12/12: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Jim Baumbach, On the Yankees Beat
Posted by: Patrick
Our 2007-2008 Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere series kicks off with Jim Baumbach of On the Yankees Beat.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
My main goal when I'm off is to forget about the Yankees and it is hard. This job really takes over you when you're working - I owe it to my wife and myself to put it away in a small box during the little down time we get. As for hobbies, we bought an older house a year ago and we're doing a lot of work on it. That's really taking up whatever free time we have.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
Newsday started the blog in May, so not too long. And I'll tell you what, it wasn't until September before I really enjoyed it. The first few months it was more about finding a way of fitting it into my routine but the last three months, it has really taken off. I enjoy it more than any other aspect of the job.
How did you end up at Newsday?
I was hired by Newsday in 1998 as a part-time "sports assistant." Basically the job was answering the phones, taking high school scores and occasionally covering a high school game. I was a junior at St. John's at the time and absolutely loved the job.
When did you decide that you wanted to be a sports writer?
I kind of knew sometime during high school that it would be something I would enjoy doing. I remember reading a book, "How to get a job in sports," or something like that, and they gave good tips for aspiring sports writers. One tip was read the newspaper, even if you don't like the team or sport. So, I made a point of doing that and I think that really helped me. By the middle of my college years I knew I was going to make a run at being sports writer.
Would you consider yourself an internet person? Outside of Yankees blogging and job related tasks, do you spend much time online?
Yes, love the Internet. I could surf all day. The worst thing that ever happened to me was discovering Google. I find new stuff online everyday.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Pete Abraham of The Journal News has a great blog going. I'm doing everything I can to steal his readers, uh, I mean reap the benefits of the venue he has largely created. Yeah, that's right. In all seriousness, Pete has a great sense of how to blog, I think. I also enjoy Mark Feinsand's blog at mlb.com. He has an army of followers. Probably my favorite fan blog is noMaas.org. I check there just about everyday and leave laughing most of the time.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
Not too many. I grew up a Mets fan actually. I was 7 in 1986, so that was my team. But, for anyone aspiring to enter the business, you should know, you lose your allegiances in this job. (A) you have to be objective. And (B) seeing the behind the scenes every day kind of takes away any fandom you may have had. It's a job - a fun one, for sure - but still a job. As for early memories of the Yankees, if you really want to know, I remember going to a game in the 80s but all I can recall is that the fans went nuts because Junkyard Dog was in the crowd. I also remember a game in which my father scored tickets from an Oakland player - Rick Honeycutt, I'm pretty sure - through business, and we sat in the A's family section. I remember Dave Henderson hitting a home run and Carney Lansford's sons looking a lot like little Carneys.
Now, I know you're not a Yankees fan. Are you a fan of any team? If not now, how about as a kid?
Grew up a Mets fan, as stated above. In this job you really root for the good people - we're human, so you can't help it - and you root for good stories.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Admire? No one immediately comes to mind. Maybe someone who had to deal with George Steinbrenner during his crazy years and is still around.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
Kevin Maas. Just kidding. Off the top of my head I'd probably say Roger Maris. Now I know why he is not in the hall, but I disagree. I do think you need to have a spectacular career for induction but at the same time I think you should be considered if you do something really, really special. 61 homers falls in that category, I think. Imagine explaining his lack of Hall of Fame status to an 8 year old fan. "He was really good one year, did something no ever did before him, had a record that stood for many, many years and maybe should still stand today, but, son, he just wasn't good enough for long enough."
What do you think about the Pettitte deal?
Obviously makes a heck of a lot of sense for the Yankees, both from the baseball side and financial side. He gives their rotation immediate help and the investment is short term. Plus, it's going to make for great stories from spring until October. I like that.
Take a guess: where is Clemens next summer?
Boston. I know there is a strong sentiment out there that believes he will follow Andy to NY. Some people close to them even think it will happen. I just think when it comes down to it, the Yankees won't offer him the special benefits package he had with the Astros and the Red Sox will. Plus, he has been privately talking up a return to Boston for six months now. Wouldn't it be neat to see Pettitte vs. Clemens in Yankees/Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball?
