Paul Sullivan's Pity Party

[USSoccer]

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2007/07/the-morning-aft.html

 

The Watcher. Yes, Aramis Ramirez likes to watch, as he proved again when he hit the game-winning double in the eighth inning of Monday night's win over the Giants. The ball wound up at the base of the left-field wall, so Aramis may need some glasses if he thought that one was going out. He's such a clutch hitter that it's hard to nit-pick, but it would be nice to see him hustle out of the box like Jacque Jones once in a while.

 

What's funny is that after his double, I posted in the game thread that someone in the media was going to complain aboutthe bat flip/stare, despite the fact that:

 

-He made it to 2nd easily

-He wasn't getting a triple

-It was a game winning hit

 

Someone almost immediately said it would be Paul Sullivan.

 

What's even funnier is that after 3.5 years of being nothing but productive, and signing a contract last winter for at least $20m below his market value, there are still media guys who clamor for him to be more like Jacque Jones, of all people.

 

Unreal.

 

Also in the blog was this gem:

 

Bad form. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced the Kendall trade during the Cubs telecast on WCIU-Ch. 26 last night, making the media wait until afterward to learn of the deal. The Cubs PR department had the press release already written and was simply waiting for Hendry to announce it on TV before telling the beat reporters. Maybe this is the wave of the future, but it shows how little the organization cares about the reporters who cover their team every day. I don't know of any other team that announces its trades on TV, but the Cubs apparently believe they're above it all.

 

Get over yourself, Paul.

[SouthSideRyan]

Somebody's bitter that he's of no use to anyone anymore.

[CubinNY]

I don't really hate anyone I've never met. However, Sullivan comes as close as it gets. I wish that the tribune would cut him loose already. He's made me stop reading the Cubs reports from the Trib. I long for the days when Teddy Greenstein covered the Cubs.

[moorecg]

Bad form. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced the Kendall trade during the Cubs telecast on WCIU-Ch. 26 last night, making the media wait until afterward to learn of the deal. The Cubs PR department had the press release already written and was simply waiting for Hendry to announce it on TV before telling the beat reporters. Maybe this is the wave of the future, but it shows how little the organization cares about the reporters who cover their team every day. I don't know of any other team that announces its trades on TV, but the Cubs apparently believe they're above it all.

 

 

Isn't this exactly how the Yanks announced the Clemens signing? or flashed it on the scoreboard during a game and all that was on TV?

[Soriano12]

I don't care if Aram sprinted right out of the box, he would not have made it to 3rd. Sullivan is such a D-Bag.

[Soul]

Bad form. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced the Kendall trade during the Cubs telecast on WCIU-Ch. 26 last night, making the media wait until afterward to learn of the deal. The Cubs PR department had the press release already written and was simply waiting for Hendry to announce it on TV before telling the beat reporters. Maybe this is the wave of the future, but it shows how little the organization cares about the reporters who cover their team every day. I don't know of any other team that announces its trades on TV, but the Cubs apparently believe they're above it all.

 

 

Isn't this exactly how the Yanks announced the Clemens signing? or flashed it on the scoreboard during a game and all that was on TV?

 

Yeah they actually flew Clemens to New York, signed the deal, and then waited until the game where Clemens spoke to the crowd. There's no question the deal was done some time beforehand.

 

I mean these are ridiculous comments. Sullivan is a waste of time.

[daske17]

At least Cubs fans have universally called Sullivan a crybaby on the Tribune site.

 

One thing that I always think is funny is that most Tribune columnists respond to readers directly in the blogs if there is a point that is incorrect or the columnist chooses to defend him/herself.

 

However, Sullivan calls is a Cubs "mailbag" and lambastes readers for stupid questions. Personally, I like sending him the weekly email asking about the status of Prior and Wood because I know it bothers him so.

[RedIvyCub]

I don't really hate anyone I've never met. However, Sullivan comes as close as it gets. I wish that the tribune would cut him loose already. He's made me stop reading the Cubs reports from the Trib. I long for the days when Teddy Greenstein covered the Cubs.

