Baggarly, for those of you who care, is the alleged Giants "Insider" for CSNBayArea.
Although since Baggs has never really broken any significant news story, his body of work is sort of scant.
Except for killing on Jeopardy and wearing sun glasses in the press box, nobody knows for sure just what Baggy does.
Maybe this explains why he chose to write a hit piece on KNBR's Larry Krueger. I myself have at times been critical of Krueger, but making inferences about a nearly decade-old brouhaha that had been massively overblown seems a little curious and out of place.
Sort of funny and desperate at the same time.
Here's what I think: I think the Baggar wanted to stir the pot which sounds reasonable since he doesn't report anything of substance while covering the Giants. The whole let's not pick on Latin players would have significant more meaning and traction if the messenger was sincere. I don't believe the Baggar is sincere.
Kruger, according to a close source at Knibber, was furious over the article and called a lawyer. Because Baggarly never mentions him by name, (which I'm sure was done on purpose), there will probably be no legal ramifications but the damage is done. This story ain't over, folks.
MEDIA NOTES: I was a guest on the "Will and Willie Show", (Will Durst and Da Mayor, Willie Brown), last night at the Gold Dust Lounge at the Wharf. Had a blast. The show was both televised and broadcast for Clear Channel --I'll send a link soon and talk more about the show soon...That big dust-up at KRON involves a family matter and while there's a lot of tension and angst most of the troops are trying their best to move on...Lee Housekeeper, the big time SF PR King came by and shook hands with yours truly. What impeccable taste...Migrated over to Original Joe's in North Beach--packed to the rafters even on a Tuesday night. Mother Duggan was at the end of the bar exchanging pleasantries...Every time I make it over to the Wharf it reminds me of old 70's, Streets of SF fare: the Alioto's restaurant sign, 12 million tourists, the pungent crab aroma, (nice), and absolutely NO parking which is just as well since the cab ride from Boulevard sent me back 15 bucks--what a bargain...Talk later.
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Felt embarrassed for Bags that he had, yet again, Baer/Sabean shove their agenda down his throat. It was an awful piece penned simply so that Bags can say, "Hey, remember me, I'm here!" The dude has disappeared, like other print journalists, since their move to CSN Bay Area. Really, does anyone go to CSN wedbsite or watch the network between games?
ReplyDeleteTo be sure, I had not read Bags in months until I heard what he wrote, then went to CSN. What I found was a forced column. I mean, Zito, Barton and other fill-in-the-slumping-Bay-Area-white-athlete have not been at the center of fans' anger? It was like ... I need to write something controversial.
I love how he brought up his own pitfalls in the column as a way to help say, "Hey, I might be guilty, too" as a way to sell his point. The fact is, it was way, way forced and simply wrong. We Bay Area sports fans rip anyone who doesn't produce.
Again, Bags and other CSN "Insiders" are lonely for attention. There's not one of them who would love to be Tim Kawakami, Bruce Jenkins, Mark Purdy ... hell, even Ann Killion, who is as predictable as the failings of Giants hitters or A's relievers.
Just a misdirected scream for attention by Bags.
Regarding your query about whether people to to the CSN website or watch the network between game, I have to say no.
DeleteThe 'insiders' don't break stories any more because they spend their time tweeting, not digging.
ReplyDeleteIf Larry Krueger called a lawyer because of that piece of fluff, he should be ashamed of himself.
What do you expect from a Giants apologist.
ReplyDeleteBaggarly must do his best to defend the Giants.
"Whipping Boy" is racially charged ? Oh come on ! More Bay Area liberal bullshit. I'm so sick of it.
ReplyDeleteWhipping Boy is as American as booing the ump, the hidden ball trick, and oogling Erin Andrews.
Everybody calm down. And don't revisit Kruegar's regrettable remarks.
I don't read Comcast Sports Blog Website whatever it is, I read the Sporting Green. Then again, I'm about 200 years old.
Erin Andrews is overrated. Though, the peephole video is pretty nice.
