05/03: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Mark Feinsand, Blogging the Bombers
Posted by: Patrick
Our next interview is with Mark Feinsand of Blogging the Bombers.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Spending time with my family. I have a two year old son who keeps me plenty busy. During football season, I can also be found glued to the USC or Redskins games on weekends. Those are the only two teams left that still get me going as a passionate fan.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
This is my second year as a blogger. I did the entire 2006 season on MLBlogs.com as part of my job at MLB.com and have now continued my blogging work at the Daily News’ Blogging the Bombers.
How did you end up at MLB.com?
I was working at Fox Sports.com in 2000 when they announced they were moving the entire operation to Los Angeles. At the same time, a friend of mine who was in on the ground floor at MLB.com told me they were looking for site editors for the new team sites, so I applied. The job wasn’t completely defined at first; it was part webmaster, part beat writer. I didn’t have much experience as either, but they took a chance on me.
What are the differences between working at MLB.com and working at a newspaper like the Daily News?
Deadlines are the obvious answer, since the internet has no such thing as a hard deadline. That can be both a blessing and a pain, since you have less time to get the work done, but at the same time, you’re usually not the last one out of the press box.
The tone of the work is obviously a little different as well. MLB.com likes to celebrate the game, so while we certainly covered the controversial stories such as the 2002 labor battle and the BALCO scandal, it had a much less sensationalized tone. Both formats have their pluses, so I haven’t found it to be much of an adjustment.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Well, Peter Abraham is a good friend, so I certainly check out his Lohud blog several times a day. I also like noMaas.org – they do tremendous work with Photoshop, though I don’t always agree with their opinions. I’m a Joe Torre guy and I know many fans out there aren’t – including noMaas. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, which I certainly respect, but the Torre haters out there aren’t willing to listen to any arguments in favor of Joe. I also like the NY Times Bats blog.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
My dad took me to my first game in 1979. He grew up in the Bronx, just a couple of blocks from the Stadium, so it was a very exciting day for him. Catfish Hunter started for the Yankees, while Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Willie Randolph, Lou Piniella, Graig Nettles and Bucky Dent were all in the lineup against Oakland.
I don’t remember many details of the game, but I remember watching the Yanks take BP and watching Reggie throw in the outfield and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. I went back and looked the game up and the Yankees won 6-5 in 10 innings.
Now, I know you're not a Yankees fan. Are you a fan of any team? If not now, how about as a kid?
I grew up as a huge Yankees fan, which was a natural because of my dad. They won the World Series when I was 3 and 4 years old, but not again until I was 21. Those 18 years in between were brutal, especially since I was too young to appreciate the titles in 1977-78.
I remember watching Game 6 of the 1996 World Series with some friends at a sports bar in New York and it was euphoric. We went out to another bar, smoked cigars and celebrated all night. The memory of that night is what ticks me off about Yankees fans of the current era. They think it’s their birth right to win the title every year and it’s just not.
Just think about this: the next time the Yankees win, it will be very sweet for their fans, who have waited since 2000 for that title. For me, as happy as I was when the Yankees won in 1999 and 2000, they were anticlimactic. The layoff between the last title and the next one will make it so much better, but fans now get mad if the Yanks make it to the Series and lose there. That’s ridiculous. There are fans of many other teams who would kill to make the playoffs every year and get to six World Series in a decade. Yankees fans now are too spoiled and they don’t realize it.
Back to your question, I was forced to stop rooting for the Yankees by default. You can’t sit in that press box and be a fan. It just doesn’t work. Now, I was fortunate to also be a Giants fan, as my dad lived in San Francisco during the late 80s and early 90s, so I remain a Giants fan to this day. The 2002 playoffs were fun for me, since the Yankees were knocked out in the first round and I was able to watch the Giants make a run to the World Series. Of course, that one ended badly. That damn Scott Spiezio.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Admire is a strange word to use in this case, but there are several people I respect very much. Brian Cashman moved up from intern to general manager in the most successful organization in sports, which really takes a lot of patience, talent and luck. He deals with the media better than any GM I have come across, which is part of the reason he’s been able to do this job for a decade. In New York, dealing with the press is as much a part of the job as signing players and Cashman does it very easily.
