Price is right

[Reverend]

Are there any players you haven't enjoyed following from one of the local 4 teams? Other than for legal reasons? If so, why?

I'm not sure we're going to get anywhere otherwise.

I used to sit in the press box for Bruins games on the regular--including the playoffs--and stopped following because I didn't like how the team was run and couldn't support it any more.

And "other than for legal reasons" is some bullshit CYAism--especially since it prevents me from throwing in me walking away from the Celtics in the '90s.

In that vein, my dislike of players over issues of sexual violence is not a legal issue, in my mind, and I bristle a bit even at the suggestion--my moral determinations about the players that represent our teams is not a legal determination per se. Reducing these important social issues to that shit is for mindless talk radio types.

There are other examples, but I thought giving up on an entire organization that I loved that I used to watch for free live from choice seats whenever I wanted to should cover it.

But since we're asking such personal questions:

Would you be willing to clarify more explicitly the implied assumptions about me as a human being you made in your post so that I can address them more directly?


Edit: @OnWisc can vouch that my hero worship, while much intact, was educated and disciplined at an early age by an encounter with Kirby Puckett, of whom I had previously thought a great deal.

 

[Skiponzo]

That's fair.

How would you rate his overall job performance--like, on a numerical scale of your choosing?

BB? He's been wildly successful (though I do believe the genius talk needs to be balanced by his time in Cleveland where he sucked...maybe because he didn't have the GOAT at QB?)

Anyway, I don't need to think the guy (be it Price or BB) is a good dude to understand he's good at his job. I'd rate BBs time in NE a 9/10...taking 1 away because of his demeanor. Price is harder. First year he didn't live up to my expectations which made me "think" he didn't do that well. In retrospect I'd give him a 7/10 for that year. 3/10 last year and 8/10 this year but he's still a dick and that bothers me.

 

[BroodsSexton]

What if his performance isn't for us or the media?

He does have a real job to do, and that job has real work to do.

I actually prefer to imagine that it’s just what it is. It’s not a performance for any particular reason. He’s just like that.

 

[Reverend]

I actually prefer to imagine that it’s just what it is. It’s not a performance for any particular reason. He’s just like that.

His teammates seem to like him.

So... how's the team doing?

 

[grimshaw]

That's not at all where I was going with this. I'm not even completely sure what you thought I was inferring, but I can assure you it isn't in the same galaxy.

I didn't enjoy Jonathan Papelbon because I thought he came across as a buffoon and he took an interminable time in between pitches. It's a completely harmless, slightly irrational (IMO) reason for not liking a guy. That's basically where I was going.

Price is in that category for me. I don't know why this rubs some people the wrong way, but it does.

 

[Hawk68]

Red Sox beat reporter Chris Smith tweeted this as the key element of the Price - Miller exchange: "Price asked by reporter why he's been on a roll in last six starts: 'I made adjustments.' What kind of adjustments? 'I'm not gonna tell you. You can go back and watch film. I'm not gonna do your job for you. I'm sorry. You don't do mine, so I won't do yours.' "

My professional experiences lead me to hold the press in well earned low regard. That said, I raised three sons to manhood and they know this is not the way to treat a person doing their job - which is representing the fan and asking reasonable clarifying follow-up questions.

David Price is pitching pretty close to his career performance, therefore expensive but basically "as expected".

He is also conducting himself to his established patterns, therefore basically "as expected" - and that is a person I have little interest in rooting for.

 

[Reverend]

That's not at all where I was going with this. I'm not even completely sure what you thought I was inferring, but I can assure you it isn't in the same galaxy.

I didn't enjoy Jonathan Papelbon because I thought he came across as a buffoon and he took an interminable time in between pitches. It's a completely harmless, slightly irrational (IMO) reason for not liking a guy. That's basically where I was going.

Price is in that category for me. I don't know why this rubs some people the wrong way, but it does.

YOU asked ME about my rooting interests with an implication that I would defend any home guy.

I'm fine letting it drop, but I'm not going to deny I took exception to that and I think I have a long record here to back up my lack of mindlessness. You may or may not have a claim with many others, but people don't appreciate being lumped into masses of nonsense without recognition, nor should they.

I feel differently than you do, in large measure because I believe we see things differently, and may even be looking at different things. That should be ok without calling into question the very nature of how I view players and root for teams which you raised, yes?

 

[grimshaw]

YOU asked ME about my rooting interests with an implication that I would defend any home guy.

I'm fine letting it drop, but I'm not going to deny I took exception to that and I think I have a long record here to back up my lack of mindlessness. You may or may not have a claim with many others, but people don't appreciate being lumped into masses of nonsense without recognition, nor should they.

