The guy from Queens needs to work out the difference between ‘biased’ and ‘unbiased.’ Also reporters on many occasions eat or otherwise spend informal time with the people they write about, and they absolutely should. Would you rather they stayed at home and wrote their pieces based on reheated Google leftovers?

There’s a BIG difference between sharing a meal and receiving a back-hander. The reporters’ code isn’t even slightly compromised by this sort of informal press event.

I suspect your argument is intentionally nonsensical so I’ll let it stand on its own.

As for the Mets, I got no problem with them. It’s the Yankees I don’t care much for. But if George Steinbrenner buys me a buffalo chicken wrap and a diet Coke I may soften my stance.

“if they bash these guys then word will leak to Japan that Boston isn’t a great place afterall. Advertisers will shun Boston and those players will goto New York or California to play ball.”

?

Huh?

What?

Firstly, neither Dice-K, Okaji, the Red Sox or the entire nation of Japan cares what a few beat writers from Boston think.

Secondly, a fine lunch isn’t going to change what those writers from Boston think or write.

Thirdly, advertisers are not going to care what the writers think either and they certainly won’t shun Boston, they want money, that’s the bottom line.

Finally, both Dice-K and Okaji have contracts, so they can’t just up and move.

And an afer though…there is no word “leaking” to Japan, not when you have a 150 member press entourage following these guys’ every move.

Neither the Yankees nor the Mets have any pitchers worth taking to lunch.

How bout them apples?

Gosh, a free lunch? They OWN these guys now. They don’t charge them to get into the games, either, it’s just not fair.

We know you’re bitter about Pedro, Guy, but please try to get a grip. Free food has always been part of the press box experience, and many a writer has lambasted the hometown team while munching on it.

By the way - another great post, Rob, keep it up.

Why is it that the Red Sox have never had one of these lunches? Why is it that the only lunch they had is with the two Japanese imports? They know these guys, especially Matsusaka, will be in the spotlight all year. They also know there is a chance he may have a few bad games. So, they are greasing the skids early to ensure these guys won’t get bashed. Think about it, if they bash these guys then word will leak to Japan that Boston isn’t a great place afterall. Advertisers will shun Boston and those players will goto New York or California to play ball. This was another Mafia like setup these owners pulled. (When is lunch with Doug Mirabelli??) The worst thing is, none of these reporters will call them out. Not one.
By the way, my buddy at the New York Post told me the Sox charge the media $10 to eat. So this was the case of greasing the palms.

PS: Go METS!

– Guy from Queens.