Hello Yankees family and I hope you are having a great
weekend. I come to you today with a question that has been bugging me, what is
a blog? The dictionary defines a blog as “a website containing a writer’s or
group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often
having images and links to other websites.” The reason I bring this up is
because I have recently come under fire for the way I run my blog and for the
content that I create. I have been called too emotional, I’ve been told I push
my opinions and beliefs on people and my words are sometimes taken out of
context. I am okay with this, you are allowed to disagree with my and all that,
but why am I being attacked for putting out my observations and opinions on a
blog that I own?
I am under no illusions that I am a beat writer or a
journalist although sometimes bloggers and their work are compared to them. I
write from a fan’s perspective, I’m not an insider and I don’t work for the
team. I was being compared in these emails to people who work for the Yankees,
either directly or indirectly, and who presumably have their opinions, their
observations and their emotions limited by the team and the people signing off
on their paychecks. I don’t live under those restrictions and I am not Jon
Heyman, Andrew Marchand, Wally Matthews, Chad Jennings, or Jack Curry (all men I have an enormous
amount of respect for FYI), I am Daniel Burch and that’s all I’m ever going to
be.
When I started this blog along with Bryan Van Dusen we
didn’t go out of our way to be different, but we are. We are fans first and
foremost and we’re not the GM. If I want Cliff Lee in pinstripes I’m going to
write about it, if you don’t then don’t click the article. I don’t push my
material on anyone, I don’t even post links to my stuff 99% of the time. I am a
fan so yes I have an opinion and yes I am emotional and yes I may be dramatic
and over the top sometimes, so what? I’m human. I’M A HUMAN BEING TOO. My feelings are hurt and that's why I've been quiet.
I have done things my way for better or worse since the
first day of the blog until today and I will continue to do so until I decide
to close up shop. If that means I never become more than what I am today as far
as writing then that’s A-OK by me. I’m happy where I’m at and as much as I
would love to turn this into a career I am quite content with it not being. My
wife and kids have everything they need and then some and I have a hobby, a hobby
I enjoy and I’m told I’m quite good at most of the time. This blog is not
changing and if emotions and opinions and observations and the use of common
sense to make determinations isn’t for you then maybe this blog isn’t either.
I have respected anyone and everyone that has ever come my
way in this industry whether it be in emails, on Twitter, in comments etc. and
I expect the same in return. If I don’t get it then I burn the bridge. Life is
too short to be disrespected and I feel disrespected. This is just something I
had to get off my chest and I appreciate you all listening. Thank you.
Oh and FYI apparently it’s unprofessional to do Twitter
polls despite the fact that you guys all enjoy them and enjoy being on the
blog. That’s not changing either. Thanks again, love you guys!
Well, I'm not "Yankees Family", but...
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that the whole point of a blog is to give your opinions. I know I struggle with that question on my blog a lot. "What do I have to offer readers that nobody else can?" Since I don't have access to players either, it really comes down to opinions. The thing I have to draw people to my blog that nobody else has is my opinion. I would think the same definitely applies to you. So keep speaking your mind. It's what brings me to your blog as opposed to others. If I want to know what the Yankees have to say, I can visit their website (*shudder*). I come here because I want to know what you have to say. It's that simple. If I don't want your opinion, I won't read it. That will be my loss.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Thank you bud. Much respect for you and I appreciate this. I guess I needed some affirmation of what I was doing with this post. Thank you.
DeleteDefining a blog : From what I gather, having just read the above,
ReplyDeleteis that my talented blog site ring master is pissed off at someone.
Why a low level type would go after you is none of my business.
Your response was on point. You go girl!
Back in my days of serving in the fleet, we called them small minds.
What I do know is, is that it can not be any of the talented,
and handsome writers to my left, on the posting conveyor.
Not even the confusing.......'dr Lanh'.
You go girl. Literally made me laugh.
DeleteBurch I disagree with almost all your posts and that is my god given right to do so, however I think you do an excellent job delivering the info to your followers. We too can be passionate and crazy at times. Keep doing what you're doing and don't let anyone affect the mission at hand whether we or anyone else agrees with you.
ReplyDeleteDamn right Hans. It's our mission and it's our plan and we're sticking to it for better or worse. And I'm sorry you don't agree, I try to be an optimist.
DeleteDaniel, the day we get paid to do this stuff people can get on our cases. But until then I direct those that have a problem with us to this quote from Mr. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day...
ReplyDelete"This is my life and you're not f**king invited."
Amen! This is a hobby. We give content daily for FREE and catch crap about it. Look at Prospects Month, 99% of what we did there would be behind a pay wall elsewhere. Can't make everyone happy all of the time.
DeleteDaniel...
DeleteDon't even think of giving up on your opinions and writing whatever you want!
This site is yours we just visit...as fans, with maybe a few comments along the way!
You have been very good to us all and a home away from home for us to agree or fight like little old ladies. Anyway you cut it, it is fun not to have ourselves cut down every time we (I) make a mistake with someone's name etc.
It has to be the Twitters on your case, because I love giving you a dig but as with all of us, it is with great respect for both you and Bryan!
So as Bryan said (from B. J. Armstrong):
"This is my life and you're not f**king invited."...fits very well for those few that dislike the site or your opinions!
It was someone through email, my Twitter follwers also show the ultimate respect which I appreciate much like I appreciate it here. I appreciate the hell out of you guys. Trust me, if it wasn't for everyone here and everyone on Twitter I would feel like I was talking to myself and I would have stopped a long time ago.
DeleteOLD KEN REED....You were quoting B.J.Armstrong ? Hmmmm.
DeleteSo, what is Green Day to you ?...Saint Patrick's Day ?
I'm a huge Green Day fan, so I know this quote quite well. Ken was just quoting my quote.
DeleteBRYAN VAN DUSEN....Relax.
DeleteI'm glad your a huge Green Day fan.
And, that you know all the philosophical ramblings of the one.. called Billie Joe.
No need to defend Kenneth, he does very well on his own.
I posted what I did, because I know Ken does not know what
Green Day is, and that he has no idea of what an intellectual
giant Armstrong is. If he had... he would of most likely rephrased his post.
Just thought you misunderstood where he got the quote from.
DeleteJust thought you misunderstood where he got the quote from.
DeletePatrick...
DeleteIt is a damn good thing I don't know anything about Green Day (the band) and all they are involved in.
I have a love for GOOD Music, not too much into the rock bands at all, it and Rap are not music as far as I am concerned...just loud sounds. Sounds made by people without the talent to be excellent therefore go for the outrageous and loud.
A continuation...from one of the old people!
ReplyDeleteAll that above, sounds like what you have heard from the older people in your life right?
Well, it is but, those were our years of being young and they were good years!
Your years are now and maybe started around 1980/1985...remember them for what they are...the good and (forget) the bad, because, no matter how hard we try, they never show up again.
History repeats it self...life time memories never do.