I feel differently than you do, in large measure because I believe we see things differently, and may even be looking at different things. That should be ok without calling into question the very nature of how I view players and root for teams which you raised, yes?

I respect you as a thoughtful poster and don't think you are a fanboy. That said I've been posting long enough where I should get some benefit of the doubt too. I thought you would come back with someone so I could see where you were coming from.

Whatever though. Go Sox.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Red Sox beat reporter Chris Smith tweeted this as the key element of the Price - Miller exchange: "Price asked by reporter why he's been on a roll in last six starts: 'I made adjustments.' What kind of adjustments? 'I'm not gonna tell you. You can go back and watch film. I'm not gonna do your job for you. I'm sorry. You don't do mine, so I won't do yours.' "

My professional experiences lead me to hold the press in well earned low regard. That said, I raised three sons to manhood and they know this is not the way to treat a person doing their job - which is representing the fan and asking reasonable clarifying follow-up questions.

David Price is pitching pretty close to his career performance, therefore expensive but basically "as expected".

He is also conducting himself to his established patterns, therefore basically "as expected" - and that is a person I have little interest in rooting for.

I’m a little confused by your post. Is just the italicized portion the tweet? And the rest your own comment? Because, yeah, the italicized is what we’re talking about.

Price is also just doing his job, but the press has no problem targeting him since day one. I don’t read the Boston rags anymore, but I’d guess probably before day one. I’m not sure why we expect him to keep a black/white list on which reporters have been critical of him and which haven’t. I’ve no problem with him treating them as a sole entity.

As to the question posed by another poster about players one didn’t like, i absolutely hated Youkilis and still do. I obviously loved Paps but grew sour on him. I hated Lackey but came to like him. I never shared the unbridled love for IT3 that many here did. I think Marchand is a punk. Their interaction with the press has little to nothing do with any of that.

It’s just another symptom of the Twitter age. Ten years ago we wouldn’t even know about this.

 

[Van Everyman]

Some of you guys would’ve really liked Ted Williams.

 

[lexrageorge]

I have no problem with Price being prickly with the press; quite a few of the local mediots have openly rooted for him to fail miserably; some of the comments could even be thinly veiled racism. Price has no obligation to be "nice" to the press. Jim Rice said far worse things, and what he did was amateur hour compared to Ted Williams.

My only issue is that he acted that way towards Johnny Miller, who isn't really to blame for any of the above.

 

[uncannymanny]

Does Price know much about any of these people? He hasn’t lived in Boston for long like posters on SOSH. Do you think he’s home at night making a naughty and nice list of the press?

Also, they’re all to blame. They unreadable and unlistenable. I gave up on them years ago like PP. they’re like the kid that hovers their finger around their sibling after being told “don’t touch me,” then when they get hit it’s “mooooooooom, he’s hitting meeeeeee.” They can all get bent.

 

[Byrdbrain]

The Sox players certainly know who Johnny Miller is, he always gets the first question and everyone is always patient with him asking the question. He's not some generic guy on the beat.

I don't care all that much and I'm certainly not rooting against Price because of it but it just seemed unnecessary.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

The Sox players certainly know who Johnny Miller is, he always gets the first question and everyone is always patient with him asking the question. He's not some generic guy on the beat.

I don't care all that much and I'm certainly not rooting against Price because of it but it just seemed unnecessary.

I think this sums it up well.

Personally, I'd be totally cool with Price being nice to Miller and a dick to everyone else.

 

[patoaflac]

As Fisk once said: "it doesn´t cost a cent to be a nice guy". Besides, you should respect and old guy, who hasn´t said anything bad to you.

 

[NDame616]

I'm sure every new, incoming player is given the run down on Johnny Miller when they are signed so there are no surprises when he asks the first question with 100 cameras rolling

 

[soxhop411]

I’m shocked this hasn’t been posted yet.

Per Christopher Smith from August 20th.

Miller did his research, then went up to Price in the clubhouse today and told him what he was doing different (placement on rubber, pitch usage, locations). Price said he was right

 

[richgedman'sghost]

See, that's why Johnny Miller is different fron the other schmucks in the Boston Press. Could you imagine Danny Boy or Nick Cafardo (hahaha) actually doing any research on a story? I think Price should apologize to Miller at the beginning of his next press conference. It could send a good.message to the other media idiots although I'm not sure if it would get through.

 

[richgedman'sghost]

Johnny Miller did not deserve to be treated such harshly or with such contempt by Price. He actually does his homework...

