager makes a offhand, innocuous remark, should it be used as an example that he is unqualified?