Del Grande / Beane, aka: Thank God For Scanners

by Flashfire on Jun 27, 2007 1:22 PM PDT Comment 74 comments

Not so much Beane's reply, but Del Grande's initial crapfest, since MediaNews took it off their websites. Both are here for the sake of completion. This would've been posted as a comment in the other diaries mentioning this, but the images are too wide to display fully as a comment.

Update [2007-6-27 20:44:41 by Flashfire]: For even further sake of completion, published reader comments have been added.

From Monday:

Today:

0 recs | Comment 74 comments

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Thanks, I think it should be a separate diary.

And the online outlets shouldn't have taken it down.

Don't worry, it's only a safety problem.

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2007 1:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i love the A's

however, it would be nice to have a more diverse team. Especially, in the Bay Area, it would be great to have more than one black player. (I'm a middle aged white lady btw). I know there are less African Americans playing BB right now, but the A's have traded some talented black players, i.e., Frank Thomas, Miquel Tejada, and didn't Marcus McBeth get traded??? (I may be mistaken on that one, I can't find it out now.)
Sometimes, it seems like a pattern...we keep Chavy instead of Miquel. Big mistake IMHO!

Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too

by littleA on Jun 27, 2007 1:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We also brought aforementioned black players

to the team. In order for them to get traded they'd have to be brought here in the first place. You ever think about that? And this whole white/black dichotomy pisses me off. There are more than two races out there or am I mistaken? I'm not saying we have the most diverse team but we do have an asian catcher, two latin pitchers. In fact we tried to trade Bradley for a minority. This is the most ridiculous argument I have heard. I can't believe I'm wasting my time. Aaarghh.

By that same logic, the Warriors were totally racist when they shipped the unbelievably TALENTED dunleavy and murphy out of the bay area. Get the point? The assertion that the A's are racist is a joke without any merit.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

when I said traded, I meant

no longer on the team for whatever reason.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tejada is dominican, not black.

if we're just talking about skin color, Santiago Casilla would qualify as 'black' too.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jun 27, 2007 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

according the folks at HH

he is black. In their rant thread about all the Mexicans at Dodger Stadium, one of them said that Vlad is simply a black man who speaks Spanish.

death to myspace!

by malikot on Jun 27, 2007 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, the A's didn't trade Frank or Miggie ...

they both left as free agents.

The only black MLer that I can think of that we traded away recently was Arthur Rhodes.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jun 27, 2007 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

< almost makes James Watt joke >

< thinks better of it >

But just because something can be plotted on an X and Y axis does not make it the whole truth. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2007 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You should read the internet a little more

First off, the A's didn't trade Thomas or Tejada. They left as free agents. and for that matter Tejada isn't considered black he is considered hispanic. How bout we not focus on race and just let the guys play.

Lets go A's

by Jackson_A on Jun 28, 2007 4:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The guy is a complete joke,

he has responded twice now to my emails re: the article with insults directed toward my birth name. It's a pretty common name. Just shows you what kinda joke of a guy Mr. Fantasy is.

I will never read his column again. The guy is completely juvenile.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 1:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The most recent response from Mr. Fantasy

Direct quote:

"Hey, speaking of Dell Taco ... the Margarita Grande was named after my mom. I'll be living off those royalties well after the hue of [my name] has turned to pale.

I must commend the newspaper on its choice of letters this morning. Only you could make Beane's writings seem like Shakespeare. Well done."

Dave Del Grande

I responded:

"ou sir, are a true professional in the likes of Stephen A. and Skip Byless. Keep up the good work."

This guy writes for the ANG group. Are you kidding me? I think 90% of AN is more worthy of being given a column than this joke.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Out of curiosity...

Who was "speaking of Dell Taco"?

Don't worry, it's only a safety problem.

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2007 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nobody was speaking of

Dell Taco. He brought it up out of nowhere.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Well, alrighty then! Not just a hack, a hack with hallucinations! ;)

Don't worry, it's only a safety problem.

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2007 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't know

Dell made tacos.

My last sig was about Doyle.

by mikeA on Jun 27, 2007 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude, you're gettin' a gordita!

That sounds really wrong...

Don't worry, it's only a safety problem.

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2007 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

post all his responses

and your e-mails...

Ought to be worth a laugh, and maybe some other reporter will see it and give a decent rebuttal.

(and no, this is not a Slusser joke).

by Zonis on Jun 27, 2007 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too many emails in the thread which

originated the day the first article was written. I was surprised that:

he actually wasted his time writing back to me

(as much as I wasted my time writing to him);

he was as unprofessional as he was;

he would not budge from his original theory as to

why Bradley was released even when presented with
many, if not all, of the arguments set forth on
AN; and

he started on with numerous UNPROVOKED ad

hominem attacks (although I must confess I did
stoop to his level on one occasion)

What I have learned from this experience.

Not to waste any of my time corresponding to a

Skip Bayless/Stephen A 'incitor' even when you
don't think you'll get a response; and

As much as it pains me, never to read the ANG

newspapers again because if this long
tenured 'professional'is on still on their books,
then who else is on their payroll?

Billy Beane, basically put this guy in his place.

(sorry for the poor formatting - this interface doesn't allow for proper indenting etc. without a significant investment in time (or at least I can't figure it out))

Go A's.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently, I am not the only one who has

dealt first hand with Del Grande's lack of professionalism.

From mccoveychronicles:

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/sto...

This is similar to my exchange, but a great deal shorter. Just a clown.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Christ, what an asshole.

Blah

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2007 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTW, I voted "ass monkey" in their poll

Blah

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2007 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

speaking ln behalf of all ass monkeys ...

... we voted Del Grande out of the tribe.

But just because something can be plotted on an X and Y axis does not make it the whole truth. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2007 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good move!

Blah

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2007 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

by mikeA on Jun 27, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His comments reflect poorly on the whole paper

Blah

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2007 1:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

From a NYer - what is this paper, anyway?

by boilerdan on Jun 27, 2007 1:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

the ANG news group.

Nothing worth your time.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately...

...it's the major print news source in the East Bay and on the Peninsula.

Don't worry, it's only a safety problem.

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2007 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oakland Tribune.

My last sig was about Doyle.

by mikeA on Jun 27, 2007 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look At His Picture

You would be a moron too if you looked like that.

by RudiFan on Jun 27, 2007 2:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I look like that

Blah

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2007 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and that's his better side. In other words,

after all the pictures were taken that is the one he looked best in.

He also refers to himself as "Mr. Fantasy."

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 27, 2007 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's typical

that's what I come to expect from those types of papers.. it's the first thing on their collective minds, race.

I think religion is a neurological disorder that prevents people from thinking on their own.--B. Maher

by sf drift king on Jun 27, 2007 2:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

this is retarded.

dave del grande... who the fuck is this guy anyway?

Way to speak for Bradley and the minority MLB ball players, Dave. I'm sure I'd just love it if someone spoke for me when claiming I was traded simply cuz I'm asian.

The guy has no basis or even solid source to make his claim on.

All looking like Kevin McAllister's dad 'n shit from Home Alone.

"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul." - Ichiro on Matsuzaka

by ConditionOakland on Jun 27, 2007 2:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

del grande

pardon my french, but i feel pretty strongly that he is the worst fucking columnist that i have ever read. i even like skip bayless better than him. every single article he writes is one of a couple things:

1) about how he is great at fantasy sports (he calls himself "mr. fantasy").

2) whenever an NBA player wants to be traded, he says the warriors should trade monta ellis for him. it doesn't matter who it is, but "monta ellis will never be baron davis". who cares? he was pretty good this year, if i recall.

3) some uninteresting point about barry bonds. lately, he has been trying to be a bayless-like devil's advocate about everything.

the guy is a joke, and deserves to be fired. beane was right to respond to this, because as beane wrote, del grande "slandered" beane's name.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Jun 27, 2007 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My favorite

was the time he blamed the Giants losing season entirely (and I mean entirely) on JT Snow. He blamed JT Snow for the relief problems, even.

He is a scary, scary man.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Jun 28, 2007 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahahaha

i woke up and i was thinking about this post. i go to open the paper, and lo and behold...another 12 scenarios where the warriors trade ellis. i think he was too scared to mention the a's, so he wrote a pointless article on guys who are in rumor central in baseball and who you should trade. because people aren't smart enough to figure out that if you have mark teixeira in a fantasy league, you should keep him if he were to be traded to the yankees. brilliant.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Jun 28, 2007 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

but does he want to trade ellis

because he's black or because he's not black enough?

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 Jun 29, 2007 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oakland White Guys

...the potential to be a difference-maker when hot. Name me one of the Oakland white guys about whom you could say that.