DeleteAgree that Erin Andrews is overrated. I like Alex Flanagan when it comes to the sideline reporters.
DeleteFlanagan is much better than Andrews. Erin is obnoxious.
DeleteAlex Flanagan accepted and had a couple drinks with us one night after the game. We invited her and were shocked she took us up on it. Really nice lady!
DeleteFlanagan is really good. So cool, professional and a tall drink of water at that.
DeleteMarry: Alex Flanagan
Fuck: Tracy Wolfson
Kill: Erin Andrews
You can all flock to Flanagan, who by the way is pretty and talented, and I'll be there to console my girl Erin.
DeleteLike Michael Silver wrote recently, there is a double standard when it comes to race and athletics. Baggerly makes some good points re criticism of Latin players, 'Whipping Boys' as he puts it.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Sandoval being criticized more by fans and media than Pence, when Pence is the one with the $109 million contract?
I don't think this is a hit piece on Krueger. The Krueger episode helps bolster the point of Baggerly's article.
He could have mentioned Lon Simmons (he had it out for Marichal), Krukow (who seems to be singling out Sanchez and Sandoval) and Bill King (quick to call a Latin player a 'hotdog', never a black or white player) too.
How does Mike Silver find time to write anything when he's so busy felching Hue Jackson ?
DeleteIs Mike Silver secretly Hue Jackson's agent? Cause it sure sounds like it.
DeleteHit piece? Calling him crabgrass isn't even close to a hit. What Kreuger did is historical fact. And no matter how much Radnich and KNBR try to re write it,people aren't buying. Pablo? I've said that for years..he's ripped in a slump in a way that Posey,Pence,Belt and other Giant players NEVER are when they stink. And yes Radnich who usually overcompensates with African Americans..makes up for it when its African Latinos with over critical remarks.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't know where you heard Krueger called an attorney..the man has said many times now "I made my own downfall". Crabgrass sounds like blown kisses after the whole 2005 episode.
Stan, I've been meaning to ask you this for years. Maybe you can address this here:
DeleteWhat exactly did Gary Radnich say that was racist toward Rick Quan?
You're slipping Stan. I figured you'd be the first post on this one.
DeleteOne thing was "He thought he was part of the club" of local media. "If you don't like somebody,you just don't like them". And mind you,this is after he told of his grudges with Emerald Yee and Wendy Tokuda. And I know he told another about being disgusted at the possibility of Comcast bringing an Asian sports guy from back east who made a name (that I forgot) at a lunch he attended for Comcast employee's a couple of years ago.
DeleteI'm trying to think of any other local media of color he has the same grudge with in news. Nope,none.
As far as Pablo,I've posted a few times that Radnich almost takes it personal when Sandoval slumps. He hasn't said a word about Pence.
As far as K&K? yes,I think they get more disgusted when Pablo leaves men on base then they EVER did with say, Aaron Rowan. I CLEARLY remember his worst at bats getting a calm "that's the third out"..no drama when needed, I thought. And Rowan they said MANY times "Is a great guy in the clubhouse". And it turned out..that wasn't true. Rowan was a complainer and Giant management couldn't wait to dump him.
Stan, maybe you can't read English.
DeleteWhat exactly did Gary Radnich say that was racist toward Rick Quan?
Well,221 YOU cant read. I didn't say he said anything as flat out "I hate Chinese" did I ? It was the questioner. DId Kreuger say he hated Carib players?. I know 99% of the readers comprehend well enough,that I don't need to slow up.
DeleteRadnich did make fun of Rick for thinking like a white man,"Pompador hair and strutting around". Although I'm sure Rick would take kidding good natured, but Radnich wasn't. He said,"If you don't like somebody"..etc,As I said.
Look,Just last week Rod Brooks said the local media is a white mans club. I thought that was the proof to what I said for years. I said even Rod Brooks wouldn't say I was wrong even as the bigots used him as an example to back up how "fair and balanced" hiring of local sports hosts is.
Stan, why can't you focus long enough to answer the simple question, [w]hat exactly did Radnich say that was racist toward Rick Quan?