 

When did you meet Sullivan in person?

 

And there is a reason Teddy is off the baseball beat...he isn't allowed to travel. LONNNGGG story.

[RedIvyCub]

At least Cubs fans have universally called Sullivan a crybaby on the Tribune site.

 

One thing that I always think is funny is that most Tribune columnists respond to readers directly in the blogs if there is a point that is incorrect or the columnist chooses to defend him/herself.

 

However, Sullivan calls is a Cubs "mailbag" and lambastes readers for stupid questions. Personally, I like sending him the weekly email asking about the status of Prior and Wood because I know it bothers him so.

 

Just curious you knew that these emails are screened by someone in the interactive department and he doesn't see even half of them.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't really hate anyone I've never met. However, Sullivan comes as close as it gets.

[David]

I don't really hate anyone I've never met. However, Sullivan comes as close as it gets. I wish that the tribune would cut him loose already. He's made me stop reading the Cubs reports from the Trib. I long for the days when Teddy Greenstein covered the Cubs.

 

When did you meet Sullivan in person?

 

And there is a reason Teddy is off the baseball beat...he isn't allowed to travel. LONNNGGG story.

 

Looks like he's saying that Sullivan is as close as it gets for him to hate somebody he's never met.

[David]

I don't care if Aram sprinted right out of the box, he would not have made it to 3rd. Sullivan is such a D-Bag.

 

I agree with the last point. I agree with the fact that ARam had no chance to reach 3rd there, either. I'm also not really bothered by ARam's occasional displays of a lack of hustle. I'd rather he stay healthy and continue to mash the ball.

 

Still, to be fair, it's not really about whether he would've made it to second or not. It's process over outcome. Just like a lot of us will criticize Hendry if he makes a bad pickup and it turns out roses. You want people approaching their jobs the right way so that they will consistently achieve the best possible outcome. We want Hendry to make smarter decisions because that way more of his moves will wind up good and less will wind up bad. It's inevitable that some will go either way, but the right approach will yield the most consistent results.

 

In other words, the only point of my rant there was that, "He wouldn't have made it to 3rd anyway" isn't really a valid argument against anyone criticizing Ram for what he did.

[Soul]

I don't care if Aram sprinted right out of the box, he would not have made it to 3rd. Sullivan is such a D-Bag.

 

I agree with the last point. I agree with the fact that ARam had no chance to reach 3rd there, either. I'm also not really bothered by ARam's occasional displays of a lack of hustle. I'd rather he stay healthy and continue to mash the ball.

 

Still, to be fair, it's not really about whether he would've made it to second or not. It's process over outcome. Just like a lot of us will criticize Hendry if he makes a bad pickup and it turns out roses. You want people approaching their jobs the right way so that they will consistently achieve the best possible outcome. We want Hendry to make smarter decisions because that way more of his moves will wind up good and less will wind up bad. It's inevitable that some will go either way, but the right approach will yield the most consistent results.

 

In other words, the only point of my rant there was that, "He wouldn't have made it to 3rd anyway" isn't really a valid argument against anyone criticizing Ram for what he did.

 

I'm also not bothered.

 

I don't think it's fair to say ARam isn't approaching his job correctly because he watches his homers. Why does this make a player lazy, or bad? When I look at ARam, I see a guy who has become much more consistent at the plate than his days @ Pitt, and his defense is greatly improved. I sincerely doubt that just happened by him sitting around and doing nothing. He works hard -- it's just that he just likes to show off a little sometimes. I'm not going to crucify the guy for that when he's gutting out a bad knee and has upped his game several notches since coming to Chicago. Doesn't make sense to me, I think people are forgetting the good things ARam does and focusing on this one bad thing.

Edited July 17, 2007 by Soul

[Soriano12]

I don't care if Aram sprinted right out of the box, he would not have made it to 3rd. Sullivan is such a D-Bag.

