West Coast only wants "better" East Coast "coverage" if it's Positive

It turns out it's not "coverage" they want. Coverage can be good or bad. The MLB.com article says west coast players don't get enough coverage, with the main subject being JJ Putz:

• "Putz had flown under the baseball radar for some time, partly because most of America is asleep by the time he even enters the game on the West Coast." (from the article).

The article discusses Putz' appearance at the All Star game. He wouldn't have been in the All Star game if no one knew about him. He's at the big time, the bright lights Patrick Brown says they don't usually have, so let's have the coverage! But Brown doesn't deliver. He says everyone was impressed with Putz at the All Star game but fails to mention Putz' actual performance in the game which was not good.

• "As one of two players representing the Mariners in this season's All-Star Game, Putz had the opportunity to wow coaches and fellow players, including Detroit manager Jim Leyland, who managed the AL squad this year.

When the Detroit coaching staff returned from the Midsummer Classic in San Francisco, bullpen coach Jeff Jones told his pitchers that Putz had the best split-finger he had ever seen, according to Tigers closer Todd Jones....

• Jones, Detroit's all-time saves leader, was impressed with what he saw out of the Mariners closer, especially considering a hitter's ninth-inning mentality.

"It takes so much for him to give up a run because he's got such great stuff, and any hitter can walk up there and look for a fastball and hit it out," Jones said. "He's been able to prevent that. It just goes to show you what kind of tremendous stuff he's got, and what kind of competitor he is." (from the article).

• "Hit it out" is just what happened to Putz at the All Star Game. Why use this as your point here, adding Todd Jones saying Putz has been able to "prevent that." Yes, in terms of his regular season performance, but not at the All Star game. I'm not saying Putz isn't a great pitcher or that he might not go on to have a successful 10-15 year career. But the writer says "coverage" is lacking, gets the big stage handed to his subject, then specifically fails to "cover" or report Putz' performance at the event.

• Patrick Brown proves it's only GOOD coverage he refers to--not ACTUAL coverage. Claiming "east coast bias" while his subject is getting world-wide coverage is still the talking point guaranteed to advance a writer's career---maybe that's his reasoning. From 7/19/07 MLB.com article, "Putz Re-defining Dominence in 'Pen," by Patrick Brown.
• (I bring this matter up as it happens frequently and no one else points it out).

• The internet, MLB.com, ESPN, etc. make all the news available instantly.

• Many use MLB Extra Innings to watch out of market games, as well as MLB TV.

• Millions involved in Fantasy Baseball know who JJ Putz is and may have learned about him without ever watching him play.

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