11/27: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Frank Della Femina, NJ.com
Posted by: Patrick
Our first interview in the fourth annual Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere series is with Frank Della Femina of NJ.com.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
When I'm working and not doing something about the Yankees, you can also find me putting something together on any of the other tri-state teams. The fun thing about NJ.com is that I'm not following just one team, so that keeps me active and reading/browsing material all day. Outside of work I try to absorb any news surrounding any of the teams NJ.com covers to stay on top of the big rumors and heavy talk. Friends and family can't understand why I watch games after work or listen to sports radio at night, but it hardly feels like I'm working when I do these things. What's more relaxing than kicking your feet up and watching a game from the comfort of your own couch? Outside of following sports, I'm an avid reader (try to read 4-5 books a month), video game player nerd and exercise fiend.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
I started working for NJ.com in June. The site launched its real-time sports blog around the first or second week of July, so I guess we're coming up on the fourth month of actual blogging.
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The best part about it is that I can call this a job. I get to browse sports sites and blogs all day looking for information that may appeal to fans of the teams covered on NJ.com with the goal of giving them an all-in-one resource for tri-state sports news. Gone are the days where I minimized the windows to evade the wandering eyes of co-workers and bosses. Personally, I like thinking that I can help bloggers and fans out by providing them with the big stories and key points of focus surrounding their team. Why visit every site individually when I can compile the latest headlines and rumors for you? I don't mind the work. I'm happy to do it and I'll spare you the hunt.
The worst part comes on the slow days where not much is really going on. Sometimes this means hypothetical discussions like, "What pitcher do you want the Yanks to land," or "Who stays, who goes" kind of stuff. As far as I'm concerned, the slow days are a great chance to get to know readers. I do my best to respond to readers on all of the sites as well because hey, we're all fans.
How did you end up at NJ.com?
I saw the job opening posted up on a job site; don't remember which one. I was going through a phase at the time where I was unemployed, turning my career in a new direction and applying to basically any job I felt I was capable of working. I came across the posting for NJ.com and didn't hesitate one second to apply.
When did you decide that you wanted to be a sports writer?
I don't think I ever did. I knew I wanted to write at a young age, but wasn't sure what direction to head in. About a year or two ago I started writing some freelance articles for a few sports papers, theater projects, small-town papers and websites around the state - all in my spare time. The first byline led to another, one opportunity to the next, and before I knew it, I was writing on a fairly regular basis. Fast forward a year or two later and I was unemployed and back on the job hunt surviving on freelance work. Up until the time when I applied to NJ.com, I had a New Jersey State Trooper application sitting on my desk. I really wasn't sure if that's where I wanted to be, but as the job applications continued to pile up with little to no response that thing looked better and better every day. I guess you can almost say that was my fallback plan, but to label it as such would mean I had a plan all along which is the furthest from the truth that you can get.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Haha. I don't think I'd feel comfortable saying I like my own. But you know what? I don't have a favorite. And I mean that. I visit each and every Yankees blog in my favorites folder at the same time. Right-click, open all in tabs and boom – 45 Yankees blogs load up and freeze my computer momentarily while I go grab a coffee. I try to break it up during the day by checking in during the early morning, afternoon and late afternoon. Just seeing how fans differ in opinion and actually back it up is amazing to me. I really enjoy reading unique perspectives on your everyday story.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
My earliest memories come with the stadium. I guess I was seven or eight years old. My father got seats for the third base side and I just remember feeling captivated by it all. It was my first trip to Yankee Stadium so I did the walk through Monument Park and yelled/heckled at the pitchers in the bullpen for autographs. I can’t remember who started for the Yanks but Juan Guzman was on the mound for Toronto and blew off the fans. John Olerud walked over and openly apologized for Guzman's attitude and signed a few programs and balls before heading back into the clubhouse. Now that I think of it, I still probably have that program buried somewhere. Just a great time. To enhance the stadium experience, my dad also bought a bootleg shirt for like $5 from a guy in the parking garage. Sure, the pinstripes washed off after a wash or two, but that’s what it’s all about. If my memory serves me correctly, the Yanks won too.
