ESPN Bloodbath

[Terminator]

Jim Bowden and Mark Saxon are among the MLB layoffs to be announced. Bowden is terrible so that's good news.

[Terminator]

I'm hoping for more. There baseball coverage is horrible. They don't have a ton of sabre guys and the ones they do have are very strange and bizarre people like Keith Law.

[Gary]

I saw that. Pierre Lebrun who does hockey got laid off too. He continues to work for TSN though so that's good. He'd very good at what he does.

[Terminator]

MLB and College Football are my two favorite sports. They made a few surprising layoffs in College Football where their coverage is much better.

 

I hope they lay Schulman off so he can become full-time with the Jays. He and Buck sans Tabler had a pretty good broadcast the other day.

[Gary]

MLB and College Football are my two favorite sports. They made a few surprising layoffs in College Football where their coverage is much better.

 

I hope they lay Schulman off so he can become full-time with the Jays. He and Buck sans Tabler had a pretty good broadcast the other day.

 

Tabler tends to point out the obvious, and adds a feminine touch to the broadcast.

[Terminator]

Jayson Stark is gone too.

 

 

He was likable enough but he didn't break a ton of scoops and he isn't very stat friendly. He focused too much on the human elements of the game and sob stories if I recall correctly. Not happy to see him go like Bowden but not really too upset about it either.

[Grant77]

Jayson Stark is gone too.

 

 

He was likable enough but he didn't break a ton of scoops and he isn't very stat friendly. He focused too much on the human elements of the game and sob stories if I recall correctly. Not happy to see him go like Bowden but not really too upset about it either.

 

I liked Jayson Stark a lot. His columns were always extremely interesting and full of cool little facts that you would never hear about otherwise.

[Terminator]

I liked Jayson Stark a lot. His columns were always extremely interesting and full of cool little facts that you would never hear about otherwise.

 

Yeah the quirky aspects of the game weren't too bad I suppose. I wish Buster Olney would get the axe. He gets a fair amount of scoops though.

[Jonn]

They hung onto Stephen A Smith though #Priorities

[L54]

They hung onto Stephen A Smith though #Priorities

 

He is THE worst.

 

Which is probably why they kept him around. He's great for ratings I'd imagine.

[burlingtonbandit]

They hung onto Stephen A Smith though #Priorities

 

He actually makes them $ so not that surprising. With how much money they are losing they had to let go a bunch of great people.

[burlingtonbandit]

I'm hoping for more. There baseball coverage is horrible. They don't have a ton of sabre guys and the ones they do have are very strange and bizarre people like Keith Law.

 

Why would you hope people lose their jobs? With all these layoffs it just means less content, they aren't replacing any of these people really just downsizing.

[Terminator]

Why would you hope people lose their jobs? With all these layoffs it just means less content, they aren't replacing any of these people really just downsizing.

 

Call me crazy but I don't like the largest sports platform in the country talking about batting average and RBI ad nausea. Have you ever watched Baseball Tonight or read a Buster Olney article? They are the type of people that s*** all over advanced stats because projection systems didn't care for the Royals who lucked their way to a WS win. Or how about an SJW rant by Keith Law? Jim Bowden was the Dave Stewart of his day and he's writing analysis for ESPN? They all pretty much suck.

 

On a personal level I'm not going to relish in them losing their jobs but the less crappy people working there the better.

[Terminator]

He is THE worst.

 

Which is probably why they kept him around. He's great for ratings I'd imagine.

 

Yeah he's on daytime TV where he says controversial stuff in a passionate way. Not so smart people tune in because they like his antagonistic hot takes or because they want the other guy to yell at him. Skip Bayless was even worse and ESPN offered him millions to stay before he went to Fox.

[Brownie19]

Call me crazy but I don't like the largest sports platform in the country talking about batting average and RBI ad nausea. Have you ever watched Baseball Tonight or read a Buster Olney article? They are the type of people that s*** all over advanced stats because projection systems didn't care for the Royals who lucked their way to a WS win. Or how about an SJW rant by Keith Law? Jim Bowden was the Dave Stewart of his day and he's writing analysis for ESPN? They all pretty much suck.