 

I agree with the last point. I agree with the fact that ARam had no chance to reach 3rd there, either. I'm also not really bothered by ARam's occasional displays of a lack of hustle. I'd rather he stay healthy and continue to mash the ball.

 

Still, to be fair, it's not really about whether he would've made it to second or not. It's process over outcome. Just like a lot of us will criticize Hendry if he makes a bad pickup and it turns out roses. You want people approaching their jobs the right way so that they will consistently achieve the best possible outcome. We want Hendry to make smarter decisions because that way more of his moves will wind up good and less will wind up bad. It's inevitable that some will go either way, but the right approach will yield the most consistent results.

 

In other words, the only point of my rant there was that, "He wouldn't have made it to 3rd anyway" isn't really a valid argument against anyone criticizing Ram for what he did.

 

The whole Aram "no hustling" crap just annoyed me so much last year that, ironically, I get a kick when he trots out of the box, because I know it makes the lemmings like Sullivan just flip out.

[David]

 

I'm also not bothered.

 

I don't think it's fair to say ARam isn't approaching his job correctly because he watches his homers. Why does this make a player lazy, or bad? When I look at ARam, I see a guy who has become much more consistent at the plate than his days @ Pitt, and his defense is greatly improved. I sincerely doubt that just happened by him sitting around and doing nothing. He works hard -- it's just that he just likes to show off a little sometimes. I'm not going to crucify the guy for that when he's gutting out a bad knee and has upped his game several notches since coming to Chicago. Doesn't make sense to me, I think people are forgetting the good things ARam does and focusing on this one bad thing.

 

I agree, completely.

[PackLandVA]

Bad form. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced the Kendall trade during the Cubs telecast on WCIU-Ch. 26 last night, making the media wait until afterward to learn of the deal. The Cubs PR department had the press release already written and was simply waiting for Hendry to announce it on TV before telling the beat reporters. Maybe this is the wave of the future, but it shows how little the organization cares about the reporters who cover their team every day. I don't know of any other team that announces its trades on TV, but the Cubs apparently believe they're above it all.

 

 

Isn't this exactly how the Yanks announced the Clemens signing? or flashed it on the scoreboard during a game and all that was on TV?

 

Yeah they actually flew Clemens to New York, signed the deal, and then waited until the game where Clemens spoke to the crowd. There's no question the deal was done some time beforehand.

 

I mean these are ridiculous comments. Sullivan is a waste of time.

 

I'm surprised Len didn't scream wildly in to the mic when Jim announced the trade. Kinda like that Yankee announcer chick who embarrassed herself nationally!!

[davearm]

I don't care if Aram sprinted right out of the box, he would not have made it to 3rd. Sullivan is such a D-Bag.

 

I agree with the last point. I agree with the fact that ARam had no chance to reach 3rd there, either. I'm also not really bothered by ARam's occasional displays of a lack of hustle. I'd rather he stay healthy and continue to mash the ball.

 

Still, to be fair, it's not really about whether he would've made it to second or not. It's process over outcome. Just like a lot of us will criticize Hendry if he makes a bad pickup and it turns out roses. You want people approaching their jobs the right way so that they will consistently achieve the best possible outcome. We want Hendry to make smarter decisions because that way more of his moves will wind up good and less will wind up bad. It's inevitable that some will go either way, but the right approach will yield the most consistent results.

 

In other words, the only point of my rant there was that, "He wouldn't have made it to 3rd anyway" isn't really a valid argument against anyone criticizing Ram for what he did.

 

I'm also not bothered.

 

I don't think it's fair to say ARam isn't approaching his job correctly because he watches his homers. Why does this make a player lazy, or bad? When I look at ARam, I see a guy who has become much more consistent at the plate than his days @ Pitt, and his defense is greatly improved. I sincerely doubt that just happened by him sitting around and doing nothing. He works hard -- it's just that he just likes to show off a little sometimes. I'm not going to crucify the guy for that when he's gutting out a bad knee and has upped his game several notches since coming to Chicago. Doesn't make sense to me, I think people are forgetting the good things ARam does and focusing on this one bad thing.

