Is DiGiovanna friends with K-rod's agent?

On Dec. 5, 2006, the LA Times reported the Red Sox wanted K-rod: "(Bill) Stoneman also met Monday night with Boston General Manager Theo Epstein, revisiting trade talks that have heated up periodically between the teams over the last two years, but the chances for a deal now seem remote.

• The Red Sox told the Angels that closer Francisco Rodriguez or setup man Scot Shields would have to head any package for Ramirez. It's possible Boston would accept a package led by one of the Angels' two young starting pitchers, Ervin Santana or Jered Weaver."

So, 6 weeks ago the Red Sox were discussing a trade for Angels' pitcher Francisco Rodriguez. (They didn't have a late inning stopper and still don't). Now, the same LA Times copywriter--using standard passive language with no human being connected--says the Yankees are interested in Francisco--how does he know? Who said so? K-rod is elite, but with among other things his violent delivery, DiGiovanna sensationally floats that beginning in 2009, assuming the guy's still pitching then, the Yankees will sign him through 2012 or 2013? You pay money for this kind of manipulation, so you must like it.

• "With Mariano Rivera nearing retirement in New York, the Yankees are already eyeing Francisco Rodriguez as a potential replacement." from the LA Times, 1/17/07 Really?

This copywriter (Mike DiGiovanna) gets money for words he puts out, plus personal aggrandizement and possibly enhanced career prospects. And SI.com puts his Yankee story at the top of their list. Still, no human being attached to any of it except the paid copywriter, DiGiovanna from the LA Times.

• If something is "said to be," it doesn't mean anything. Who "said" it? Does the 'United Brotherhood of Up Yours Baseball Media' think you deserve to know? No--it starts with a west coast newspaper one day, and by the end of the day, SI repeats this "said to be" info as the opening salvo of the SI baseball news items--. Did the great SI find this out as it appears at first glance? No, they credit the LA Times for the bombshell news, ie such and such is "said to be." Possibilities: No one said it, the copywriter imagined it.

The agent of a player made the suggestion to enhance the image of his client. Another copywriter said he heard a rumor from someone-- The Yankees? Right, Yankee management suggested this, even though it's against their interests to do so. Others:

• Yankees Already Eyeing K-Rod As Rivera's Replacement?

Los Angeles Times - 01/17 - 12:37 PM EST

With Mariano Rivera nearing retirement in New York, the Yankees are already said to be eyeing Francisco Rodriguez as a potential replacement. (From RealGMBaseball.com)

• Spreading like wildfire,

"According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, one of the biggest priorities for the Angels this offseason will be locking up closer Francisco Rodriguez to a long-term deal. K-Rod is due for free agency after the '08 season, and the Yankees are already said to be eyeing him up as the heir to Mariano Rivera." posted on MLB Trade Rumors

• GLAMOUROUS, YES, BUT MADE UP OUT OF THIN AIR. WHICH MIGHT BE FUN, BUT THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BBWAA USE IT AS BULLETS TO KILL THOSE THEY HATE.

For many years the voting members of the BBWAA have predicted Mariano Rivera was at the end of the road--this is more of the same. HOWEVER! One of the sites passing the LA Times guy's power play adds this about DiGiovanna's protagonist:

• "He's showing the best command of his career, though the side effect is that he's got the worst hit rate of his career. Still, 6.5 hits per nine is pretty damn good. It's also apparent that Rodriguez is allowing more flyballs than ever. Probably not a big deal, as his home run rate remains solid." Adding,

"The elephant in the room, at least in my mind, is Rodriguez's delivery. Said Will Carroll in February:

"It's incredibly hard to predict player injuries, though if you were going to put money on anyone's elbow blowing up, the safe bet would be on K-Rod. There's almost nothing mechanically right with his delivery and he showed all sorts of indicators last year with a tender elbow, a forearm strain, and an obvious difficulty throwing his fastball.""

• The AP amazingly with great self-discipline, was able to write the story about K-rod and Shields WITHOUT MENTIONING EITHER MARIANO RIVERA OR THE YANKEES:

Associated Press

Article Launched: 01/16/2007 11:55:28 PM PST(Long Beach Press-Telegram)

"Unable to land multi-year deals with pitchers Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Shields, the Angels instead signed both to one-year deals Tuesday."

• WHAT? SO THE REAL STORY IS THE ANGELS WANTED A MULTI-YEAR DEAL BUT COULDN'T GET IT DONE? sm

"Rodriguez's deal was the biggest of the bunch as the major-league leader in saves (47) last season came to terms on a $7 million contract.

Shields signed a one-year deal worth $3.4 million, a $1.3 million raise from last season.

GM Bill Stoneman was not disappointed that multi-year deals with Rodriguez and Shields did not get done.

"We had interest in discussing multi-year deals and I don't think that interest is diminished," Stoneman said. "With the arbitration rules, if you can't agree on one type of contract you have to head for one year. We knocked those off and at least got the one-year deals done without having to involve an arbitrator."

- Doug Padilla"

You're free to have whatever bias you wish, and I'm free to know what it is. (sm)

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