 

[uncannymanny]

And no one here has ever snapped unnecessarily at a friend or spouse over built up feelings or having a bad day. Right?

 

[drbretto]

See, that's why Johnny Miller is different fron the other schmucks in the Boston Press. Could you imagine Danny Boy or Nick Cafardo (hahaha) actually doing any research on a story? I think Price should apologize to Miller at the beginning of his next press conference. It could send a good.message to the other media idiots although I'm not sure if it would get through.

He should apologize to Miller personally and privately because it's between them and the rest of the media members hearts are not going to grow three sizes that day.

 

[jayhoz]

And no one here has ever snapped unnecessarily at a friend or spouse over built up feelings or having a bad day. Right?

David? Is that you? How's Fortnite treating you?

 

[uncannymanny]

David? Is that you? How's Fortnite treating you?

Hilarious! No, really! Won’t somebody please think of the poor Boston media!

 

[Plympton91]

And no one here has ever snapped unnecessarily at a friend or spouse over built up feelings or having a bad day. Right?

But he hadn’ t had a bad day at all. He just decided to be a jackass. Because he’s a jackass.

 

[uncannymanny]

But he hadn’ t had a bad day at all. He just decided to be a jackass. Because he’s a jackass.

You talked to him about this?

 

[jayhoz]

But he had t had a bad day at all. He just decided to be a jackass. Because he’s a jackass.

Not only had he just had a pretty good day on the field, he also had just received a compliment from the guy he decided to be a jackass to.

 

[Plympton91]

You talked to him about this?

He talked, I just listened.

 

[uncannymanny]

Good to know.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

They don’t live on the field. Maybe Astro shit in his cleats and his wife was in a bad mood and their kid was a brat. I find it so hard to believe that people are so quick to forget these guys are people. If you had to do a press conference or field reporters in your bathroom and get asked dumb questions at the end of your work day, honestly ask yourself how much patience you’d have for it. I’d prefer he focus his energy on his performance. I frankly could give less than two shits about him making a reporters job easier.

 

[uncannymanny]

I’m pretty sure they have docks in the locker room like a Roomba.

 

[Plympton91]

You guys are right, $31 million a year just doesn’t go as far as it used to. Maybe he’s behind on his mortgage payments or something.

 

[Reverend]

You guys are right, $31 million a year just doesn’t go as far as it used to. Maybe he’s behind on his mortgage payments or something.

Reasonable people may disagree about what that salary buys from the man.

 

[uncannymanny]

You guys are right, $31 million a year just doesn’t go as far as it used to. Maybe he’s behind on his mortgage payments or something.

You’re right, rich people don’t have problems.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

I have no problem with him not answering the question (because who needs to make other teams' scouting reports stronger by confirming their analysis with an interview?) but as much as I believe in him as a pitcher (far more than most people I think) his habit of needlessly showing up people and using his power as a celebrity to belittle others (see Eckersley, Dennis) grows pretty old. Dude is in serious need of some sensitivity training, in my opinion.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

I’d prefer he focus his energy on his performance.

Sure, if he has to choose between being polite and forbearing with reporters who annoy him and pitching well, I don't think there's a single poster on this board who would have any trouble deciding which is the right choice. It seems like an odd dichotomy though.

And I don't think it's a question of him making the reporter's job easier. He could easily have declined to answer the question in a way that didn't implicitly insult the reporter's professional diligence for asking it.

Let's face it, he was being a bit of a dick. And as uk_sox_fan points out, not for the first time. It's not the end of the world. It doesn't make him an evil human being, and it doesn't make me "root against him" (a ridiculous concept, especially since that would effectively mean rooting against a bunch of other guys who aren't responsible for his behavior). It might take a wee bit of the pleasure out of rooting for him, but I'd still rather see him on the mound than (for instance) Brian Johnson, regardless of how likable Johnson may be.

 

[uncannymanny]

Sure, if he has to choose between being polite and forbearing with reporters who annoy him and pitching well, I don't think there's a single poster on this board who would have any trouble deciding which is the right choice. It seems like an odd dichotomy though.

And I don't think it's a question of him making the reporter's job easier. He could easily have declined to answer the question in a way that didn't implicitly insult the reporter's professional diligence for asking it.

Let's face it, he was being a bit of a dick. And as uk_sox_fan points out, not for the first time. It's not the end of the world. It doesn't make him an evil human being, and it doesn't make me "root against him" (a ridiculous concept, especially since that would effectively mean rooting against a bunch of other guys who aren't responsible for his behavior). It might take a wee bit of the pleasure out of rooting for him, but I'd still rather see him on the mound than (for instance) Brian Johnson, regardless of how likable Johnson may be.