DeleteAll the jumbled words about Emerald Yee, Wendy Tokuda, Rod Brooks, Pablo Sandoval, Pence, Aaron Rowan... are weirdly unconnected and make no sense.
Can you answer the question? Can you answer any questions without launching into an unintelligible digression?
What exactly did Gary Radnich say that was racist toward Rick Quan?
A man who tells jokes at Asian personalities expense almost exclusively isn't displaying racism? If you say no,then most likely your a white male Republican.
DeleteThat means no amount of evidence is good enough for you. Obama born a Muslim in Kenya? you believe!
stan has proven he cannot write. He clutters this blog with his inarticulate thoughts. He has not answered a direct question from (10:09 12:21 3:17) proving he cannot read. Now I have a question for stan - why don't you use your own blog for your ramblings?
DeleteSo, Stanley. You're not racist, eh? Why then all the comments which in context make it seem like white males are problematic?
DeleteDisregard the request, stan. Your lack of writing and reading skills have answered the question. Now, stan will retort with a republican, intern or "I was right" response.
DeleteNo, I answered. Clearly. But if racist "jokes" and gripes aired at Asians are not enough..then you have the problem. And the stupidity level of your kind sounding like 5 year old's with "And why?"..is typical of the FOX news crowd.
DeleteAnd of course Rick who didn't answer to my statement,is a white republican male.
The context 450,is that Lee Hammer and Jason Barret and just about every single sports and news director in local TV has been a white male. Unless a white female slipped in there..And would Radnich air those grudges if an Asian producer was right there in studio? Hell no.
That's all a strong context huh?
I am still waiting for Stan to answer the simple question posed repeatedly above.
DeleteHe either can't understand the question or is incapable of formulating a coherent response.
Stan, you start by writing a simple sentence that makes sense. Then follow it up with another sentence that makes sense and logically follows its predecessor, and so on.
ha!. And Ricks funny. Its like he's a klansman who defends them by writing "And I bet Stan,will again say that my being a klansman is some kind of answer"..! lol.
DeleteYou kooks. Too easy to take you apart.
Seriously Stan, maybe you should write out what you're trying to say ahead of time and have someone else read it first. Your comments don't make sense.
DeleteStan is (unintentionally) comedy gold! I bet Rich gets a lot of clicks on his blog out of the morbid curiousity that Stan inspires in people who come back to read his drivel. He makes Daffy Duck seem like William F. Buckley.
DeleteDamn Stan...the more you comment, the more you make yourself sound stupid. What does that tell you Stan when most people who read your comments can't understand them? Think before you speak!
DeleteStan's muddled thinking and garbled syntax produce heaps of convoluted drivel. Stan, if you can find someone who reads and writes basic English, ask them to review what you've written before posting it on the internet.
DeleteMaybe that's why no one reads Stan's own blog, in spite of his grandiose claims of so many hits. NO COMMENTS, NONE.
ALL negative comments are from the Radnich white republican male demographics. So,consider the source.
DeleteYou do ALL notice that it's ALWAYS that crowd. Just makes my point for all my posts.
38,000 views..de botted,and still running strong.
10:58 and Rick - as long as The Supreme Court is making the ridiculous claim that racism is dead and minorities don't need and deserve support in the U.S. (i.e. the Voting Rights Act decision and the Affirmative Action decision) then Stan's voice is welcome and needed. I am a white, privileged, and Liberal male.
DeleteRepublicans blame everything on Obamacare ... Democrats blame everything on George W Bush, Stan blames everything on Gary Radnich; same level of creepy ignorant obsession.
DeleteOne time Gary said on his radio show: "There's a guy who leaves me these creepy voice messages ... Hey if you're out there, give me a call, I'd love to talk to you ... I used to think it was kind of funny, now I'm not so sure .... "
I know it's Stan.
You know 1045 about as much about me as politics and the world. So,if Radnich is stalked by me as all of you like to fantasize about (like Obama born in Kenya) do any of you rightwing conservatives ever wonder why he say's nothing about me? Done nothing despite all the fantasy bs about putkinism?