Torre is another guy I respect. He was a very good player and after three managerial stops elsewhere, finally found his place with the Yankees and will be in the Hall of Fame as a result. Like Cashman, Torre is terrific with the press, unlike many managers in baseball. In seven years covering this team, I don’t think I’ve seen Joe get mad more than two or three times and when you consider the number of stupid questions he hears on a daily basis from foofy media types, that’s saying something.
As for players, Derek Jeter is a hard guy not to like and respect. He plays hard every day, never gets embroiled in controversy and treats reporters with respect. That doesn’t sound like a difficult thing to do, but many players don’t do it. They see the media as an annoyance, while Jeter realizes that we’re just doing our jobs. Jeter gives you as much time as you need, looks you in the eye and answers your questions. He may not give you juicy answers like Gary Sheffield does, but he’ll never walk away in the middle of a sentence.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
The popular answer is Don Mattingly, but I don’t think he should be in. Donnie had a great career and was the best hitter in the game for five years, but his last batch of years wasn’t Hall worthy. My answer is Goose Gossage and I think he gets in next summer.
Where is Clemens this summer?
New York.
What do you expect from Igawa this season?
I think he’ll struggle to be consistent, but the last outing against Boston (on April 28) was very impressive. If Clemens does sign in New York, Igawa will have to fight off Phil Hughes for the fifth spot when Hughes gets healthy.
Who is one player not on the roster now, that you think will make a noticeable, positive impact this season?
I’ve got to say Clemens. There’s really no other answer if I think he’s signing with the Yankees.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Unlike many people, the idea of a "clutch hitter" is something I believe in. I have never seen any player more clutch than Jeter, so I guess I’d have to say him. He’s just done it too many times in a big spot not to want to see him come to the plate with the game on the line.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Spending time with my family. I have a two year old son who keeps me plenty busy. During football season, I can also be found glued to the USC or Redskins games on weekends. Those are the only two teams left that still get me going as a passionate fan.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
This is my second year as a blogger. I did the entire 2006 season on MLBlogs.com as part of my job at MLB.com and have now continued my blogging work at the Daily News’ Blogging the Bombers.
How did you end up at MLB.com?
I was working at Fox Sports.com in 2000 when they announced they were moving the entire operation to Los Angeles. At the same time, a friend of mine who was in on the ground floor at MLB.com told me they were looking for site editors for the new team sites, so I applied. The job wasn’t completely defined at first; it was part webmaster, part beat writer. I didn’t have much experience as either, but they took a chance on me.
What are the differences between working at MLB.com and working at a newspaper like the Daily News?
Deadlines are the obvious answer, since the internet has no such thing as a hard deadline. That can be both a blessing and a pain, since you have less time to get the work done, but at the same time, you’re usually not the last one out of the press box.
The tone of the work is obviously a little different as well. MLB.com likes to celebrate the game, so while we certainly covered the controversial stories such as the 2002 labor battle and the BALCO scandal, it had a much less sensationalized tone. Both formats have their pluses, so I haven’t found it to be much of an adjustment.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Well, Peter Abraham is a good friend, so I certainly check out his Lohud blog several times a day. I also like noMaas.org – they do tremendous work with Photoshop, though I don’t always agree with their opinions. I’m a Joe Torre guy and I know many fans out there aren’t – including noMaas. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, which I certainly respect, but the Torre haters out there aren’t willing to listen to any arguments in favor of Joe. I also like the NY Times Bats blog.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
My dad took me to my first game in 1979. He grew up in the Bronx, just a couple of blocks from the Stadium, so it was a very exciting day for him. Catfish Hunter started for the Yankees, while Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Willie Randolph, Lou Piniella, Graig Nettles and Bucky Dent were all in the lineup against Oakland.
