As some of you may have noticed, yesterday's event marked at least the sixth different venue and format for the Q&As in the past three years. We've done no bog talk, blog talk before, blog talk after, just the GM, the GM and staff, the staff and then the GM, etc So, in the vein of the LL QC, we'd like to hear your feedback on the event yesterday. How was this event setup compared to others? Any suggestions for making it better?
Note, what we do not want is any rehashing of what was said by the front office peeps at the event. We get to do these in large part because they stay off the record. Please keep that in mind. What we, meaning USSM/LL, said is fair game though if you want to make fun of Jeff or something.
0 recs | 228 comments
Had fun!
Thanks for everything. Worth every penny and minute of time. I did have some trouble hearing time to time. Probably the mic levels. Especially when Jeff asked questions.
chrisisasavage - January 10, 2010
No I just don't know how to use a microphone
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
You talk into it.
section331 - January 10, 2010
I thought I was
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
Kind of?
section331 - January 10, 2010
I thought you seemed a little nervous. Maybe that was just me. Though I wouldn't blame you if you were; 550 people is a lot to speak in front of.
.Taylor - January 10, 2010
Not nervous; clueless
The acoustics on stage were horrible, and no one tipped me off.
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
I will back this up.
I have no idea how it sounded out in the seats, but on stage, it was close to impossible to hear anything. I guess that’s a side effect of building for musicians, but the feedback made it very difficult to discern conversation flows. So if anyone out there wondered why we didn’t ask an obvious follow up question, it’s probably because we couldn’t hear Jack and co.
Matthew - January 10, 2010
I don't think I understood one word Dave said all day long
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
Oh, well, Dave....
it was obvious that at times the panel missed what was being said by the moderators … that might be something their sound folks could adjust
msb - January 10, 2010
Which has nothing to do with the acoustics of the stage.
Matthew - January 10, 2010
You sounded completely fine. I guess we return to the second comment of this subthread....
.Taylor - January 10, 2010
You were pretty quiet too
Jeff was worse.
chrisisasavage - January 10, 2010
Really? I could hear Matthew loud and clear.
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
There was light feedback, but I think everyone could still hear, for the most part
I guess I assumed that they would have given you guys some form of monitoring. Crazy.
section331 - January 11, 2010
In that case...
…we need to get you a wireless lav. Idiot proof—even actors can learn to use it.
rtang - January 10, 2010
For what it's worth, I didn't have any problems hearing people.
appleshampoo - January 11, 2010
Same here
Robert - January 11, 2010
Get CLOSER to the microphones!
I too had trouble hearing some of the comments at the event.
The problem is that most of the speakers were too far away from the microphones.
I have experience with microphones in broadcasting and playing music on stage.
Those mics are specificially designed NOT to pick up extraneous sound from a few feet away. They are very directional and have a very small sound pattern.
To get the best sound you must “kiss the mic” as we say in the biz, which means putting your lips within a few inches of the mic. Singing on stage in a loud rock band I would literally have my lips touching the microphone. Every inch you move farther away from the mic decreases the quality and volume of the sound geometrically. If I was signing in a band on stage and my mouth was 6 inches from the mic you would barely be able to hear me at all, but with my lips touching the mic the vocals would boom out over the loud guitars and drums.
The same concept goes for speaking into a mic to an audience. Professional speakers get up close to the mic so that thier voice boomsout over the room. Fox example, at the USSM event Derek did a good job of leaning into the mic and so did Jeff and Tony B from the M’s front office. That’s why you could hear them so well. At the opposite extreme Jeff from LL was way too far way from the mic when he was asking questions at the podium. At one point Dave moved the mic closer, but he was still too far way from Jeff’’s mouth to hear him clearly.
As for why you guys couldn’t hear Jack and rest up on the stage, that’s because the PA speakers are positioned at the front of the stage to project the sound out to the audience. They are specifically designed to NOT to send sound back to the stage because that would cause feedback from the microphones. You should have asked for “stage monitors,” which are small speakers on the stage that musicians use so that they can hear themselves while they are playing.
The theater and the PA system was great … it was just a little “operator error” that caused some people not to be heard as well as others.
I actually went up to Derek during the break before the M’s FO guys came out and asked him to get the speakers to get closer to the microphones, but they apparently didn’t get the message.
