If true in 1993, it's even moreso now....the superfluous "Beat Writer"

Allen Barra reviews a 1993 book by 2 then NY Mets beat writers about the 1992 Mets:

• "Bob Klapisch for The Daily News and John Harper for The New York Post -- take the reader from the preseason trades of disgruntled star players through accusations of gang rape to enough petty feuds and squabbles to fuel a soap opera. All you want to know about the Mets' 1992 season is in "The Worst Team Money Could Buy," as well as a few things you may not want to know and quite a few things you would never have thought to ask.

In one sense Mr. Klapisch and Mr. Harper have done their job. They detail the arrogance, egomania and ineptitude that helped create the 1992 fiasco....On the other hand....

• "The Worst Team Money Could Buy" never comes to grips with the fact that the enormous sums baseball players now earn have

changed the role of the newspaper beat writer. To their credit, the authors acknowledge that beat writers no longer just report the news but are having an increasingly greater influence on the shaping of it.

• (In one bizarre vignette, the Mets' then manager, Davey Johnson, calls a peace meeting between Mr. Klapisch, his colleague Mike Lupica and the Mets' first baseman, Keith Fernandez, whom Mr. Lupica had called "the Prince of Darkness.")"

(More teams are moving press boxes to out of the way spots in the stadium. The point is, those people can all gab if they want, but their job is largely superfluous. Or redundant). sm

• (Allen Barra)"Newspapers are no longer the primary source for descriptions of games, as they were in, say, Ring Lardner's day, when players and writers traveled, ate and played cards together, and when players' off-field exploits were taboo subjects for news columns.

• Today it seems that beat writers more and more cover teams to explore the players' private lives and to offer judgments about players' character (or lack of it). Friction between press and players, especially in New York, seems inevitable. One wonders if it isn't beginning to grate on readers."

(Yes. And fans). sm

• From April 4, 1993 article by Allen Barra in the NY Times,"13 Millionaires, 90 Losers," reviewing the book by Bob Klapisch and John Harper on the 1992 NY Mets, "The Worst Team Money Could Buy--the Collapse of the NY Mets."

P.S. Mr. Harper is now with the NY Daily News. Mr. Klapisch is now with the North Jersey (Bergen) Record.

• For the BBWAA record:

On 11/10/05 on XM radio, Scott Miller said Chris Carpenter deserved the NL Cy Young in part as recognition for 'lifetime achievement.' Carpenter had pitched 6 full regular seasons, parts of 2 others. He had appeared to date 1 year in the post season, 2005, in the NLDS and NLCS. In spite of this and other statements, Scott Miller continues to be treated like royalty. On 1/12/06 on XM radio, Scott Miller said the BBWAA's first job is to protect newspaper writers.

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