DeleteBecause he knows I'm right.
And here's an update- last night on KRON,his hair was gray. Not blond and frosted. If he goes without the dye much longer,he's going to be silver soon.
I knew you wanted to know.
Stan asks, "do any of you rightwing conservatives ever wonder why [Radnich] say's nothing about me?"
DeleteMaybe because he doesn't know you exist?
Stan still not making any sense:
Delete"You know 1045 about as much about me as politics and the world."
HUH?
Stan, do you even know what you are trying to say? Why do you continue to post gibberish?
Oh he knows me. Of about me,and however you spin it. You people really are lame brains. You never offer me proof that proves I'm wrong...since I'm not,so you take the "I cant hear you Stan with fingers in my ears,so that's my answer" like 408. His use of "gibberish" is so far fetched,HIS answer is gibberish.
DeleteKooks,no shame in those pitiful comebacks.
signed
Stan,the beloved bay area liberal icon.... No stadium over the bay! VICTORY !!!
"You never offer me proof that proves I'm wrong...since I'm not,so you take the "I cant hear you Stan with fingers in my ears,so that's my answer" like 408."
DeleteStan still spewing gibberish. Wonder why it's impossible for him to write a single intelligible sentence.
Does anyone else think it's ridiculous for Rich Lieberman to criticize ANYONE for an alleged hit piece?
ReplyDeleteBest comment ever. Surprised it wasn't censored like most of them. Richie must be feeling good (relevant?) after sharing the stage, at a gimmicky version of a classic SF bar, with a washed-up comedian and politician last night.
DeleteHow in hell is this a Larry Krueger "hit piece"? Kreueger isn't even mentioned.
ReplyDeleteLieberman has based this entire post on an imaginary premise.
I recall the Baggerly-Melky Cabrera dustup. He had the scoop (re: PED), reported it correctly. But then, when pressured by Sabean et al, he backed off and even wrote an apology WHEN HE WAS RIGHT. If you don't have the journalistic chops to stand by your story even when its tough then you become nothing but a mouthpiece. You'll never publish anything that goes against the prevailing thought. In that instance, you may as well go on the Giants PR staff. (Please note these thoughts are those of an observing fan. All I know is what I see, and read.)
ReplyDeleteJunkman, You can't have it both ways. You can't claim that Baggerly is nothing but a "mouthpiece" for the Giants when he writes a column critical of KNBR broadcasters.
DeleteThis blog constantly argues there's a massive, secret conspiracy between local teams, particularly the Giants, Comcast Sports, and KNBR to never criticize the local team. Lieberman constantly insists that local reporters and radio guys are too timid to criticize the local teams. I disagree.
I hear Radnich and Tolbert talk all the time about the Giants deficiencies when things aren't going well. (OK, Fitz is a Warrior tool, no argument about that.) But by and large when the teams stink, we hear about it.
If the Giants, Larry Baer, KNBR and COMCAST were all so maliciously working together to control the messaging about the team, you wouldn't have Andy Baggerly publishing a column critical of KNBR broadcasters in the CSN Bay Area Blog.
Point taken and I didn't explain my thoughts clearly. Circa early July 2012 Baggerly functioned as a reporter should. He had the info, reported it, was correct in his reports. Circa late July 2012 (and post apology) he fell into place (threatened freezeout by the Giants?) and hasn't posted one thing since of any note. He's fallen into place.
DeleteExcept for the reference to "human crabgrass". That was just stupid. Krueger is alluded to but not mentioned. The whole thing sounds like a girl fight on a junior high school playground. But it was only one short paragraph and two sentences out of a (600?) word column.
The whole controversy (such as it is) focused on latin players and whether they are singled out unfairly. There's plenty of blame to be shared. Personally though I think once Baer and Sabean sell out of Panda bonnets, Pablo (and his .181 batting average) will be gone.
Only a gutless writer would back track on a story about Melky Cabrera's PED use.