 

On a personal level I'm not going to relish in them losing their jobs but the less crappy people working there the better.

 

I've just succumb to the reality that the vast majority of reporters, analysts, etc. all cater to what the ignorant general public want. It's never going to change. If you're not ignorant, you won't enjoy listening or reading their content and will seek alternative sources.

[Terminator]

I've just succumb to the reality that the vast majority of reporters, analysts, etc. all cater to what the ignorant general public want. It's never going to change. If you're not ignorant, you won't enjoy listening or reading their content and will seek alternative sources.

 

Yeah that's true to an extent but advanced statistics are huge right now. It isn't a niche anymore so they could at least provide some more balanced coverage but they don't.

[burlingtonbandit]

Call me crazy but I don't like the largest sports platform in the country talking about batting average and RBI ad nausea. Have you ever watched Baseball Tonight or read a Buster Olney article? They are the type of people that s*** all over advanced stats because projection systems didn't care for the Royals who lucked their way to a WS win. Or how about an SJW rant by Keith Law? Jim Bowden was the Dave Stewart of his day and he's writing analysis for ESPN? They all pretty much suck.

 

On a personal level I'm not going to relish in them losing their jobs but the less crappy people working there the better.

 

As much as me or you love advanced stats a lot of people still don't like them. Grantland was catered to that and was a huge flop.. Its not like ESPN is going to be replacing these people with more advanced stats people anyways. If you want to read analytic piece there's Fangraphs.

 

There are a lot of hicks in rural america who just want to watch Skip Bayless and Stephen A Smith yell at each its why they get paid so much and a lot of journalists are going no where.

[Terminator]

As much as me or you love advanced stats a lot of people still don't like them. Grantland was catered to that and was a huge flop.. Its not like ESPN is going to be replacing these people with more advanced stats people anyways. If you want to read analytic piece there's Fangraphs.

 

There are a lot of hicks in rural america who just want to watch Skip Bayless and Stephen A Smith yell at each its why they get paid so much and a lot of journalists are going no where.

 

I don't think it's hicks from rural america who tune in to watch those shows. It's poorly educated urban people who do.

 

And yeah not everyone likes advanced stats but no need to get preachy with me about people losing their jobs when it's Jim Bowden and other dinosaurs who swear Jack Morris should be in the HoF. Would you like it if Sportsnet hired Dave Stewart to provide baseball analysis? I doubt it. I also like Fangraphs but the more competition they have the better.

[fireballW]

Call me crazy but I don't like the largest sports platform in the country talking about batting average and RBI ad nausea. Have you ever watched Baseball Tonight or read a Buster Olney article? They are the type of people that s*** all over advanced stats because projection systems didn't care for the Royals who lucked their way to a WS win. Or how about an SJW rant by Keith Law? Jim Bowden was the Dave Stewart of his day and he's writing analysis for ESPN? They all pretty much suck.

 

On a personal level I'm not going to relish in them losing their jobs but the less crappy people working there the better.

 

I'm in the minority I think but if I am hungry for advanced stats, I can look them up myself. If anything I think it is fun to be part of a minority who looks at these things and analyses that kind of information. Are you really that keen to have everybody calling into Wilner trying to spew out all kinds of advanced stats? Baseball broadcasts where people repeat themselves or talk about RBIs is fine by me.

[Brownie19]

I'm in the minority I think but if I am hungry for advanced stats, I can look them up myself. If anything I think it is fun to be part of a minority who looks at these things and analyses that kind of information. Are you really that keen to have everybody calling into Wilner trying to spew out all kinds of advanced stats? Baseball broadcasts where people repeat themselves or talk about RBIs is fine by me.

 

Personally I think it would be awesome to have more knowledgeable broadcasters, analysts and reports who could slowly introduce more and more advanced statistics into baseball and tactfully explain to the common folk why we no longer jerk off to RBI's and wins. I mean we just have more knowledge now than we did in 1993. It just seems so stupid not to try and educate the public better so we can move forward and advance.

