WasWatching.com

I think comes down to the quality of the writing; if Mike Lupica is doing Yankee bashing I'm not there.

And can you imagine reading a Selena Roberts blog?

Steve, don't go Willy Loman on us just yet.

rbj is exactly right -- it's all about the quality of the writing. If it's good, people will continue to come to the site.

Here's what I think separates the "indie" bloggers from the media guys: the indie bloggers tend to crunch the numbers more while the media guys, who have more access to the players, simply talk about what's going on (they transcribe interviews and give you the vibe of the clubhouse).

There's also something else to take to heart: in my experience, the indie bloggers know a lot more about baseball than the media guys. For whatever the reason may be, most baseball writers don't know a lot about the sport. They have access to the players and they get good person-to-person stuff, but when they dip into game analysis or dissecting a player's performance, they fall flat on their faces (they know little about their own team, and when they have to venture into teams outside of their home state it gets even uglier).

So I personally think you have nothing to worry about. The indie bloggers bring a knowledge and passion for the team that the media guys could only hope to one day replicate (and it doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon).

The local video store/Blockbuster comparison is interesting. Blockbuster is virtually irrelevant because of little guys.

It always comes down to the product. If your blog is good, people will read it.

Recently the publisher of the NYT said that he was not sure that he would publish a physical paper within 5 years...the business model is not profitable. He predicted an "orderly" transition of the NYT from paper to digital products.

Every other publication sees the writing on the wall.

Willy Loman, that would have been a great name for a 1940's ballplayer.

Like the video shops and pet stores, a lot of the smaller guys joined up with the franchises. That may be a route for big media -- save time by buying up the indie guys.
I think it may be more like the pizza business -- there's room for the giants and the local guy down the street because they both offer the same product but in radically different ways.

From my own point of view, I rarely even check out the Post, Daily News & Newsday sites for Yank content... it's always the same old "looking for an angle" BS with them and 90% of the info they print is $#@$... I love how you have original ideas and creative research on here... all great things come from the independents... allow yourself to enjoy being the cutting edge rather than being a part of the sea of noise...

Good points jdasilva and Athos333.

I think it's natural and healthy. There is room for both. And there is always room for people who work hard and offer something of value.