DeleteIs there any doubt why Andrew Baggarly has no credibility?
The poster at 11:30am fails to tell us his employer has a penchant for wearing organge and black.
DeleteHmmmmm thought his position was suspect.
Look up "Whipping Boy" in Websters, and there's a picture of Pablo Sandoval.
ReplyDeleteAm I under arrest for hate crime ? will I get driven to jail in one of those hippy Lyft cars ? Just love the Bay Area. Can't get enough.
"This story ain't over, folks."
ReplyDeleteThere is no story here and it is over.
Lieberman is doing exactly what he is accusing Baggerly of, trying to sir the pot because he has nothing of substance to write about.
Baggarly wrote an intelligent article about a sensitive topic, something Lieberman is apparently incapable of.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Lieberman disparage Baggarly for being smart enough to win a bunch of money on Jeopardy? Is that supposed to be a bad thing?
Rich says "killing on Jeopardy"; I interpreted that as a compliment.
DeleteYou have a point BUT taken in it's context, "Except for killing on Jeopardy and wearing sun glasses in the press box, nobody knows for sure just what Baggy does," I take it as a dismissive comment.
DeleteDo you think saying that he wears "sun glasses in the press box" is a compliment?
No, "sun glasses in the press box" was a shot, not devastating, but a little jab. But if he does wear sunglasses in the press box he deserves a little crud
Delete10am
ReplyDeleteNo--I think you're the only one.
Its not easy covering the Giants when you've got Larry Baer breathing down your neck and you work for either the Giants 'blowtorch' (KNBR), or Comcast Sportsnet, which is also pretty much a 'house organ' for our bay area teams.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the piece and won't waste the time, but if Baggerly was desperate to try and create some controversy and interest, it was not a good move. And if Baer of one of his minions pressured Baggerly to do it, (which I doubt), what does that say about Bags? Not good.
The problem with the Major Market electronic media today is that it has been over run by writers who have fled the print media when jobs started getting cut, by former jocks who are not professionally trained, and by young people who are inexperienced and are being exploited because they are cheap and disposable.
The real culprits are these mega companies such as Cumulus and Comcast, who don't give a whit about public service and are only beholden to ratings, shareholders an the bottom line. They are run by cold blooded accountants who know NOTHING about radio and TV and the art of actual broadcasting.
But some of your posters are spot on in their observations; very few people watch anything on Comcast Sportsnet outside of the games, and perhaps those pre and post game Giants and Warriors shows that are hosted by Greg Papa.
The public is being shortchanged, not only in terms of sports coverage, but more importantly in the daily coverage of significant events in the news world. The latter is one of the big reasons why this country is in trouble.
This constant demonizing of Cumulus and Comcast for denying us "real news" is excessive and slightly paranoid. You imply there's an "iron curtain"created by Larry Baer, Cumulus (KNBR), Comcast that blocks any real or damaging news about the Giants reaching bay area fans.
DeleteThat's ridiculous. In the modern information age we can receive our news from any number of sources and as a Giants fan, I can tell you the local sources convey the same information about the Giants that I receive from national sources.
BTW, as someone else noted above, Andy Baggerly (CSN Bay Area, COMCAST) is criticizing Krueger (KNBR, CUMULUS). If they were all in cahoots together, they wouldn't be criticizing one and other.
Never been a fan of this overrated "Bags" character. I agree with Rich's assessment of his work.
ReplyDeleteBaggarly is a big waste of space. Not sure why they even have him on the payroll.
ReplyDeleteI love Bags, this is an non story and Rich publishes more shots at him than anyone with a blog..
ReplyDeleteLarry was right: They were Caribbean and they were brain-dead hitters.
ReplyDelete.... hacking at slop nightly
DeleteWho cares about Larry Kreuger, first of all. I will say that I enjoyed Baggarly back when he was just a beat writer and blogger at the Merc. His "Extra Baggs" blog was very well done. I'd say it was about 80% as good as Adam Lauridsen's "Fast Break" blog on the Warriors... which is a compliment. After he moved to Comcast his writing took a pretty steep dive though.
