Now, I’m really curious how media coverage of the Cubs compares to coverage of the Red Sox. I’m sure that if we compared how the two teams handle the media, we’d get a glimpse of their overall approach to managing their respective organizations.
Big Mike, you observed that even though Jim Hendry enjoys talking to reporters, that you doubt he describes aspects of the team’s off-season plans. I get that, but, don’t you agree that a GM can find ways to share some good, real information with the press? I’m curious how Hendry describes the Cubs’ outlook and actions that are real — things that he can share. Do the Cubs use the press to enhance the team and help it meet its objectives?
I raise this because I’ve seen the Red Sox successfully use the media in a variety of ways to advance their agenda and meet their objectives. Even during the off-season.
I’ve observed that the Red Sox, during the Henry/Lucchino/Epstein era, handle the media about a hundred times better than past management groups during the rest of my life. This is hardly a coincidence, but, instead, another sign that this group knows what they’re doing.
First, the Red Sox just excell at PR – across the board – beyond the 2004 and 2007 championships. Second, the Sox have consistently been accessible to reporters. They discuss what they’re doing whenever they can and seem to “get” that it’s their job to “feed” the insatiable appetites of Red Sox nation and the area (& national) media who cover the team.
Part of that has meant distributing “tidbits” of information to baseball writers even during this time of year. So, the Sox find ways to keep talking to the top baseball writers – whether Peter Gammons or Buster Olney of ESPN or a few of the Boston Globe and Boston Herald‘s veteran baseball writers. Often, in the fall and early winter, that means discussing things in the zone between on-the-record and off-the-record — such as having facts or remarks attributed to ”sources” close to the team. So, every off-season, we see the Red Sox surface in speculative stories or items about their talks regarding any quality player – such as the current examples of Blue Jays’ ace Roy Halliday or the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera. It makes the Red Sox appear to be involved in everything. How does that hurt the team?
Larry Lucchino, Theo Epstein, (Manager) Terry Francona, Pitching Coach John Farrell and other Sox officials are, routinely, available to the press and willing to discuss most topics. On occasion, they predictably “duck” sensitive topics such as the state of Josh Beckett’s arm. New England Cable Sports Network (NESN), which covers every Sox game, has a lengthy pre-game and post-game show for every single Sox game — which is another vehicle the team uses to promote itself constantly.
The Red Sox and Cubs face very different circumstances, but, they’re both in very large media markets with loyal, enthusiastic fans.
I think if a team is “on-the-ball” generally, they’re often good at interacting with the media covering the team. So, my question is whether we can draw any conclusions from examining how the Red Sox treat of the baseball media compared to the Cubs’ approach.
I’ll be surprised, Big Mike, if you tell me that the Cubs are terrific with the media. Am I right?
