Last week, one of my fellow Bert Flex writers posted an email interview with stlcardinals.com beat writer Matthew Leach.  In the interview Leach spoke about his daily life hanging around, writing about, and watching the game of baseball. 

On paper, this sounds like my dream job.  I envision myself hanging around Busch Stadium, casually giving Albert fake advice about choosing the new Escalade over the new Navigator. Then listening to a slumpbuster story from Chris Duncan’s Saturday night (a little injury won’t deter him from a conquest).  About 5:00, I’d go out and play long toss with Ankiel.  Follow that up by telling LaRussa that McKernan was hitting on his daughter on the air this morning, just to see his reaction.  Then sit back, enjoy the game, and my articles would magically write themselves.

Ah, the life…

Well, maybe not that glamorous, but it’s easy to focus on all the cool things that the media has access to.

Maybe I’m the weird guy, but I wouldn’t want it.  And maybe it’s because I’ve seen too many LaRussa post game interviews, but I wouldn’t want to deal with the BS that goes on behind the scenes.  Plus, I hate to say it, but I could see myself being miserable.

Granted, it would be fun to get paid to watch baseball for a living, then write about it, but worrying if I’m still on Troy Glaus’ good side doesn’t interest me.

Guys like Bernie Miklasz are pretty rare in the fact that they can criticize a player or coach in the paper or on the air, and be around to take any return criticism from said player or coach – then maintain the same level of respect from everyone.  Some guys don’t say anything negative in fear of the consequences; some guys will shoot their mouth off and hide from the locker room…because of the consequences.  Would you really want to deal with that crap?

With the exception of an Ozzie Guillen or Curt Schilling here and there, these guys generally all say the same thing.  They really don’t have any incentive to say anything controversial, and when they do, it makes the headlines.  So why would a ballplayer actually trust you in any way?

They are probably inclined to say the same things because “serious journalist guy” tends to ask questions like “how’d that game winning grand slam feel?”  Or “how important was it to strike out Aramis Ramirez with the bases loaded?”

Huh?  To me, post-game interviews are filled with dumb questions, followed up by dumb answers.  In the whole scheme of things – what the player “thinks” or “feels” is meaningless.  And no offense to the Jim Hayes’ of the world, but all we really need to know from the Cardinals are: tonight’s lineups, injury reports, and trades/call-ups.  And most of that is for fantasy baseball purposes.  Really that’s it.  One guy could do that. 

With the exception of my Brett Wallace interview last week, I have no sports media experience at all.  That particular instance was fun, because I’m just some dude who works a day job and writes about baseball at night.  I don’t know if I’d want to do something like that on a daily basis though.  I fully enjoy this type of writing much better.  I can give you one fan’s view of the team – and if you agree with me, cool.  If not, you’re free to place them on your own website/forum.  We don’t need to be told what to think.

None of this is a knock on what Matthew Leach, Jim Hayes, the Post Dispatch, etc. does; I know they work hard at what they do.  But I can watch the games from anywhere, via the Extra Innings package or MLB.tv (preferably with the sound down).  I can read what other fans think via message boards and blogs.  And I can look up online to see those injury reports, etc. if I choose.  I don’t really need to know what Pujols was thinking when he crushed that 80 mph Chan Ho Park fastball.  And I really don’t need to see reporters kissing ass and whoring themselves out for a sound bite (hint hint…and I’m not talking about Joe Morgan – this time).

But hey, I’m just a guy who thinks a pitchers’ win/loss record is meaningless (sorry Al Hrabosky).  What do I know?

Maybe I’m weird.  Maybe it’s a generational thing: another internet vs. newspapers argument.  Or maybe I think too highly of myself?  Don’t answer that.

To be a Cardinals’ reporter?  Sorry, but I’ll pass.

For more high-brow material from HMW, check out www.bertflex.com