Piniella Skips Media Session--is this really a story?

I'm not sure it deserved a headline... It's a note...

 

I keep wondering why it bothered me....I think it was the headline treatment. We keep talking about how the readers don't care how we do our job; this just screamed (at me, anyway), 'We had a hard time doing our job!'

It's not a big deal...I just wanted to see if anyone else winced. I defer to the wise opinions on this thread.

 

Yeah, after thinking about it, the headline treatment does make a difference. I still say it's a note, but headline material? Not so sure. I guess someone decided it was the best note, or the longest, so it needed to be the lede.

I've argued about this during redesign meetings -- when I make a case for standing notebook headers for each team, headers that don't need a headline for the lede item (but can be replace by a headline when needed). Or, if the lede item really begs for a headline, maybe it's a stand-alone story, huh?

Sometimes your notebook is filled with notes that don't deserve a headline.

UMass players get first taste of gumbo

Just run it under a standing head that says NCAA Regional Notes or something more catchy, unless it's important enough to be a story. If it is, make it a story with a headline.

 

I think it's a headline today because he's explaining why he didn't meet with the media yesterday, which was written about in all the Cubs-Brewers gamers.

You don't think Cubs fans went straight to this story?

 

Not a story. Mark Prior out for the rest of 2007? Also not news.

 

Actually, I kind of do want to see that. From a distance, of course.

 

Well, since baseball writers absolutely cannot function without access to the source, this is front-page news.

 

He went to the Cubs, Moddy. Isn't that punishment enough? The only thing worse he might've done to incur supernatural forces of doom upon him is build a mansion on Indian burial ground.

 

After watching parts of the last few games on satellite, Moddy, I'd say Soriano made the right call.
It's not even about how many you lose, but how badly you lose. And they're baaaaaaaad.
But I'm not bitter or anything.

 

Blowing off one game isn't news. It's a note. But if he makes a habit of it then it's a story. And he'd probably get fined for it too.

How he hasn't gone postal yet is beyond me. Ronny Cedeno getting thrown out at second on a walk in the ninth inning of a one run game should have been good for a few "shits" and "fucks" in the postgame at least.