I like a lot of info, too. But it doesn’t have to be meaningless. Look at Reiss’ Pieces for a good example of how it can be done.

At this time, the Boston media does seem to revel in the minutiae, as if more facts equals more insight. In regards to the excessive blogging production, I would chalk it up to not being familiar with the medium. (Patriot beat writers seem to have a better understanding of how to produce an effective blog.) On the other hand, Shank doesn’t need to write a column a day in Spring Training (and obviously can’t write a meaningful one).

Another issue is the day to day pressure. New York’s sports media is a completely different beast than Boston’s. There are about double the number of news outlets covering the Yankees and Mets on a daily basis. Plus, Yankees beat writers and columnists are competing with the Mets beat along with each other.

The last issue is what Wells has noted repeatedly; Red Sox fans are not able to give players their space. Not having the temptation myself, I find it disappointing that fans would bother players and their families out on the town.

Things have been ramped up in the last five years. I have no connection to the media so I cannot gauge how the first and third factors feed into each other. Fan interest in everything Red Sox is clearly up, but I am not certain that the media is responding in the manner that fans care about.

I once saw a local sports talk show where a writer asked, “What player WOULDN’T want to come play for the Red Sox? You get treated like a rock star and you’re an instant celebrity,” as if every human who happens to be blessed with the ability to hit, catch, or throw a baseball would naturally want to have their privacy invaded and answer the same exact questions over and over, day after day. Ask Nomar how he feels about it. Read the transcript on boston.com of the press badgering Manny’s agent with questions. These guys were treating Manny’s spring training absence like it was the next Watergate. Who the hell cares? You’re covering a baseball team!

In New York there are thousands of things going on each day that are more important than the Yankees or Mets game. There is also a diverse, international population that did not necessarily grow up following the local sports teams. Movie stars walk down the same streets as hot dog vendors, so why would anyone fall out of their chair when David Wells is eating at a restaurant? The Red Sox and Patriots are all a lot of Bostonians have and that’s reflected in the intensity of the media coverage and the intrusive fan worship. I wouldn’t like “Johnny from Burger King” pestering me during MY Whopper either.

Bats, the New York Times baseball blog.