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Jeter. You can put me among those who gained respect for his abilities only after watching him on a daily basis. You look at the stats and say, "What's the big deal?" But, he carries this team. A really fun player to watch.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
My main goal when I'm off is to forget about the Yankees and it is hard. This job really takes over you when you're working - I owe it to my wife and myself to put it away in a small box during the little down time we get. As for hobbies, we bought an older house a year ago and we're doing a lot of work on it. That's really taking up whatever free time we have.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
Newsday started the blog in May, so not too long. And I'll tell you what, it wasn't until September before I really enjoyed it. The first few months it was more about finding a way of fitting it into my routine but the last three months, it has really taken off. I enjoy it more than any other aspect of the job.
How did you end up at Newsday?
I was hired by Newsday in 1998 as a part-time "sports assistant." Basically the job was answering the phones, taking high school scores and occasionally covering a high school game. I was a junior at St. John's at the time and absolutely loved the job.
When did you decide that you wanted to be a sports writer?
I kind of knew sometime during high school that it would be something I would enjoy doing. I remember reading a book, "How to get a job in sports," or something like that, and they gave good tips for aspiring sports writers. One tip was read the newspaper, even if you don't like the team or sport. So, I made a point of doing that and I think that really helped me. By the middle of my college years I knew I was going to make a run at being sports writer.
Would you consider yourself an internet person? Outside of Yankees blogging and job related tasks, do you spend much time online?
Yes, love the Internet. I could surf all day. The worst thing that ever happened to me was discovering Google. I find new stuff online everyday.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Pete Abraham of The Journal News has a great blog going. I'm doing everything I can to steal his readers, uh, I mean reap the benefits of the venue he has largely created. Yeah, that's right. In all seriousness, Pete has a great sense of how to blog, I think. I also enjoy Mark Feinsand's blog at mlb.com. He has an army of followers. Probably my favorite fan blog is noMaas.org. I check there just about everyday and leave laughing most of the time.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
Not too many. I grew up a Mets fan actually. I was 7 in 1986, so that was my team. But, for anyone aspiring to enter the business, you should know, you lose your allegiances in this job. (A) you have to be objective. And (B) seeing the behind the scenes every day kind of takes away any fandom you may have had. It's a job - a fun one, for sure - but still a job. As for early memories of the Yankees, if you really want to know, I remember going to a game in the 80s but all I can recall is that the fans went nuts because Junkyard Dog was in the crowd. I also remember a game in which my father scored tickets from an Oakland player - Rick Honeycutt, I'm pretty sure - through business, and we sat in the A's family section. I remember Dave Henderson hitting a home run and Carney Lansford's sons looking a lot like little Carneys.
Now, I know you're not a Yankees fan. Are you a fan of any team? If not now, how about as a kid?
Grew up a Mets fan, as stated above. In this job you really root for the good people - we're human, so you can't help it - and you root for good stories.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Admire? No one immediately comes to mind. Maybe someone who had to deal with George Steinbrenner during his crazy years and is still around.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
Kevin Maas. Just kidding. Off the top of my head I'd probably say Roger Maris. Now I know why he is not in the hall, but I disagree. I do think you need to have a spectacular career for induction but at the same time I think you should be considered if you do something really, really special. 61 homers falls in that category, I think. Imagine explaining his lack of Hall of Fame status to an 8 year old fan. "He was really good one year, did something no ever did before him, had a record that stood for many, many years and maybe should still stand today, but, son, he just wasn't good enough for long enough."
What do you think about the Pettitte deal?
Obviously makes a heck of a lot of sense for the Yankees, both from the baseball side and financial side. He gives their rotation immediate help and the investment is short term. Plus, it's going to make for great stories from spring until October. I like that.
Take a guess: where is Clemens next summer?
Boston. I know there is a strong sentiment out there that believes he will follow Andy to NY. Some people close to them even think it will happen. I just think when it comes down to it, the Yankees won't offer him the special benefits package he had with the Astros and the Red Sox will. Plus, he has been privately talking up a return to Boston for six months now. Wouldn't it be neat to see Pettitte vs. Clemens in Yankees/Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball?
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Jeter. You can put me among those who gained respect for his abilities only after watching him on a daily basis. You look at the stats and say, "What's the big deal?" But, he carries this team. A really fun player to watch.