What baseball team did you root for as a kid?
The Yanks. I had a Don Mattingly poster on my wall as a kid. It was a picture of him in a pinstripe suit, holding a bat like a machine gun and the word "Hitman" riddled with bullet holes at the top. I think every kid on my block had that poster.
Was someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for them?
My dad grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan but eventually segued to the Yankees. It wasn't until I got older and discovered the history between the two that I was surprised he didn't become a Mets fan out of spite like many of my friends' fathers did. But no, he chose the Yanks and stuck with them after the move. He had an influence on my love for baseball, both on and off the little league fields.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Not particularly. I guess if anything I admire anyone who can run a team in any capacity of the word, from upper management down to the clubhouse.
What are you most looking forward to, and least looking forward to, about the new stadium?
I'm most looking forward to the new wave of technology and such that is set to hit stadiums. As much as I feel this takes away from baseball in the traditional sense, I think it also just provides a way for Yankee Stadium to stand out once again as purveyors of the newest and latest trends. The cathedral is gone and the memories will last forever, but if a team is going to pave the way for other ball clubs than what better team than the winningest team in baseball? What I'm not looking forward to is ticket prices. I'm pretty sure I won't be going to many games.
CC Sabathia aside, what do you think the Yankees should do this offseason through free agency?
The Yanks have said it, fans have said it and I'm going to say it – pitching. Even without considering CC the Yanks have to do something about Mussina and/or Pettitte, not to mention keep options open should both choose to retire. While I'm pretty sure the rumors of Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett have some weight to them, I also feel as if the Yanks' management is trying to pressure a response from their two vets as soon as possible. It's like they're saying, "Yes or no? This ship is sailing with or without you."
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
I guess it depends what I want to see happen. Overall I'd say give me Johnny Damon in any situation. He's a consistent hitter and on-base guy with a set of wheels who knows when to gamble and when to run conservatively. In a clutch situation, I want to know a guy can hit, run and make the right decisions. Damon is that guy.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
When I'm working and not doing something about the Yankees, you can also find me putting something together on any of the other tri-state teams. The fun thing about NJ.com is that I'm not following just one team, so that keeps me active and reading/browsing material all day. Outside of work I try to absorb any news surrounding any of the teams NJ.com covers to stay on top of the big rumors and heavy talk. Friends and family can't understand why I watch games after work or listen to sports radio at night, but it hardly feels like I'm working when I do these things. What's more relaxing than kicking your feet up and watching a game from the comfort of your own couch? Outside of following sports, I'm an avid reader (try to read 4-5 books a month), video game player nerd and exercise fiend.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
I started working for NJ.com in June. The site launched its real-time sports blog around the first or second week of July, so I guess we're coming up on the fourth month of actual blogging.
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The best part about it is that I can call this a job. I get to browse sports sites and blogs all day looking for information that may appeal to fans of the teams covered on NJ.com with the goal of giving them an all-in-one resource for tri-state sports news. Gone are the days where I minimized the windows to evade the wandering eyes of co-workers and bosses. Personally, I like thinking that I can help bloggers and fans out by providing them with the big stories and key points of focus surrounding their team. Why visit every site individually when I can compile the latest headlines and rumors for you? I don't mind the work. I'm happy to do it and I'll spare you the hunt.
The worst part comes on the slow days where not much is really going on. Sometimes this means hypothetical discussions like, "What pitcher do you want the Yanks to land," or "Who stays, who goes" kind of stuff. As far as I'm concerned, the slow days are a great chance to get to know readers. I do my best to respond to readers on all of the sites as well because hey, we're all fans.
How did you end up at NJ.com?
I saw the job opening posted up on a job site; don't remember which one. I was going through a phase at the time where I was unemployed, turning my career in a new direction and applying to basically any job I felt I was capable of working. I came across the posting for NJ.com and didn't hesitate one second to apply.
When did you decide that you wanted to be a sports writer?
