Newsday to charge for Web site

Not good news. Not good news at all.

Via Rueters:

"Our goal was and is to use our electronic network assets and subscriber relationships to transform the way news is distributed," he [Tom Rutledge] said on a conference call with analysts.

"We plan to end the distribution of free Web content and make our news gathering capabilities a service for our customers," he added.
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Newsday's publisher Timothy Knight said in a statement: "We are in the process of transforming Newsday's Web site into an enhanced, locally focused cable service that we believe will become an important benefit for Newsday and Cablevision customers. More particulars will be forthcoming over the next few months."

Though it may be good for a print journalism major like me in the long run, but I can see this backfiring to a major degree.

Newsday is on top of things

It took me a while to think of something to write here, while linking to possibly the greatest Newsday article ever.

I still came up with nothing.

Just...go here.

Thank you, Newsday. You are so in tune with my needs. Truly groundbreaking.

Ken Davidoff out of a job?

Update - 2:19 pm: Davidoff is safe. Whew!

Say it ain't so!

Taking a step away from the insanity in Las Vegas, it looks like one of my favorite writers may be soon joining the independent blogging ranks.

According to the New York Post (via River Ave. Blues), Newsday is laying off 100 staffers, including Ken Davidoff.

Three sports columnists' jobs are being eliminated. They are Sean Powell, Johnette Howard and Ken Davidoff.

Insiders said that some of the staffers might be allowed to reapply for lower-paid editorial positions. Davidoff's name was expected to be among that group.

Davidoff is easily one of the best writers in the New York area and he will be sorely missed if he is indeed gone for good. The Post reports that he may be offered a lower-paying job with the paper.

Good luck, Davidoff. If you ever need to know how to start your own blog, give me a call.

Update - 12:35 pm: The man is apparently unphased. Davidoff is running a live blog chat right now.

I'd prefer a free agent over a trade

The latest and greatest rumor about the Mets right now is that they're looking into Bobby Jenks of the Chicago White Sox. Though Jenks is not really "available," the team thinks they might be able to pry him away from the Pale Hose with a decent package.

Why the Mets are looking to give up more players from their farm system is beyond me. There is a big enough market for free agent closers out there, I'd rather dish out the dough for one of them instead of trading away talent.

Ken Davidoff takes a look at Jenks or Francisco Rodriguez on his Baseball Insider blog:

I think I'd vote for a Jenks trade. Remember, in the Santana trade, the Mets gave up top chips for really just one year of Santana. After that, the Mets had to treat Santana like a free agent.

But Jenks is a proven commodity, and if he somehow flops, he won't drain the payroll and roster flexibility as would K-Rod (who, interestingly, is younger than Jenks, despite having three more years of service time compiled).

(This argument is made only for Jenks versus K-Rod. Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood or even Trevor Hoffman were not figured into this article.)

I understand his point in choosing Jenks here, as last year K-Rod struggled a bit with allowing runners, but seems to be able to work out of it time and time again. Was it luck? Was it skill? Omar Minaya might not want to take the chance, especially with a fanbase of fragile, skeptical Queens faithful due to the inept bullpen over the last two seasons.

I don't mean to downplay Jenks' contribution to the White Sox. He's tallied 117 saves in three plus seasons, closing the book on 41, 40 and 30 games respectively since 2006. He's under team control until 2011, but is arbitration elegible. His price will go up, but it's still miniscule compared to what K-Rod is asking. (Jenks made $550,000 in 2008.)

Still, with a new stadium, a flourishing TV network and a half-decent team bringing in money, I'd much rather see the team sign a slightly bloated paycheck over draining the farm system anymore than it already has been. Sign over trade.

Cue the jinx

"This is beginning to look like the Mets' year"

Thanks, Mark Herrmann. Thanks a lot.

No one is suggesting this is going to end in a championship, or there is something miraculous afoot. But there is no denying strange stuff is happening.

I can't deny that. Maybe it's just some bad teams playing poorly, but almost everything seems to be swinging the Mets way lately, especially their own bats.

Herrmann quotes Pedro Martinez as saying "Ever since I've been here, I've wondered when we were going to get things going our way. It seems like it was never our way."

I think we can all attest to that. Last night, between the misplays by the Braves and the missed calls by the umpires (though I must say, some of those strikes against Carlos Delgado were a tad ridiculous) it just seems like something special is happening to this team.

Finally, some of their hits are falling inbetween the defense, squeaking under gloves, or barely clearing the wall.

Herrman's article, though possibly a jinx, has truly got me excited for the next 34 games.