The Difference Between a Blogger and a Sport Journalist

I’ve often wondered how different a writer’s job is from that of a blogger.  We cover sports, we write about sports, and we analyze the happenings of the game.  However, the similarities stop there as pointed out by Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.

Maybe he was frustrated, maybe he was having a bad day, maybe is tired of writing about baseball as a job while fans talk about the sport as if they know all.  No matter the reason, this one tweet makes it clear that Goldstein did not enjoy everyone’s takes on the possible Matt Garza/Anthony Rizzo trade.  That is the difference, I’ve decided.  Bloggers are fans at heart.  We write because we absolutely love the sport or team we cover.  We provide independent analysis, but deep down, we are nothing more than fans who were given the chance to write about something we love.

Sports writers/journalists are writers by trade.  Their livelihood depends on their writing.  They cover baseball as a job.  I would imagine being a fan is difficult while covering sports as a profession.  Dan Hayes of North County Time specifically told me he can’t be a fan.  He has to objectively cover the sport as part of his job.

But writers like myself cover the sport or team for fun.  Interacting with fans, discussing possibilities, future trades, the ins and outs of a business we only partially know is part of the fun.  I love hearing from the Chicken Friars readers.  I love hearing their thoughts even if they differ from mine.  I hope I never lose that.  I hope I can always be a fan at heart.  Talking about the Garza rumors has been thoroughly enjoyable.  Imaging the scenarios in which he may fit in San Diego is exciting.

Rather than make condescending comments about the very people that read my work, I encourage you all to talk about the hot topics surrounding the Padres.  I encourage you to comment, you respond via Twitter and Facebook, and to make your thoughts known.  We are fans, and this is our forum.