Point 1: "He would not have made it to 3rd" is not the point. Not even Ichiro would have made it to third.

 

The point is, he could've been out at second, or held to a single. And both have happened to ARam in this situation.

 

Point 2: I agree that ARam seems to have shown a genuine dedication to improving himself and working hard, as evidenced by his consistency and his defense. And it's fantastic to see. He's made himself into one of the best cleanup hitters in baseball, IMO, and suddenly gold glove talk isn't unrealistic.

 

But why can't this work ethic that's brought his game so far along be applied to his baserunning too? He sure seems to remain lazy and disinterested in that facet.

[jyoung55]

At least Cubs fans have universally called Sullivan a crybaby on the Tribune site.

 

One thing that I always think is funny is that most Tribune columnists respond to readers directly in the blogs if there is a point that is incorrect or the columnist chooses to defend him/herself.

 

However, Sullivan calls is a Cubs "mailbag" and lambastes readers for stupid questions. Personally, I like sending him the weekly email asking about the status of Prior and Wood because I know it bothers him so.

 

Just curious you knew that these emails are screened by someone in the interactive department and he doesn't see even half of them.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Paul Sullivan himself has shown his face on NSBB

[inari]

Jason Kendall is in Len's box, and Jason Kendall is coming here! Oh my good... good... goodness gracious! Of all the dramatic things I've ever seen! Jason Kendall is a Chicago Cub! And there we go Ron, we don't have to worry about whose going to be behind the plate. Attention fans! He is here!

[USSoccer]

But why can't this work ethic that's brought his game so far along be applied to his baserunning too? He sure seems to remain lazy and disinterested in that facet.

 

His baserunning this year has been excellent. I've seen him run extremely hard on routine grounders all season. He got hurt trying to beat a ball out.

 

You're taking one incident, where he thought a ball was going out and didn't, and saying that he's still a lazy, disinterested baserunner. That's completely wrong.

[David]

Just to reiterate... davearm and I are different people.

 

Don't get confused by the somewhat opposing opinions.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I've never really met Sullivan, so I don't know him personally. He may be a great guy. That being said, I don't like the way he covers the Cubs. Whether intentional or not, he always appears to be snide or condescending. He writes as if he has an axe to grind and takes a tabloid-like approach.

 

I won't attack him personally, because I don't know him; however, his writing seems as if it would be more something I'd read in the The News-Star instead of the largest paper in Chicago.

 

Thank goodness for Bruce Miles.

[davearm]

But why can't this work ethic that's brought his game so far along be applied to his baserunning too? He sure seems to remain lazy and disinterested in that facet.

 

His baserunning this year has been excellent. I've seen him run extremely hard on routine grounders all season. He got hurt trying to beat a ball out.

 

You're taking one incident, where he thought a ball was going out and didn't, and saying that he's still a lazy, disinterested baserunner. That's completely wrong.

Well I certainly hope you're right and I'm wrong in the general.

 

Doesn't change my opinion of the specific. ARam's mucked things up in the past by standing and admiring near-homers. It's frustrating to see it continue even when it doesn't wind up costing the Cubs.

[USSoccer]

But why can't this work ethic that's brought his game so far along be applied to his baserunning too? He sure seems to remain lazy and disinterested in that facet.

 

His baserunning this year has been excellent. I've seen him run extremely hard on routine grounders all season. He got hurt trying to beat a ball out.

 

You're taking one incident, where he thought a ball was going out and didn't, and saying that he's still a lazy, disinterested baserunner. That's completely wrong.

Well I certainly hope you're right and I'm wrong in the general.

 

Doesn't change my opinion of the specific. ARam's mucked things up in the past by standing and admiring near-homers. It's frustrating to see it continue even when it doesn't wind up costing the Cubs.

 

When?

[abuck1220]

i don't want aramis to do anything like jacque jones.