I don't think I ever did. I knew I wanted to write at a young age, but wasn't sure what direction to head in. About a year or two ago I started writing some freelance articles for a few sports papers, theater projects, small-town papers and websites around the state - all in my spare time. The first byline led to another, one opportunity to the next, and before I knew it, I was writing on a fairly regular basis. Fast forward a year or two later and I was unemployed and back on the job hunt surviving on freelance work. Up until the time when I applied to NJ.com, I had a New Jersey State Trooper application sitting on my desk. I really wasn't sure if that's where I wanted to be, but as the job applications continued to pile up with little to no response that thing looked better and better every day. I guess you can almost say that was my fallback plan, but to label it as such would mean I had a plan all along which is the furthest from the truth that you can get.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Haha. I don't think I'd feel comfortable saying I like my own. But you know what? I don't have a favorite. And I mean that. I visit each and every Yankees blog in my favorites folder at the same time. Right-click, open all in tabs and boom – 45 Yankees blogs load up and freeze my computer momentarily while I go grab a coffee. I try to break it up during the day by checking in during the early morning, afternoon and late afternoon. Just seeing how fans differ in opinion and actually back it up is amazing to me. I really enjoy reading unique perspectives on your everyday story.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
My earliest memories come with the stadium. I guess I was seven or eight years old. My father got seats for the third base side and I just remember feeling captivated by it all. It was my first trip to Yankee Stadium so I did the walk through Monument Park and yelled/heckled at the pitchers in the bullpen for autographs. I can’t remember who started for the Yanks but Juan Guzman was on the mound for Toronto and blew off the fans. John Olerud walked over and openly apologized for Guzman's attitude and signed a few programs and balls before heading back into the clubhouse. Now that I think of it, I still probably have that program buried somewhere. Just a great time. To enhance the stadium experience, my dad also bought a bootleg shirt for like $5 from a guy in the parking garage. Sure, the pinstripes washed off after a wash or two, but that’s what it’s all about. If my memory serves me correctly, the Yanks won too.
What baseball team did you root for as a kid?
The Yanks. I had a Don Mattingly poster on my wall as a kid. It was a picture of him in a pinstripe suit, holding a bat like a machine gun and the word "Hitman" riddled with bullet holes at the top. I think every kid on my block had that poster.
Was someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for them?
My dad grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan but eventually segued to the Yankees. It wasn't until I got older and discovered the history between the two that I was surprised he didn't become a Mets fan out of spite like many of my friends' fathers did. But no, he chose the Yanks and stuck with them after the move. He had an influence on my love for baseball, both on and off the little league fields.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Not particularly. I guess if anything I admire anyone who can run a team in any capacity of the word, from upper management down to the clubhouse.
What are you most looking forward to, and least looking forward to, about the new stadium?
I'm most looking forward to the new wave of technology and such that is set to hit stadiums. As much as I feel this takes away from baseball in the traditional sense, I think it also just provides a way for Yankee Stadium to stand out once again as purveyors of the newest and latest trends. The cathedral is gone and the memories will last forever, but if a team is going to pave the way for other ball clubs than what better team than the winningest team in baseball? What I'm not looking forward to is ticket prices. I'm pretty sure I won't be going to many games.
CC Sabathia aside, what do you think the Yankees should do this offseason through free agency?
The Yanks have said it, fans have said it and I'm going to say it – pitching. Even without considering CC the Yanks have to do something about Mussina and/or Pettitte, not to mention keep options open should both choose to retire. While I'm pretty sure the rumors of Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett have some weight to them, I also feel as if the Yanks' management is trying to pressure a response from their two vets as soon as possible. It's like they're saying, "Yes or no? This ship is sailing with or without you."
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
I guess it depends what I want to see happen. Overall I'd say give me Johnny Damon in any situation. He's a consistent hitter and on-base guy with a set of wheels who knows when to gamble and when to run conservatively. In a clutch situation, I want to know a guy can hit, run and make the right decisions. Damon is that guy.
Seamus wrote: