Olney vs. Verducci

[Drip]

Verducci is a better writer, Olney is better nuts-and-bolts and information gatherer.

100 percent right. Both are great, but I'd rather read a feature by Verducci, but if I want breaking news, I'd go to Olney.

It's all in the eye of the beholder. Neither knows more about baseball than Bill Conlin.

Please. That's just ridiculous. Both know far more about current baseball than Conlin and both know the game better.

Conlin might know some old stories about Pete Rose better because he's old but that's the extent of it. Bet you think Hal Bodley is well-informed, too.

Having worked with and been around all four, I'll stand by my original statement. I think the world of all four but for my taste, I prefer Conlin and Bodley.

Are you senile, too? Those guys might have been "cutting edge" back in '63 but neither of them is relevant in baseball these days.

Hardly senile. Conlin and McCoy know more about the game than Olney and Verducci. The difference is that Olney and Verducci are young enough that they can pal around the players. That's the only difference. Conlin and McCoy have seen more baseball than Olney and Verducci can dream about.
Again, it's preference. I like all four, I just prefer Conlin and McCoy. What's wrong with that?

 

[playthrough]

Yeah, it's impossible to prove or disprove and not the thesis of the thread to begin with.

 

[Boom_70]

Where does Murray Chass fit into this discussion? How about Peter Gammons?

 

[Drip]

Yeah, it's impossible to prove or disprove and not the thesis of the thread to begin with.

First off, it's an opinion, not a thesis.
Secondly, It's a matter of taste. Some like Olney. Some like Verducci.
All the journalists named are good reads. If you want to go solely on style of writing, I give the edge to Verducci. But again, we're talking about preference.
As far as seeing more games, there's no question, Conlin, McCoy, Chass and Gammons have seen more. They're older so its pretty much a given they've covered more games than Olney and Verducci.

 

[Drip]

I asked you in what ways specifically Conlin and McCoy knew more about baseball. Which was your assertion.

Nobody asked who had seen more games.

You have a knack, under a new name, for following people and stirring stuff up. Find someone else to play with. If you don't understand what I'm writing about, it's your loss.

 

[azbjn9101]

I'm only a rook in the business, but I went through Olney's book on the Yankees in a few days, it was a great read.

As far as who knows more about baseball, wouldn't it have to be the older writers? Simply put, they've seen more baseball. End of story.

With that said, a little nugget that was passed along to me from a guy who knew a guy that roomed with a younger Olney while working at the San Diego Union-Tribune ... Weekends come around, guys go out drinking, doing their thing; Olney stays behind, roommates come home in wee-hours of night to see him studying Baseball Encyclopedias.

Just goes to show what kind of commitment (and yes, luck, I know) it takes to get to that level.

 

[GB-Hack]

I'm only a rook in the business, but I went through Olney's book on the Yankees in a few days, it was a great read.

As far as who knows more about baseball, wouldn't it have to be the older writers? Simply put, they've seen more baseball. End of story.

With that said, a little nugget that was passed along to me from a guy who knew a guy that roomed with a younger Olney while working at the San Diego Union-Tribune ... Weekends come around, guys go out drinking, doing their thing; Olney stays behind, roommates come home in wee-hours of night to see him studying Baseball Encyclopedias.

Just goes to show what kind of commitment (and yes, luck, I know) it takes to get to that level.

I don't think it automatically follows that because you've seen more of a sport that you automatically know more about that sport than others.

 

[cranberry]

Hardly senile. Conlin and McCoy know more about the game than Olney and Verducci. The difference is that Olney and Verducci are young enough that they can pal around the players. That's the only difference. Conlin and McCoy have seen more baseball than Olney and Verducci can dream about.
Again, it's preference. I like all four, I just prefer Conlin and McCoy. What's wrong with that?

McCoy and Gammons, sure. But, no, not Bodley and Conlin.

Hal and Peter are there everyday and were always far more knowledgeable and far better reporters than Conlin and Bodley even when they were all in their prime years.

Chass, although his expertise was more on the front office/business side, was also one of the greats before his illnesses. And Gordon Edes shouldn't be overlooked among contemporary guys.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I'd definitely say Verducci over Olney for features, but I think Ken Rosenthal tops them both for breaking news. I'd say either Tim Kurkjian or Jayson Stark is probably ESPN.com's best baseball feature guy.

That said, as an ESPN Insider, Olney's blog is a daily "must-read" for me ...

 

[Den1983]

I'm only a rook in the business, but I went through Olney's book on the Yankees in a few days, it was a great read.

As far as who knows more about baseball, wouldn't it have to be the older writers? Simply put, they've seen more baseball. End of story.

With that said, a little nugget that was passed along to me from a guy who knew a guy that roomed with a younger Olney while working at the San Diego Union-Tribune ... Weekends come around, guys go out drinking, doing their thing; Olney stays behind, roommates come home in wee-hours of night to see him studying Baseball Encyclopedias.

Just goes to show what kind of commitment (and yes, luck, I know) it takes to get to that level.

I don't think it automatically follows that because you've seen more of a sport that you automatically know more about that sport than others.

Agree with this 100%.

 

[AD]

lost art, i know, but in l.a. gordon edes was the best gamestory writer in pro hoops and baseball that i've ever seen. gammons in '75 and '78 -- during the post-season -- was on another planet. but day to day, edes was sublime.

 

[Drip]

I asked you in what ways specifically Conlin and McCoy knew more about baseball. Which was your assertion.

Nobody asked who had seen more games.

You have a knack, under a new name, for following people and stirring stuff up. Find someone else to play with. If you don't understand what I'm writing about, it's your loss.

It's a message board. I asked you to explain something you posted. You could not.

Conlin and McCoy know more about the game than Olney and Verducci.

Hardly senile. Conlin and McCoy know more about the game than Olney and Verducci. The difference is that Olney and Verducci are young enough that they can pal around the players. That's the only difference. Conlin and McCoy have seen more baseball than Olney and Verducci can dream about.
Again, it's preference. I like all four, I just prefer Conlin and McCoy. What's wrong with that?

McCoy and Gammons, sure. But, no, not Bodley and Conlin.

Hal and Peter are there everyday and were always far more knowledgeable and far better reporters than Conlin and Bodley even when they were all in their prime years.

Chass, although his expertise was more on the front office/business side, was also one of the greats before his illnesses. And Gordon Edes shouldn't be overlooked among contemporary guys.

Azrael: It's my opinion.
Cran: I don't know how long you have been in the business but a young Bill Conlin (circa 1964-76) was pretty damn good as a reporter. In the beginning Mauch gave him a lot of info but he soon developed his own style for covering the Phillies and MLB.
And Gordon Edes was definitely knew the game.

 

[Boom_70]

lost art, i know, but in l.a. gordon edes was the best gamestory writer in pro hoops and baseball that i've ever seen. gammons in '75 and '78 -- during the post-season -- was on another planet. but day to day, edes was sublime.

I've never been much of a gamer reader but Olney was a must read when he had Yankee beat. Even if you watched game you learned things from his gamers.

I once heard that Wellington Marra liked his gamers so much that he lobbied the Times to have Olney cover The Giants.