Pooping in the Punch Bowl

So by now you've read about former Moonie Times writer Mark Zuckerman's vacation plans campaign to get us readers to send him to Florida. Having just come from a Florida vacation, which had me shelling about $1,800 out of my pocket, I'm quite envious of his ingenuity; I knew I should've thrown a donate button up!

At any rate, I dig the idea. I've ranted (me? rant?) about the lousy coverage the team gets, and it's even lousier lately -- as FJB notes with his typically caustic style.

Teh Zuck promises to send donors access to Jim Riggleman's press conference, which will be a perfect substitute for a fancy pair of noise-canceling headphones.

By all means, go donate. As soon as my next paycheck comes in and I get that stupid Disney bill paid off, I'll be happy to chip in the price of a few orders of chili nachos.

But here's the thing: do I really want more Spring Training coverage? Meh. I mean I love the IDEA of Spring Training... hope, spring, change... blah blah blah. It hooks in to people for sentimental and emotional reasons, and there's value to that.

But if you take that away? Yawn. It's the most boring time of the year. Players work out. Yawn. Scrub minor leaguers play games while real major leaguers work on honing a particular skill, instead of playing like it's Game 7.

I s'pose there are story lines, but when we're talking about Garrett Mock or Colon Battlestar, who really cares? As we've seen ever year, decisions about who stays and who goes are just as much made based on options and contract status as merit. It's not like a few hot innings from Shairon Martis are going to make him a great pitcher. (Didn't Jason Simontacchi have a great spring, or something like that?)

Really, coming into this spring, there's not much I really want to know about that's likely to not be covered by whatever pros are actually left. It's not like we're going to have a Soriano situation again. And I doubt (though you never know) that Rizzo's going to have the Bowden itch to make a big trade during ST. (And it's not like any of the pro reporters really ever had much on trade rumors anyway).

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I love the idea of what he's doing, but not the timing. I'd rather have that extra set of eyes during the regular season -- when things matter, and things actually happen.

This isn't meant to discourage anyone from chipping in; I'd really recommend it. I just don't know what we're going to get out of it, and listening to Riggles' presser ain't it. Besides, 98% of everything I need to know about spring training, I can get out of one of SBF's photo essays. ::mugs::