Next time, remember that the microphone is your friend. Don’t be afraid of it. Get up close and personal and everybody will be able to hear you much, much better!
SeasonTix - January 11, 2010
From all these descriptions I'm imagining Jeff as Shy Ronnie on stage
Dewey N - January 11, 2010
Well, there's your problem: none of the LL/USSM guys are in rock bands
Though Graham looked like he might fit into some shoegazer band. Or maybe Weezer.
wandergeist - January 11, 2010
Was anyone actually running a soundboard for this event?
That would probably do a lot to help audio levels.
BrianL - January 11, 2010
Well, there was someone in the booth-- dunno what they were doing, though
msb - January 11, 2010
My guess is that the sound would have been a lot worse if there had not been somebody running the sound board. They probably cranked up the volume as much as possible on the mics, but as I explained above they have limited range so simply turning up the gain on a mic will not increase the volume of the person speaking anywhere near as much as having the person simply get closer to the mic.
I’m not trying to be “Mr. Know It All” … I’m just trying to explain why it’s so important to “kiss the mic” in order to get the best sound possible so that next time old guys like can hear better.
As you may have guessed, I blew out my hearing on loud rock and roll in my younger days and I now have only 50% of normal hearing level. Still that’s good enough to hear the speakers who were close to the mic, I only had trouble with the people who were not near the mic because when the sound person cranks up the mic to pick up the person talking it also amplifies the background noise, which makes it harder to understand what the person is saying.
SeasonTix - January 12, 2010
Dude
Were you in any bands we may have heard of?
Just wondering if we have, I don’t know, PoTUSA or the Wipers or Queensryche on here or something
wandergeist - January 12, 2010
Jack Z was awesome.
He can tell a mean story.
kentroyals5 - January 10, 2010
Jack Z was hilarious.
chrisisasavage - January 10, 2010
Making fun of Jeff, huh?
Don’t think I missed the water spilling on your part. Just sayin.
It was my first event and I had a blast. Thanks again to everyone involved for making yesterday happen.
melenious - January 10, 2010
That was Jeff's fault
Matthew - January 10, 2010
I liked having readers submit questions to LL and USSM, and then having you guys pose the best questions to Z & team.
I don’t mean for this to sound elitist, but having audience members ask the general manager questions just doesn’t work when there’s such a large group. There are too many bad questions. I think it was fine three years ago, when we took up two rows of bleachers while meeting with Bavasi in Tacoma, but not when there are hundreds of people. The method you guys tried this time around seems optimal.
katal - January 10, 2010
Agreed.
Although I thought the majority of questions at the beginning to the bloggers were pretty good.
kentroyals5 - January 10, 2010
I was mad that somebody beat me to the "Why is Jeff a racist?" question.
Goose - January 10, 2010
Someone actually said that?
EnglishMariner - January 10, 2010
Derek jokingly asked Jeff
Matthew - January 10, 2010
Ah, thats why I didn't catch who asked it. I assumed it came from the crowd.
Goose - January 10, 2010
That scoundrel
royalcurve - January 10, 2010
Is there going to be a smallish write up like you guys did last time?
Scruffy Lefty - January 10, 2010
Dave has one up already
http://ussmariner.com/2010/01/10/ussmll-event-recap/
with some links to section331’s as well. There’ll likely be some sort of recap here, but not for a few days.
Matthew - January 10, 2010
Word. Thanks.
Scruffy Lefty - January 10, 2010
Yeah we've all heard that song and dance before
Poochie - January 10, 2010
I'm not really sure it could be any better.
Yeah, it was hard to hear sometimes, but I think that was more a product of some people being better with the mic than others. I could hear Jack, Tony, Matthew, and Dave perfectly fine. Jeff and Tom kinda mumbled a little and Kingston was kinda yelling.
I really like the venue with this one and I think we should stick with it. Worked out very well IMO. I also think the format went very smoothly.
I thought the whole thing seemed a little short, but times flies when your having fun and all that.
Somebody suggested nametags for the audience next time. I also think this is a good idea.
Goose - January 10, 2010
Yeah the nametags idea is a good one.
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
I was disappointed to learn that I missed running into you!
katal - January 10, 2010
I wasn't sure who any one was
Except the authors and section331 (who was obvious from a mile away). So I didn’t bother trying to figure it out. I had to run afterward anyway, so maybe next time.
chrisisasavage - January 10, 2010
Yeah, section331 is pretty easy to spot.
I didn’t really talk to anyone either though, except I ran into marc w. and a friend of his on my way out and then the three of us went off to have tasty beers and chat about stuff.
JY - January 10, 2010
Yeah the only people I actually got to meet were Kermit, tootthekazoo, and Mark Sobba
Glad I got to meet them, would have been nice to meet a few more.
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
This one was the first event I made it to...
I really liked the way it was setup with the Blogger questions before, then the front office coming out. You can’t really have it the other way because no offense, it would be anti-climactic. One more critique, speak up Jeff (or at least get closer to the mic)!
basebliman - January 10, 2010
Thanks for setting this up!
The format and the questions were excellent. Great job coming up with astute follow up questions on the fly as well.
TrashiDawa - January 10, 2010
Had a great time
Enjoyed the M’s management panel as well as the blogger Q&A.
Special shout-out to the two dudes seated behind me…one of whom began snoring profusely and the other of whom began to whine incessantly about the lack of baseball questions during the blog-panel…do everyone around you a favor and next time, don’t come.
Omerta - January 10, 2010
I've said it elsewhere
But really, the whole pre-event question collecting, and having you guys choose the questions works far better than having audience members try and duke it out for the mic. Everyone can hear the questions being asked, the answers, etc. It ran a lot more smoothly than the other two I’d been to.
section331 - January 10, 2010
The angle from the guests to the moderator at the podium was a bit awkward with the table so far forward.
It’s natural for a panel to speak to the moderator in that kind of set up and not just the audience, with the podium so far to the side they kept have to crank their heads around. Just a comfort level thing, kind of a minor point to bring up.
Kermit. - January 10, 2010
I enjoyed every minute of it.
This is the first one I was able to attend so I don’t have anything to compare against it. I thought the questions being asked by the moderators was an excellent setup.
The only thing I would change is having laser light, fog, and music intro when the front office is introduced. I would pay an extra $10 a ticket for something like this.
Great stuff. Kudos to Dave, Derek, Jeff, Matthew, and Graham.
Wilder. - January 10, 2010
I specifically mentioned the front office intro like you say here
After the door was open for a bit without them coming out yet, I asked Kermit if there was going to be fog machines, lasers, and loud music
tootthekazoo - January 10, 2010
Really fun, interesting event. All of you guys - Jeff, Graham, Dave, Derek, did a really good job
Matthew, on the other hand, was inspiring
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
I can believe that.
royalcurve - January 10, 2010
You know, I'll second that.
I attended the event with my wife, and she loved the way Matthew interacted with Z.
katal - January 10, 2010
Z acted a little annoyed at his questions
Maybe I read too much into the facial expressions.
chrisisasavage - January 10, 2010
I didn't see that at all
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
It could have been the angle I was sitting at
chrisisasavage - January 10, 2010
I got a little of that, but in context, I couldn't figure out why.
JY - January 10, 2010
Next question
Z did say Next Question at least once.
If he doesn’t want to answer a question, he won’t.
Paul AB - January 10, 2010
I thought he was joking on that one.
Two Rs and Two Ls - January 10, 2010
He had to have been
Don’t remember the context, but I think everybody was laughing before Z said that
tootthekazoo - January 10, 2010
He was very calm, cool, and collected
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
I KNEW THAT WAS YOU
You have curly hair, right? I’m cursing myself for not going over and saying hi.
.Taylor - January 10, 2010
Absolutely I have curly here.
How did you know it was me?
katal - January 10, 2010
You weren't in the foxfur and gator boots.
abender20 - January 10, 2010
Someone called you Eric, which I know is your name from the LL Fantasy League (I think that's how I know)
.Taylor - January 10, 2010
I was standing talking to Kermit and Chris, 3 feet to your right. Griffin (gregrabble) was there too!
Missed opportunity, I guess.
.Taylor - January 10, 2010
Oh! Wow.
katal - January 10, 2010
Damn. Next time.
gregrabble - January 10, 2010
No rehashing...
But I didn’t attend; is there any way to get to the content? GMZ is clearly a mad genius, and I’d love to see a transcript or summation of the Q&A.
THolt - January 10, 2010
I'm not a subscriber, but it looks like Prospect Insider already has something up from yesterday.
Janic - January 10, 2010
PI's latest subscriber-only post was from before the event.
katal - January 10, 2010
Off the record means anything interesting has to stay in the room.
Aaron Campeau - January 10, 2010
Uh, I'm aware of the term.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean “not for public consumption.” Publication is a whole ’nother matter.
THolt - January 11, 2010
Actually off the record does in fact mean not for public consumption
pdb - January 11, 2010
Your logic is flawed.
Off the record is off the record, whether it is spoken or in writing. If you told me something and asked that it be off the record, and I came here and started talking about it, would that be OK with you?
section331 - January 11, 2010
If it's on the web, it's a publication
Stuff said here is “published”
wandergeist - January 11, 2010
It was my first time going to one of these and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The format was great. Doing the blogger Q&A in the beginning was a good way to get people settled in. The format was well organized and I thank you all for your hard work in putting these events together.
Is there any reason why Graham didn’t ask questions?
tintin - January 10, 2010
Because no one can understand what the hell he's saying.
Aaron Campeau - January 10, 2010
Yanks can never understand what I am saying it frustrates the hell out of me. :/
EnglishMariner - January 10, 2010
It's not the accent, it's the Graham
seattlebruin - January 10, 2010
It's a combination.
Aaron Campeau - January 10, 2010
His hair would have been hanging down and blocking his mouth so nobody would have made out what he was saying
tootthekazoo - January 10, 2010
I spent the time I should have been using to prepare questions drawing a picture of Brett's moustache
Also the accent thing would frustrate everyone.
Graham MacAree - January 10, 2010
Not really, no.
msb - January 10, 2010
Seconded.
section331 - January 10, 2010
Ahaha
royalcurve - January 10, 2010
The accent would have made you sound like you really knew what you were talking about.
mark sobba - January 10, 2010
I for one enjoyed Graham's sweatervest immensely.
.Taylor - January 10, 2010
Someone needs to teach Jack and Tony a turn of phrase that's not "At the end of the day"
Aaron Campeau - January 10, 2010
I don't think I heard a "tremendous" from any of them.
I was surprised.
Wilder. - January 10, 2010
18 times!
They said “at the end of the day” a combined eighteen times!
katal - January 10, 2010
Maybe next time, a drinking game is in order.
Not for me, of course, but everyone else can have at it…
section331 - January 10, 2010
There was also an "at the end of the season"
Two Rs and Two Ls - January 10, 2010
And a "at the end of the year"
katal - January 10, 2010
I see that Nola beat me to this point.
katal - January 10, 2010
Well, those two have to be worth at least
A shot. Assuming of course that all the “at the end of the days” will be drinks of beer.
section331 - January 10, 2010
Can we add "whoa" to the list of when drink is taken?
msb - January 10, 2010
Sure, why not?
And every time people feel compelled to standing ovate…
section331 - January 11, 2010
He also made it clear on several occasions that his opinion was only his opinion, and then didn't really give it.
I guess I like the fact he is actually listening to other’s opinions and that it sounds like they differ a lot.
kentroyals5 - January 10, 2010
That one time Tony said "At the end of the year"
Kirsten Schlewitz - January 10, 2010
Be grateful.
If this event had been a Royals event, attendees would have been repeatedly admonished to “trust the process” and reminded that they don’t have any credentials to be questioning anything that goes on in a MLB front office.
Steve Nelson - January 10, 2010
The first rule of the LL/USSM meetup is you don't talk about the LL/USSM meetup.
Slurvey - January 10, 2010
Shit.
I retract my above comment.
THolt - January 11, 2010
Hey, Matthew
You asked a lot of great questions, and good follow-ups. Everyone of the hosts was fantastic, but just wanted to point out that you did a great job.
Jeff, you were hilariously awkward.
okdan - January 10, 2010
Jeff always reminds me of an episode of The Office at these things.
section331 - January 10, 2010
At least he talked this time.
Last year’s January meet-up he didn’t say anything.
JY - January 10, 2010
He should have shouted and beat on the podium
kentroyals5 - January 10, 2010
I can't see this pic
But if it’s Dwight, then rec’d
d0nkey - January 11, 2010
It is
seattlebruin - January 11, 2010
Rec'd
d0nkey - January 11, 2010
WE ARE WARRIORS!