I think anybody when "hot" has the "potential" to be a difference-maker. But I'll play along, I think Swisher has more potential than Bradley and I think Buck when "hot" can match Bradley.

by methodrampage on Jun 27, 2007 2:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

There are certainly some sample size issues ...

(on both sides, Milty only having played a single full season in his career) but Buck has been better than Milty for his career or in any season except 2003.

I'd say hot, cold or on average, I'd take Buck over Milty.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jun 27, 2007 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Color me disappointed

Here I was, thinking that your diary title was a reference to this.

But just because something can be plotted on an X and Y axis does not make it the whole truth. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2007 3:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

so did i

or this.

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 Jun 27, 2007 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're selling newspapers

Leave it alone. This is a struggling outfit trying to get some attention (any kind of attention) at the expense of a baseball club leaving town anyway.

Nothing to get worked up about. I'm surprised the club PR folks let Beane respond the way he did.

"You're born with two strikes against you, so don't take a third one on your own." -Connie Mack

by Filthyslurve on Jun 27, 2007 3:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

and now, sfgate's A's blog

has linked back to this diary, as it's the only place to view the original offending article

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfga...

"He could run for mayor of Oakland! I hope he never wakes up" -Korach on Cust's GW 3 run HR

by popcornjames on Jun 27, 2007 5:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pretty Funny

Nice work Flashfire.

by methodrampage on Jun 28, 2007 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

(Reader comments added)

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Jun 27, 2007 5:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Dave Del Grande

Has been a disgrace to journalism on par with the likes of Jay Mariotti for years now, but since he's nestled in the Bay Area and not given an outlet like Around the Horn nobody really knows about it as much.

He has the most poorly thought out, poorly written, race-sex-whateveryoucanimagine baiting columns I've ever read. That he gets paid for the drivel he "writes" is a point in favor for those that question the old media's usefulness in today's world, especially concerning sports. There are scores of bloggers out there who make Dave Del Grande look like the barely literate blowhard he is, which is why that anyone would stop and read him continues to blow my mind.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jun 27, 2007 7:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The arrogance in his replies to readers...

...is amazing, too.

The "let me know when you get published" thing he pulled on that poster in the mccoveychronicles entry was just sad.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Jun 27, 2007 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I truly

can't understand how anyone can be like that. Yet he pulls it off. The unfounded arrogance he oozes is unbelievable. I don't know that I can think of anyone who parallels the inverse relationship between his ability and his opinion of his ability.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jun 27, 2007 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what troubles me is that some people agreed

with that hack

"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane

by harendaman365 on Jun 27, 2007 8:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How's this lineup? (I'm bored)

[.292/.363/.395] R LF Stewart

[.283/.385/.489] L RF Buck

[.280/.410/.461] S 1B Swisher

[.273/.407/.612] L DH Cust

[.275/.348/.431] R 2B Ellis

[.385/.429/.923] R C1 Suzuki

[.243/.305/.444] L 3B Chavez

[.234/.284/.352] R SS Crosby

[.233/.289/.344] L CF Kotsay

by Zonis on Jun 27, 2007 10:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Crap, this was supposed to be in the DLD...

not that it matters...

by Zonis on Jun 27, 2007 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like it.

Especially seeing Chavez at 7th and Suzuki at 6th.

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 28, 2007 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Journalists

And people wonder why athletes don't get along with journalists. Just look at the response Del Grande gave to a customer of his.

We can be considered David, David knocks out Goliath. -Eric Chavez PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Jun 28, 2007 8:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Beane mentioned Del Grande not attending...

...an A's game in pretty much forever.

If he treats the people he'd try to interview the way he treats readers, I can see why. He'd have nothing to take back to the office with him except what he came with.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Jun 28, 2007 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I made the point to him in my exchanges that we'd

never know what happens because the A's are so tight lipped about their internal affaifs and for good reason. I cited the Macha drama from last year and how it was news to everyone that there was internal strife in the 'frat house club house.'

He responded to me, and I'm paraphrasing, that it is obvious that I didn't have the access to the A's that he did and therefore I didn't know what I was talking about.

I couldn't help but responding to him when Beane said he hadn't been to a game or talked to the A's in years. It was awesome. Thanks Billy.

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 28, 2007 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Niiiiiiiiiiice.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Jun 28, 2007 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of those letters to the editor is mine. WTF

They edited my response. No journalistic integrity whatsoever. Can you really trust any newspaper that EDITS what you write to them and pays a goof like Mr. Del Grande?

by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 28, 2007 9:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs