Jane Lee and Mychael Urban
by ISawEarnieYoung's3HRs on Feb 26, 2010 7:57 AM PST
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PrintNo offense to Jane Lee, she seems to be a decent writer and she seems to work hard and get the basic job done, but from everything I've seen from her so far she has proven to not be very insightful. I have never been a huge fan of Mychael Urban, generally because his biases creep into the majority of his stories, but he does a much better job of getting new and interesting quotes and information in his stories than Lee. He seems to have a better relationship with the players since he's been around and has their respect and trust. I'm sure that would get better for Lee in time, but right now I feel like I'm not getting the kind of inside information that I usually get. That said, MLB.com is never my first source for A's news. Being owned by MLB, it has an ingrained interest in homerism and glorifying everything MLB.
Does anyone know what the deal is with Urban/Lee and MLB.com? Is Lee the A's new permanent MLB.com writer or will Urban be back in the future? SuSlu is still the best A's beat writer around, there's no doubt about that.
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I don't know
but, since jane lee has said she is the new A’s beat writer for MLB.com I take her at her word.
Also, since Urban has quit his job at MLB.com, been replaced, and has taken a new job at Concast sports my guess is he in not going back.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
by Future Ed on Feb 26, 2010 8:07 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
UnRec
Jane Lee is a much better writer. To be honest…. I’d rather have her be on the outside looking in. Urban’s “inside information” isn’t really that inside anyway. He’ll throw out a vague “I talked to Travis Buck the other day, and he say’s he’s not happy…” Really? Thanks for stirring the pot.
by Colorado Fan on Feb 26, 2010 8:14 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
One is pretty hot, and one is... not that attractive
to me, anyway.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
I never knew you were into tall guys
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
It's how I roll
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
And he's dyslexic too!!!
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
So he's really 6"5'?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Just about
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
this
Plus, there is nothing wrong with her writing thus far.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Feb 26, 2010 2:13 PM PST up reply actions
I have a confession to make...
I’ve been too caught up in Lee’s competency to really investigate her hotness.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Feb 27, 2010 8:11 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Urban and Lee
I disagree with your premise. Urban, at times, seemed to write more like a columnist than a beat reporter. Lee is doing a very good job so far.
Urban is now really a columnist for CSN Bay Area. I doubt he is coming back to mlb.com.
I'm not really defending Urban here
He had his faults as a beat writer, namely his loyalties to certain players and unmoving stances on others. But he broke new stories and developments from time to time, and I really don’t see that in Lee right now. I’m willing to give her some time to develop a better relationship with the players/management and get more of the inside scoop, but right now I don’t feel like she has the ability to do that. Her stories feel so third party to me, like AP stories or something. A beat writer is supposed to get in there and tell us new developments that only they are able to uncover.
by ISawEarnieYoung's3HRs on Feb 26, 2010 8:50 AM PST up reply actions
In terms of content she does come of as rather amateurish compared to Slusser and even Urban
But she seems to have a good grasp of how to write and report on the basics of what’s going on. Give her some time to develop better relationships with the the players and management. She should start giving better inside info once they’re comfortable with her. If her scoops don’t improve by the end of the season, then there’s cause for concern.
Lee's doing fine,
and Slusser’s one of the best in the country. We’re lucky to have her.
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 8:45 AM PST reply actions 4 recs
Lee has only been covering the A's since last year, so give her time
Urban’s “insider information” is no more so than other beat writers who have covered the A’s. I believe Slusser has actually had the most scoops of any of the A’s beat writers.
by OaklandSi on Feb 26, 2010 8:54 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Rottoworld
Breaks the most stories. That guy is just plain AMAZING! My favorite writer since Associated Press.
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
Totally...
I’ll bet Rottoworld is really that Ratto guy!
Who is "Earnie" anyway?
And as long as the beat writers get us the stories they’re supposed to, what’s the beef? It takes time to develop a rapport for anyone who’s new, that much is a fact.
The things Urban and Lee write about aren’t always the same focus anyway.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Quick! To the Trollmobile!
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
I'm pretending to join in, but I'm actually insulting somebody
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I'm pretending to laugh, but really just trying to raise my post count
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
How many does he have?
I guess that’s why there’s one in the left pantleg… and one in the right…
…and three in the back…
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 11:59 AM PST up reply actions
I'd give her a bit more time
She’s been on the job, what, couple months?
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
I don't care if she has a .372 OBP, a couple months is long enough!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Hey, here's a thought.
Collectively, as a group, let’s not alienate the new A’s beat writer before she’s managed to cover one whole season. How about that?
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Feb 26, 2010 11:39 AM PST reply actions 23 recs
Blackout or just a line?
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 11:59 AM PST up reply actions
What?
Extending kindness and a sense of fair play to our novice beat writer? Keep up with this kind of nonsense and you’ll end up working in a sign shop in Florida. Mark my words young man.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
ISWYDT
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Feb 26, 2010 1:53 PM PST up reply actions
What no hazing?
{puts away the rubber hoses and the Giant Paddle}
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
hey... that's MY rubber hose!
Put that back in the Trollmobile!
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 3:02 PM PST up reply actions
Too late
As it turns out, Jane Lee has 47 AN sockpuppet IDs, and she was grossly offended by your fanpost.
Everybody's got a little light under the sun.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Feb 26, 2010 11:02 PM PST up reply actions
Rec'd
Considering registering for another login just so I can recommend it twice. Not to mention, I couldn’t agree less with the “evidence” presented.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
Meant in reply to Leopold.
Not sure if it was user error or browser error.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
AnOthEr LoGiN?
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 12:00 PM PST up reply actions
i don't know much about jane lee, but i know she's not mychael urban, and that's good enough for me
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Feb 26, 2010 11:49 AM PST reply actions 8 recs
yes.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Feb 26, 2010 11:59 AM PST up reply actions
I gave this a rec, but on second thought can we be absolutely sure they're not the same person?
Maybe Urban moonlights as a female beat reporter. Has anybody ever seen both of them in the same place at the same time?
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Feb 26, 2010 9:36 PM PST up reply actions
I've never seen EITHER of them at the same place at the same time.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
well
if you go to the comcast sportsnet video page you can see a video shot by Urban with Jane Lee in it :-)
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
Have you noticed how new the new writer is?
I don’t know, maybe the newness will wear off with time or maybe as she gets more experience, she’ll become older, but right now she is definitely new.
by LongLiveLangerhans on Feb 26, 2010 12:05 PM PST reply actions
Not Mexican enough.
er, new enough.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Feb 26, 2010 12:07 PM PST up reply actions
Juana Leon?
That sounds more Spanish than Mexican though…
"The rich people want what the poor peoples got, and the poor people want what the rich peoples got. You can never please anybody in this world"- The Shaggs, "Philosophy Of The World," 1968
by Gaijin_Suketto on Feb 26, 2010 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
Not enough sock puppets
or wait, too many. Right.
If Pennington manages 17 HRs, I’ll vow to consume an article of clothing to achieve a humorous effect --Joey C.
one way or the other.
you know. Not enough to complain about it or too many to do anything about.
God damned sock puppets.
{cocks shotgun}
They can have my gun when they pry it from my cold, sock-puppetless fingers.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Feb 26, 2010 1:54 PM PST up reply actions
Don't tell me sock puppets are the new zombies?
Damn, from what I have seen they are more crafty, (storming castles and all) but eat less brains. They are also much faster and harder to hit being 1/10th the size, (don’t get me started on zombie sock puppets)
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
zombie sock puppets are the worst.
by far.
But enough attention is placed on the ills of zombies. I’m here to do something about the blight that is sock puppets.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Feb 26, 2010 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
I know just the other day I caught them trying to take the small castle
in my aquarium. You should have seen the little wet suits.
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
Not to scare you
But:
Zombie Sock Puppets…
On…
Zombie Hands.
That’s right folks. No %*@#ing Castle is safe.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
conspiracy theory coming...
probably a friend/relative/self of MU himself…?
by rollierollieOxenfree on Feb 26, 2010 8:06 PM PST up reply actions
I will recuse myself, from commenting on this thread, as I have MANY, MANY
times, shown disdain, towards one of the “writers”, you speak of.
This sentence is false.
A Ballade [for the Angels Fan], by Eustache Deschamps: "We are cowardly, ill-formed and weak / Aged, envious and evil-spoken. / I see only fools and sots / Truly the end is nigh / All goes ill."
Not sure what Lee has done to deserve this...
She seems fine to me. More active than any of the other writers on twitter. Granted they all post the same info for the most part.
I never had beef with Urban either though. he was biased towards some players and still is and that does creep into his writing, but I don’t hold it against him.
As far as I am concerned all the media around the A’s is great. We are getting more info this year than ever before. I sometimes wish the comcast team was a little better, but its not the end of the world.
and Lee often includes photos in her tweets, which are much appreciated
while I’ve frequently disagreed with Urban I want to give him props for being extremely friendly and approachable to fans. I’ve enjoyed a couple of very nice conversations with him.
I prefer the photos of Jane Lee herself
forget photos of Eric Chavez with a bat in his hand, or Jack Cust wearing a glove (ugh). I think JL is worthy of photos altogether.
by rollierollieOxenfree on Feb 26, 2010 8:08 PM PST up reply actions
I dunno..
I kinda prefer Jack Cust wearing a glove photos. It’s an odd fetish I know.
