Comments on: Who’s obsession is more unseemly?

By: Nordberg

Nordberg — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:53:42 +0000

Maybe this is rationalizing, but Boras and Theo have been busy. They had other deals to get done, and then came the holidays.
But, yeah, it is weird that this isn’t done.
Also, I suspect that Murray Chass is Dan Shaughnessy’s alterego. No, wait, I suspect that they are the same person. Crap, I mean, …. crap.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:13:47 +0000

Murray writes like his column is something he does in his spare time, when taking a pause from his day-trading activities. I have my own blog (on pro cycling) and find it unthinkable that someone could be as cavalier as I am despite being well-paid and having all day to execute. The only defense I can raise for him is that sportswriters eat unfathomable quantities of ballpark food over their careers, so who knows what’s crawling around inside his frontal lobes.

By: branatical

branatical — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 20:56:23 +0000

Murray Chass’ reporting skills are so weak he can’t even get JD Drew’s home number, even after he talks to the dude’s mom?

Nick Cafardo reached Drew at home, he was also able to get information that Chass claims no one is talking about:

“Drew sought and received a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. while Red Sox team physician Dr. Thomas Gill did his own battery of tests when Drew came for a physical in mid-December.” - Nick Cafardo

Now here is what Murray wrote in his column:

“Drew had his physical weeks ago and might have had a second one. No one is saying if he did, citing privacy laws that give general managers and agents an excuse not to talk about a player’s medical condition when they don’t want to talk about it.” - Murray Chass

If I am Murray Chass and I am a writer for the NY Times, I do Lexis searches and find out (A.) Other reporters in my business have actually spoken to Drew at home and (B.) other reporters have found out the name of the doctor who allegedly did a second examination. Then, I give up on my nonsensical columns about the Red Sox and write more about how Jeter and ARod are planning a trip to Holland in the spring to pick tulips, all in an effort to become close friends again.

By: archie

archie — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:23:00 +0000

I’ve emailed Chass several times over the past few years and have gotten similarly defensive responses. He’s pulled some doozies since 2003, but he reached an all-time low when he pimped J.D. Drew’s mom for information.

By: HFXBOB

HFXBOB — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:38:10 +0000

Seth, thanks to you and the Boston Dirt Dogs link to this story today, I’ve finally been forced to read one of Chass’s stories. And although he does refer to the tampering thing, the main point of the story seems to be the valid question of what the hell is going on with this contract? It sure would be nice if this thing gets cleared up soon. Have the Red Sox ever had a weirder or more contentious signing than this one? I fervently hope that Drew, assuming he does sign, will prove to be a much better acquisition than his legion of critics would have us believe.

By: lehigh311

lehigh311 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:15:20 +0000

Hey Seth- Never really gave Murray much thought until you started pointing out his inconsistencies with, um, the truth.
That being said, don’t you think it’s a bit strange that even the Boston media isn’t making a big deal about this? Murray is right in one thing, it shouldn’t take five weeks to clear up minor language in a contract. I don’t think tampering has anything to do with the situation, rather, its clearly about his shoulder. I really can’t remember a situation like this ever happening where a player was in limbo for this length of time. And the fact that the Boston media isn’t coming down harder on the side of negating this contract since no one wanted him in town in the first place is just plain weird. Probably just a lot of posturing between the 2 sides, I’m just surprised it hasn’t gotten more attention in Red Sox crazed nation.

By: drleather2001

drleather2001 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:01:40 +0000

Well, I SUSPECT that walking up the GM, assistant GM, PR Director, etc…of ANY club and saying: “Hey, What do you think about the Sox maybe tampering with Drew? A little SUSPICOUS, eh?” to illicit a response (even if that response is “Huh? What?”) constitutes “talking about their suspicions” in Murray’s book.

What a turd.