Wednesday, September 19, 2007 |
Josh Rawitch Wishes Dodger Fans Wouldn't Talk So Much
It's Dodger Talk, and I listen. Since Ross Porter began moderating in 1990, I've listened.I understand why yesterday's show — especially after yesterday's deadly blow to the Dodgers' postseason hopes — might have been extra-toxic. Rawitch has also been the subject of some ire around here, as when the Dodgers went into denial mode about reports of individuals sporting handicapped placards or license plates being turned away from appropriate parking stalls. I'm not sure quite what to make of it; if accuracy is the beef, why don't the Dodgers provide someone whose job it is to make sure that, if the barbs are inaccurate, at least they get corrected? A. Martinez used to do a fine job, to the extent that postgame shows are worth listening to (which they generally are not). I generally haven't had an issue with Harvey, but this seems to be a tempest in a teapot.Officially, it's the Dodgers post-game, radio call-in show. Unofficially, it's a wonderful extra inning that embodies McCourt's public commitment to maintain his team's ties to the community.
Which makes what happened on Sunday so scary.
A Dodgers official, upset all season over perceived errors by the show's host, phoned the KFWB News 980 studio during the middle of a broadcast.
During a reportedly heated off-air conversation, Josh Rawitch, Dodgers director of public relations and broadcasting, told host Bob Harvey that the show was "an embarrassment."
Then Harvey returned to the microphone and recounted those words to his listeners, many of whom were outraged.
And now, with the Dodgers still negotiating a radio deal for next season, with the Dodgers officials faced with the task of replacing Vin Scully one of these years, these fans have to wonder.
Do the Dodgers really consider dissent an embarrassment? And will future broadcast decisions reflect that?
"We have no problem with fans saying whatever they want," said Camille Johnston, Dodgers senior vice president of communications. "We have a problem with Bob Harvey not being informed. As a baseball partner, he should be held to a higher standard."
Update: SOSG has a lot more on this, including links to the comments thread at Josh Rawitch's blog (hey, thanks for providing no comment permalinks, MLB.com, but I found 'em anyway), his subsequent response, and Kevin Roderick's view at LA Observed:
He may have a point about Harvey's level of expertise, but I hope Rawitch doesn't actually believe that stuff about balance. It's not Josh's job, or his custom, to examine both sides of an argument or promote balance. When knowledgeable fans criticize Juan Pierre, for instance, the Dodgers blog typically points out the upside of his stats or playing style. Same for other players. You don't hear the Dodger hype machine stop a fan who is enthusing to point out, for balance's sake, that a player is slumping or not very good. I'm not saying they should, just noting that they don't. I understand, though, why people around the Dodgers would be upset, since the L.A. tradition is for the host of that show to act as a Dodgers fan first and an informed baseball analyst second, if at all.I do note that Terry Smith, who is the usual host for Angels Talk after the games, manages to do a good job without overindulging in needless sucking up to bad players. Sports talk shows are a thankless job, but it's a heck of a lot easier if the team is in first place.
Labels: dodgers, radio, stupid ideas
I've yet to hear him critical of ANY Angel player or coach. Ever. Its un-listenable drivel. He was never in agreement that AK would be moved, That Ersty moving to the outfield was a injury waiting to happen, that colon is past his prime, etc. Its the company pr from the company man himself, Terry Smith. He's employed by the Angels for chrissakes.
Bill Harvey on the other hand will be critical when needed, and is fair and balanced. His paycheck does NOT come from the Dodgers. Huge difference.
Thoughts?
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