ReplyDeleteJust so everyone is on the same page, what percentage of the Giants does KNBR own? I'm sure its a minority interest but when there is common ownership, claims of conspiracy are difficult to ignore.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, and Rich you should be able to provide the answer to this, what do the Giants mean to KNBR in terms of ratings and dollars? I think its safe to say as the Giants go so goes KNBR. And I would venture to say the Giants mean significantly more to KNBR than the Warriors and Niners. So it is in KNBR's financial interest, as a team owner and media partner, to keep fluffing the Giants skirt for them and to think otherwise is naive.
Years ago I heard it was 1%-2%.
DeleteSince many of you probably never saw his work I'll comment on that. I always enjoyed Baggs being the Mercury News Giants beat reporter. He was a good writer with entertaining articles and good scoops. I was a little disappointed to see he left the Mercury News and they replaced him with that Alex guy. I will agree with most of the posters here that I never turn on CSNBA, never watch the pre and post Giants show (what's the point if you just watched the game?) and feel the "insiders" are irrelevant. Having said all of that I do enjoy Baggs, Killion, Ratto and whatshisname. The talk ex pitcher that always guested on KNBR with the weird spelling in his name....Mychal Urban I believe.
ReplyDeleteLieberman brags about spending time with brown after brown's pathetically slimy defense of Leland Yee a couple days back. Did Durst leave the room while you sucked off Brown or did he hang around to point and laugh?
ReplyDeleteBirds of a feather...and ain't one of em get a sense of decency.
I criticize Lieberman all the time but think it's kind of pathetic to insult him with disgusting, stupid comments like this.
DeleteThanks for the remarks 7:47, or should I say Leland.
DeleteHis "whipping boy is racially charged" comment is a stretch. There is no racial connotation for a whipping boy (at least not that I'm aware of). A whipping boy was appointed to a prince during the middle ages and would get punished if the prince misbehaved. Royalty was believed to have been appointed by God himself and a prince was not to be hit, hence, a whipping boy.
ReplyDeleteWho cares? They're all a bunch of small-minded little egotists who are insignificant in the greater scheme of things. You think the Giants really care what Larry Kruger or Andrew Baggerly have to say about them? They care more about winning, filling the ballpark, and KNBR only cares about billing a substantial number of dollars for their Giants broadcasts, which by the way, are arguably the best in radio anywhere in this country on MLB. I know Rich has to create 'buzz' over something like this, but believe me, very few people pay any close attention to these guys, except for perhaps 10 percent of the Giants fans, and they're the hardcores. Your average panda-hat wearer or casual Giants' fans could care less about what these guys may be saying.
ReplyDeleteKrueger showed his true colors with that statement. KNBR might have forgiven and some fans might have forgotten but the truth remains. I don't know how well Baggarly knows Larry or if he's witnessed any moments of "the best of Krueger" but "crabgrass" is being KIND. Sooner or later good ol' Larry will slip up or anger the wrong staffer and there will be more headlines. I don't know EXACTLY what will be revealed but I'll bet some of the things would make Andrew Dice Clay blush - and it isn't private when you are in a Sunset District bar basically accosting strangers with spittle foaming at the corners of your profane, racist mouth.
ReplyDelete"wearing sun glasses in the press box"
ReplyDeleteSay Baggarly what school of cool did you graduate from?
It's hilarious that Krueger called a lawyer because someone criticized him. He spends nearly three hours everyday criticizing dozens of people in terms far more severe than anything that Baggerly wrote. Grow up. Learn to take what you dish out. If he writes something you don't like, call him out. It's called freedom of speech. Don't hide behind lawyers.
ReplyDeleteSo Baggarly's story is a "hit piece" on Krueger? Come on, now --- the reference to Krueger (even not using his name) was brief and totally on point with the other 95 percent of the column ... I can't imagine Krueger really has a problem with this, after all, Krueger did indeed say such things on the radio. Much ado about nothing on the part of everyone concerned ....
ReplyDelete