Bob Nightengale cited by MLB Players' Union for tactics--NY Daily News

Bob Nightengale is a USA Today Baseball Columnist and baseball awards voter from Minnesota. He recently published remarks by Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield that resulted in penalties against the players by MLB, Inc. The best way to deal with this issue is for players to stop talking to BBWAA members. The Chipper Jones comments about Arod to an AP writer have so far not resulted in penalties for anyone, but lead to very sad coverage by New York media. Jones has said he's therefore not going to speak to New York media. This is the best way to stop the problem.

• Today's media, fueled by the internet, is new territory and new approaches must be considered.

From Bob Raissman's NY Daily News article:

• "Two recent incidents, in which players' quotes resulted in disciplinary action taken against them, have prompted the Major League Baseball Players Association to condemn the reporting tactics of USA Today baseball columnist Bob Nightengale.

In both cases - Jason Giambi admitting he used steroids, and Gary Sheffield labeling baseball commissioner Bud Selig a liar and grandstander over Barry Bonds and the steroids issue - the stories created an uproar and both players were punished with fines and could be suspended. But were the players really talking on the record?

• Baseball sources said the union, after discussing the circumstances of the interviews with Giambi and Sheffield, concluded the two players were misled by Nightengale.

"The union is not saying Nightengale is violating off-the-record rules," the source said. "However, the union is saying he has a way of discussing matters with players, which leads them to believe the conversations are not for publication."

• In an interview with the Daily News, Nightengale said he did not mislead either player and was entirely comfortable with the way he handled both interviews."....

"The union is said to be mulling what action - if any - it might take in regard to how players should deal with Nightengale. It could merely warn players about having casual conversations with him, citing how such conversations have found their way into print.

• Or, as one source pointed out: "It's not unprecedented for the union to recommend players to stay away from a particular reporter, a particular (media) institution or (media) entity.""
• (I'm 100% certain no one at MLB Players Union reads this blog, but that was my solution, too). sm

From NY Daily News article by Bob Raissman, "Other Side of the Story--Union: Writer Got Scoops with Dirty Tricks." 8/12/07

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