"The A's get some action but they do not score..." -Glen Kuiper
"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles
I have been satisfied thus far from Lee
I don’t rely on MLB.com for breaking news, even when Urban was there. To me, thats a bonus.
But I do like that from the articles I’ve read thus far, we have not gotten the painfully fluff pieces that we’ve gotten in the past. The articles have been grounded a bit more into reality, with less wild claims of awesomeness.
I saw a guy hit 3 HRs but it takes at least 5 for me to get his name right
This is a not a friendly or welcoming post and I think everyone should write a new fanpost to push it off the front.
by stormtown on Feb 26, 2010 2:06 PM PST via mobile reply actions
We need to turn this fanpost shit brown!
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
Urban Pierced Ears
I saw a video of Urban, and he had a big diamond (or a big CZ) in his ear, and it really bugged me. Maybe he’s trying to live up to his last name or something.
Urban is the perfect candidate
for the Urban Sport Big Stranger Rodeo.
"The A's get some action but they do not score..." -Glen Kuiper
"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles
Jane Lee hasn't been the MLB.com beat reporter for the A's very long
but she already has gotten some scoops, such as discovering that Rajai Davis spent much of the winter wielding a snow blower (he’d described it earlier as “shoveling snow” — sorry, I know the difference!), as well as finding out that Ryan Sweeney got married in November!
I think she's doing pretty well so far
clearly still learning the team and its intricacies, but thats ok. She writes with a positive attitude, and while some things seem obvious and cliche to hardcore fans, it’s no big deal to me because I miss reading A’s baseball.
It’s a looong season, and spring training reporting is always supposed to make fans feel like their team has a fresh start and a real chance at winning.
"Who's this Seagon guy? Is he in A-ball or something?" - Billy Beane
Urban
Speaking of which, he’ll be on KNBR in about five minutes. I bet he’ll just be talking about the Giants, though.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 26, 2010 7:56 PM PST reply actions
KNBR
Since they talk about the Giants and 49ers so much, I don’t really tune in. Damon Bruce covers everything, so I listen to him and Gary Radnich is funny. Radnich doesn’t even talk about sports, really.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 26, 2010 8:07 PM PST up reply actions
Ha
I like to hear him talk as well!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 26, 2010 8:15 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed on DBurce
Radnich is a DBag so the less said about him the better. Incidentally, Bruce is moving to his new slot on Monday 12-4 PM on 1050. FP Santangelo is going to be the next host of SportsPhone. I guess negativity towards the Gnats gets you a drive time slot on a different frequency.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
I cna speel
obviously I meant DBruce.
Radnich is still a DBag though. Film at 11.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
Damon Bruce asked him just a tiny bit about the A's
all Urban managed to talk about was Duchscherer and Chavez
Seriously though
what kind of name is Jane Lee? Is that even a real name? I mean, really.
Oh and btw, so far so good. I like her attitude so far. Shes not jaded and cynical yet so give her some time to grow into the job.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
by BleedGreen on Feb 27, 2010 2:33 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Or if there are more fanposts like this, just:
She’s not jaded and cynical yet so give her some time.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I imagined her as Asian.
Lee can be Chinese or English. I’ve known some of each, including my Chinese aunt named June Lee.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Jane Lee Sucks
And you all do too
by ISawEarnieYoung's3HRs on Feb 27, 2010 9:58 AM PST reply actions
{sprays TrollBGone}
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
If you've bANned the troll, then how about deleting this embarrassing atrocity of a fANpost?
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Thing is, that will/would erase all record of this conversation
It’s a bit like rewriting history.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
You could edit it, and strike out all the offending text
(meaning, of course, all of it)
That way, the comments remain intact.
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Oh, I suppose I could do that
But it would just make it harder to read, and thus harder to understand the comments. I figure, the conversation happened, why not just let new readers see, “Hey, an idiotic fanpost by a troll, followed by lots of people defending Jane Lee!”
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Great Scott
That could unravel the very fabric of the space time continuum, and destroy the entire universe!
Oh don't be so dramatic
Just the galaxy.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
No
You Suck! I fart in you general direction!
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
Slusser has now added photos and video
(Rickey giving Rajai pointers this morning) to her tweets.
by OaklandSi on Feb 27, 2010 10:40 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I have both Slusser and Jane Lee on my twitter feed
they both seem to tweet the same info (at least from spring training). So I think it is ridiculous to say Lee sucks because Slusser does not suck. that’s my theory any ways.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
TWEETIE??
Now I’ve seen it all. If this doesn’t signal the impending Apocalypse I dunno what does.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
I don't have an iPhone
I just go to twitter.com on my computer.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
So one positive outcome..... I wasn't paying any attention but I went back and read Lee's stuff.
Not bad! Maybe others here are reading now her articles, too!
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