Seventh in a 10-part series

Sometimes it's just too easy to focus on the negative, to cat-call and disparage. As the author Henry James -- if you don't know, ask John Gizzi -- once said, "Of course you're always at liberty to judge the critic. Judge people as critics, however, and you'll condemn them all." So rather than further critiquing the critics, today we look at craft.

If it's true that you can judge a writer by what he reads, then Geoff Baker and Richard Griffin keep some pretty select company.


"Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Jon Heyman of Newsday are tough as nails and usually on top of things," says Baker.

"I look forward to reading Ray Ratto in San Francisco, Mark Whicker in Orange County [ed. note: requires registration], Bill Plaschke in L.A.." begins Griffin.

The columnist continues, "Jayson Stark, Peter Gammons ... "

The beat writer agrees, adding "Gammons because there is usually a grain of truth in most of the rumours he floats and he has interesting thoughts on the game."

Griffin resumes, " ... Tracy Ringolsby, Bob Elliott, Murray Chass [ed. note: New York Times requires paid subscription] and Dan Shaughnessy."

Baker adds one more name. "Rob Neyer of ESPN.com ... [he's] taught me to look at the game differently." Besides, Neyer hit close to home, says Baker, noting "I appreciated the thoughtfulness of his feature on the history of Montreal baseball last year, which ran deeper than the understanding of many blowhard U.S. columnists."

Neyer isn't always right, concludes Baker, "but I respect anyone who tries to see things differently from the pack."

From What ... to Who
Sometimes it's those people the writers have as subjects, rather than peers, who see things somewhat differently. Griffin can quickly name the members of his own "All-Interview" team, including current Jay Carlos Delgado and former Toronto players Darrin Fletcher, Paul Molitor, David Cone and Al Lieter.

Former Expos also dot Griffin's recollection, including both Felipe and Matty Alou, Pete Rose and Tim Wallach, the latter also named last week as one of the columnist's favourite players. Hall of Famers Willie Stargell and Ozzie Smith, Yalie Ron Darling and all-around good guy Mark Grace also make the list.

But it's certainly not just the players who are responsible for a journalist's personal experiences at the ballpark; it's the fans, who of course are also the paying customers who buy the most newspapers.

"St. Louis has fantastic fans, year-in and year-out, despite a stadium that is getting ancient," says Baker. "The most obnoxious fans I've seen are in San Francisco, while the apathy of those in Florida is scary," he says.

Back up north, Baker believes that "Montreal fans are some of the best and most enthusiastic you'll ever see, despite their tiny numbers. Witness what the Expos are saying about them now."

Meanwhile, though, he says "Toronto fans, as we've all said countless times, need to get noisier. I'll tell you what, though, they have already gotten more vocal since I joined the beat, especially when it comes to booing players. I saw a definite hike in noise level when it came to cheers in June, when the Jays swept the Red Sox, so I remain optimistic on that front."

From Who ... to Where
Though we've previously covered the favorite cities and ballparks of the Star baseball guys, keep in mind that for the most part, the beat writer on the road -- and the columnist, when he goes there -- spends the majority of his ballpark time in one of two places: the press box and the clubhouse.

"The new parks all have good press boxes," says Griffin. "And the home clubhouse in Phoenix is awesome."

Speaking a little more specifically, Baker says "my favourite press box is actually at Edison Field in Anaheim. Lots of room, plenty of telephones and great sight lines in a warm, outdoor environment overlooking a dining terrace filled with beautiful California women." Asking rhetorically, "What could be better than that?," Baker quickly rejoinders, "Don't answer."

As for a favourite clubhouse, Baker pauses. "Hmmmm. Safeco has a pretty spacious environment for the players," he finally concedes. "A big leather couch and giant screen TV. Also plenty of private lounges and nooks and crannies to hide from pesky reporters."

From Who ... to Why and So What
So, there are players hiding from reporters. Well, no wonder -- good or bad press can ultimately affect the level of fan support, right?

"No," says Griffin. "I think that media influence on attendance has always been overrated and as a PR man in Montreal, I always let my feelings in that regard be known to [General Managers] John McHale, Murray Cook, Bill Stoneman, Dave Dombrowski, Dan Duquette and Kevin Malone."

Baker agrees, saying "I think a team's record has far more to do with it and the Jays, as they've been built and financed, haven't shown anyone for six years that they're capable of anything but third place. That's just mediocrity the way the sport they play in is set up and many folks won't pay for that."

He muses momentarily, "If it was hockey, where more teams make the playoffs, then fans might be interested and hopeful. But," he says, "these are the rules established by baseball and the Jays are doing business in that sport, so they can't exactly complain."

Griffin points out that his criticisms of the team have never explicitly discouraged fans from supporting the Jays when they play. "Never have I said in a column, 'Don't go out to the ballpark,' he says.

"[But] if the team has a great spring and we have been in Florida observing every day, I believe our job is to look down the road and provide a realistic view of the 162-game schedule," he says. "The team's job is to promote the young unproven guys and the retread pitchers as possible wild-card contenders."

Again, Baker agrees. "If fans get the impression from reading our coverage that the Jays won't make the playoffs, then it's an accurate impression based on how things keep turning out," he says.

"If those fans choose not to go because they won't spend money on a non-contender, then there's little I can do. We haven't been wrong about them yet, as per the standings. We also aren't in the business of selling dreams or false hopes -- only the likelihood of how they'll do as we see it, and sometimes, the truth hurts."

Baker carefully defines his place in the Blue Jays cosmos: "A beat writer has to accurately reflect the team's place in the baseball universe and the Jays haven't budged in the standings in my six years of covering them," he says.

In fact, he's careful to point out that the Star has a marketing deal with the team, but he says, "I have never let that impact what I write – as should be obvious."

Wakeup Calls and Long Hauls
What, you think "wakeup calls and long hauls" relates to interminable stays in hotels and packing and re-packing suitcases for West Coast road trips?

Think again. It's actually about the nature of the job.

Baker, who worked on the news and business beats before moving full-time into sports, says no matter the clubhouse amenities or player (dis)interest in responding to postgame questions, "Investigative reporting taught me that sports reporting is not life and death and should never be confused as such."

He continues, "Too many sports reporters treat the teams and games they cover as God-like institutions and the be-all, end-all."

An event commemorated just a few days ago removed any chance of that happening to Baker. "Got a wake-up reminder about that covering 9-11 for the Star at the Pentagon in Washington after the Jays had their series canceled in Baltimore that week," he recalls.

That type of wake-up call doesn't change his overall approach to the profession, though. Upon being nominated for his third National Newspaper Award, Baker told Concordia University's Thursday Report, "I still have a lot to prove. I always tell my students that [journalism] is not a sprint, it's a marathon, filled with highs and lows. You have to be in it for the long haul."