I don’t remember many details of the game, but I remember watching the Yanks take BP and watching Reggie throw in the outfield and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. I went back and looked the game up and the Yankees won 6-5 in 10 innings.
Now, I know you're not a Yankees fan. Are you a fan of any team? If not now, how about as a kid?
I grew up as a huge Yankees fan, which was a natural because of my dad. They won the World Series when I was 3 and 4 years old, but not again until I was 21. Those 18 years in between were brutal, especially since I was too young to appreciate the titles in 1977-78.
I remember watching Game 6 of the 1996 World Series with some friends at a sports bar in New York and it was euphoric. We went out to another bar, smoked cigars and celebrated all night. The memory of that night is what ticks me off about Yankees fans of the current era. They think it’s their birth right to win the title every year and it’s just not.
Just think about this: the next time the Yankees win, it will be very sweet for their fans, who have waited since 2000 for that title. For me, as happy as I was when the Yankees won in 1999 and 2000, they were anticlimactic. The layoff between the last title and the next one will make it so much better, but fans now get mad if the Yanks make it to the Series and lose there. That’s ridiculous. There are fans of many other teams who would kill to make the playoffs every year and get to six World Series in a decade. Yankees fans now are too spoiled and they don’t realize it.
Back to your question, I was forced to stop rooting for the Yankees by default. You can’t sit in that press box and be a fan. It just doesn’t work. Now, I was fortunate to also be a Giants fan, as my dad lived in San Francisco during the late 80s and early 90s, so I remain a Giants fan to this day. The 2002 playoffs were fun for me, since the Yankees were knocked out in the first round and I was able to watch the Giants make a run to the World Series. Of course, that one ended badly. That damn Scott Spiezio.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Admire is a strange word to use in this case, but there are several people I respect very much. Brian Cashman moved up from intern to general manager in the most successful organization in sports, which really takes a lot of patience, talent and luck. He deals with the media better than any GM I have come across, which is part of the reason he’s been able to do this job for a decade. In New York, dealing with the press is as much a part of the job as signing players and Cashman does it very easily.
Torre is another guy I respect. He was a very good player and after three managerial stops elsewhere, finally found his place with the Yankees and will be in the Hall of Fame as a result. Like Cashman, Torre is terrific with the press, unlike many managers in baseball. In seven years covering this team, I don’t think I’ve seen Joe get mad more than two or three times and when you consider the number of stupid questions he hears on a daily basis from foofy media types, that’s saying something.
As for players, Derek Jeter is a hard guy not to like and respect. He plays hard every day, never gets embroiled in controversy and treats reporters with respect. That doesn’t sound like a difficult thing to do, but many players don’t do it. They see the media as an annoyance, while Jeter realizes that we’re just doing our jobs. Jeter gives you as much time as you need, looks you in the eye and answers your questions. He may not give you juicy answers like Gary Sheffield does, but he’ll never walk away in the middle of a sentence.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
The popular answer is Don Mattingly, but I don’t think he should be in. Donnie had a great career and was the best hitter in the game for five years, but his last batch of years wasn’t Hall worthy. My answer is Goose Gossage and I think he gets in next summer.
Where is Clemens this summer?
New York.
What do you expect from Igawa this season?
I think he’ll struggle to be consistent, but the last outing against Boston (on April 28) was very impressive. If Clemens does sign in New York, Igawa will have to fight off Phil Hughes for the fifth spot when Hughes gets healthy.
Who is one player not on the roster now, that you think will make a noticeable, positive impact this season?
I’ve got to say Clemens. There’s really no other answer if I think he’s signing with the Yankees.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Unlike many people, the idea of a "clutch hitter" is something I believe in. I have never seen any player more clutch than Jeter, so I guess I’d have to say him. He’s just done it too many times in a big spot not to want to see him come to the plate with the game on the line.