 

I suspect there were skeptics when they started telling people that smoking was actually bad for your health or that seatbelts saved lives. That didn't mean we stopped trying to relay that message...

 

That said - it appears we're nowhere near the point of trying to educate the public, so I've given up hope and just watch the s*** on mute to save my sanity.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Brownie19

[Terminator]

I'm in the minority I think but if I am hungry for advanced stats, I can look them up myself. If anything I think it is fun to be part of a minority who looks at these things and analyses that kind of information. Are you really that keen to have everybody calling into Wilner trying to spew out all kinds of advanced stats? Baseball broadcasts where people repeat themselves or talk about RBIs is fine by me.

 

So you like Pat Tabler because he makes you feel like some sort of baseball hipster?

[Bobthe4th]

Personally I think it would be awesome to have more knowledgeable broadcasters, analysts and reports who could slowly introduce more and more advanced statistics into baseball and tactfully explain to the common folk why we no longer jerk off to RBI's and wins. I mean we just have more knowledge now than we did in 1993. It just seems so stupid not to try and educate the public better so we can move forward and advance.

 

I suspect there were skeptics when they started telling people that smoking was actually bad for your health or that seatbelts saved lives. That didn't mean we stopped trying to relay that message...

 

That said - it appears we're nowhere near the point of trying to educate the public, so I've given up hope and just watch the s*** on mute to save my sanity.

 

For a lot of "casual" fans, advanced stats and number crunching are boring turn offs. They want to watch homeruns and 100mph pitches.

 

A lot of those people have no interest in trying to understand how someone can do those things.

[Bobthe4th]

And there's nothing wrong by the way with enjoying what they would term the pure side of the game - different people like baseball for different reasons.

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't think it's hicks from rural america who tune in to watch those shows. It's poorly educated urban people who do.

 

And yeah not everyone likes advanced stats but no need to get preachy with me about people losing their jobs when it's Jim Bowden and other dinosaurs who swear Jack Morris should be in the HoF. Would you like it if Sportsnet hired Dave Stewart to provide baseball analysis? I doubt it. I also like Fangraphs but the more competition they have the better.

 

Almost 100 People lost their job, this isn't simply Jim Bowden getting canned in a one-off. A lot of people who let go weren't bad at their jobs.

[TholesWeirdEye]

http://cloudfront.sportsgrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Screen-Shot-2014-07-31-at-2.30.15-PM.png

[Terminator]

Almost 100 People lost their job, this isn't simply Jim Bowden getting canned in a one-off. A lot of people who let go weren't bad at their jobs.

 

Yep I agree. I was pretty puzzled by Brett McMurphy being let go. Easily one of their best reporters. Stupid move.

 

Grant brought up some good points about Stark as well. He should have been kept.

 

With others like Bowden I'm not too upset.

[Terminator]

Almost 100 People lost their job, this isn't simply Jim Bowden getting canned in a one-off. A lot of people who let go weren't bad at their jobs.

 

Ok maybe you're right. ESPN is basically dropping baseball altogether. Only showing it one night a week. Really stupid move by ESPN IMO but it's not good for the game either.

 

[jaysfan2014]

Ok maybe you're right. ESPN is basically dropping baseball altogether. Only showing it one night a week. Really stupid move by ESPN IMO but it's not good for the game either.

 

 

They'll probably outsource all their baseball stuff to MLB Network... which they hold a stake in. Pretty huge cutbacks for ESPN..

[Terminator]

They'll probably outsource all their baseball stuff to MLB Network... which they hold a stake in. Pretty huge cutbacks for ESPN..

 

MLB Network isn't bad but it's not as accessible as ESPN. For a baseball nut though it might not be bad for one channel to have it all but for a sport trying to get more broad appeal it's not good.

 

ESPN will essentially have no hockey and very little baseball. It will become focused almost solely on the NFL, the NBA and College Football. Interesting choice on their part.

[Spanky99]

Ok maybe you're right. ESPN is basically dropping baseball altogether. Only showing it one night a week. Really stupid move by ESPN IMO but it's not good for the game either.

 

 

Holy s***, that's odd.