So 2 incidents in 3 years, if you can even call this one that? Meanwhile he’s been hammered constantly by the media. Give me a break.

Sure he’s thin skinned, just like the mediots and apparently many in this thread.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

So 2 incidents in 3 years, if you can even call this one that? Meanwhile he’s been hammered constantly by the media. Give me a break.

Sure he’s thin skinned, just like the mediots and apparently many in this thread.

Well, yes, so it seems.

I don't understand why this has to be a binary thing, where anyone who watches that clip and cringes a little = Dan Shaughnessy. It's possible for David Price to be "hammered constantly" and unfairly by the media and to be gratuitously dickish on occasion. Lots of combinations of things can happen, and they don't all fit into neatly laid-out good guy/bad guy matrices.

 

[uncannymanny]

Well, yes, so it seems.

I don't understand why this has to be a binary thing, where anyone who watches that clip and cringes a little = Dan Shaughnessy. It's possible for David Price to be "hammered constantly" and unfairly by the media and to be gratuitously dickish on occasion. Lots of combinations of things can happen, and they don't all fit into neatly laid-out good guy/bad guy matrices.

Sure, cringe a little is reasonable. That’s not really what’s happening here though is it? I don’t know where anyone said it has to be a binary thing either.

In the old price thread I got just as much push back for casually saying that I wish he’d stop warring on Twitter, which makes this last bit of this thread doubly funny to me. Even more so from a board that had a license photoshopped for “fiery” Josh Beckett and adores BB’s constant mockery of the media.

Price wears his emotions on his sleeve for better or worse. Johnny Miller doesn’t seem to have taken the offense that people want to take on his behalf. It’s the nothingest of nothingburgers, except it’s David Price.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Price is looking like an ace today. This is a game the team sorely needed to win and he's pitching his ass off.

 

[Average Reds]

He’s been pitching his ass off for the last month and a half. And as long as he delivers, I’m really not going to care what he says (or doesn’t say) to the media.

 

[DJnVa]

Price has 16 QS on the season, just 1 behind Sale's 17.

 

[tims4wins]

Assuming the Sox hold on today, 16-2 in his last 18 starts.

 

[ehaz]

Just here to point out that David F Price has a lower ERA than "aces" Jose Berrios, James Paxton, and Jon Lester.

 

[chawson]

Johnny Miller did not deserve to be treated such harshly or with such contempt by Price. He actually does his homework...

I don't know, seems like a really dramatic leap to infer harshness or contempt. "You don't do my job, so I won't do yours" is a sensible and demonstrably factual statement for an athlete to make to the press, and the obvious implication is that he doesn't want to talk about the adjustments.

So many of these incendiary Price stories can be boiled down to context collapse. Reading a phrase like "I'm not going to do your job for you" on the page—stripped of context, tone, his obvious relationship to Johnny Miller, the fact that he has a camera in his face and the "you" has floated from JM to the press as a whole—it can seem a lot harsher if you want it to.

It really highlights how wide the difference in speech patterns and vernacular can be between 30-year-old black athletes and say, fifty-something white people from New Englanders. Not saying this is true of you, but there are a ton of people who'd sooner think someone "sounds like a dick" than realize that they speak in different dialects.

Meanwhile, he's again shutting down one of the best offenses on the planet. Remove the game the Yanks were stealing signs and he's an ace.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Another excellent start for Price. I'm sure he's partially motivated due to his opt out since he hates pitching here. Whatever the reason is please keep it up

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

The Sox "sorely" needed to win this today?

Maybe it would have been important had they lost last night but please.

 

[RedOctober3829]

The Sox "sorely" needed to win this today?

Maybe it would have been important had they lost last night but please.

Yes I feel it was important to win this in order to come back and get a split in this series after losing the first 2. This is a team that hasn't had any speed bumps this year so I wanted to see what they had when faced with a bit of adversity against a quality team. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way as well.

 

[uncannymanny]

It really highlights how wide the difference in speech patterns and vernacular can be between 30-year-old black athletes and say, fifty-something white people from New Englanders. Not saying this is true of you, but there are a ton of people who'd sooner think someone "sounds like a dick" than realize that they speak in different dialects.

I was going to bring up implicit biases, but I’m glad someone else broached it. 100% agreed here.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Just here to point out that David F Price has a lower ERA than "aces" Jose Berrios, James Paxton, and Jon Lester.

To expand on that, including today he has a 1.50 ERA in 48 IP since the 2 straight subpar starts against NYY and KC.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]