Phil Hatzenbuehler - January 11, 2010
Jeff was a little hard to hear
But I just chalked that up to fear of the mic, or fear of the crowd, or fear of being in the world and out of his parents’ basement.
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
Thanks!
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
How is it possible someone actually asked for a refund?
I would have given my left boob to attend. >:(
wazzu93 - January 11, 2010
We're all dieing to know
did anyone ask if the FO reads USSM/LL with regularity?
Terminator X - January 10, 2010
I think Tony said he checks it occasionally.
And I’d imagine after some of the things we’ve said about Z that he wouldn’t dare admit to visiting the site.
kentroyals5 - January 10, 2010
I'd imagine the urge to check occasionally would be tough to resist.
And for that matter, why even try to resist it?
Terminator X - January 10, 2010
Tango does as well, doesn't he?
Coach Owens - January 10, 2010
I'd certainly imagine so.
Terminator X - January 10, 2010
Well he sometimes
posts in the comments at USSM, so that would suggest, uh, yeah.
Not recently AFAIK (though he has popped up recently at Frangraphs).
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
Since Tango is now on the Mariners payroll ...
… I would imagine that he has to be very careful about what he posts under his name at a Mariners fan site. I don’t think he’s backed out entirely, as I believe that he has posted a few times since he became a consultant.
Steve Nelson - January 10, 2010
There is someone on staff that reads LL and USSM regularly
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
Rick Rizzs.
Phil Hatzenbuehler - January 11, 2010
Compared to last year's Library meet
It ran smoother, and I think having the blog discussion first works well especially since people are still arriving. Having the questions worked out in advance seems essential when it gets as big as this, though it would be cool if we had some off-the-list follow-up questions when an interesting tangent presents itself. That’s easier said than done, though, so I can’t really complain (and there was a bit of that, to be fair).
The FO part seemed shorter and a little less free-wheeling compared to last year, but I suspect that’s because it was Jack’s show this time. Last year it was just the guys under him, and they seemed a little more inclined to just sit around forever and shoot the breeze. But maybe the difference this year was mostly the absence of Carmen Fusco, who seemed to have no end of hilarious stories.
So that would be the one change I’d request for next year: more Carmen!
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
Graham should talk more.
Kirk - January 10, 2010 via mobile
NEED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT
probably 50% of the Mariner fan base is outside King Co. and a great deal of them are outside the state of Washington. need to know if this hush hush thing is a slap in the face by this website or by the Seattle Mariner Baseball Club to this above mentioned fanbase..
filthyfred - January 10, 2010
Suck it up
Graham MacAree - January 10, 2010
:(
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
Have a look at FilthyFred's profile
I think he’s really Steve Kelley.
Or maybe Jim Moore.
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
I did and therefore decided that civility was totally unwarranted
Graham MacAree - January 10, 2010
You guys are jerks
Poochie - January 10, 2010
This is a violation of the first amendment
Bearskin Rugburn - January 11, 2010
I've got a lawyer
And I’m going to sue.
Just as soon as I get a lawyer.
wandergeist - January 11, 2010
This "hush hush" thing is the price that we pay for having a pretty incredible amount of access to the front office.
It’s also worth noting that between the six regular authors of LL and USSM, three of them live in different states, two of them all the way across the country.
Aaron Campeau - January 10, 2010
Does this include Robert?
Poochie - January 10, 2010
Unfortunately...
The price of attendance is what you pay to reap the benefit of hearing all the juicy gossip.
People like myself, who weren’t able to attend will just have to take comfort in the fact that if there’s anything really going on, we will hear about it. …Eventually. :)
Adam B - January 10, 2010
LL, USSM, and Jack Zduriencik are known for slapping fans in the face, aren't they?
katal - January 10, 2010
Better then Bavasi...
He was into full on stomach sucker punches.
Adam B - January 10, 2010
I find your insinuation insulting.
It’s not like we’re trying to keep things silent in order to profit ourselves or shut anyone out. We get the cooperation of the front office, which they have zero reason to give us, in large part because we promise to keep things off the record. I’m sorry it cannot cater to you.
Matthew - January 10, 2010
Actually, I think he was asking a question in simply a weird and insulting way.
As in, “is it this website’s choice to make this a secret or was it the FO?”
CapSea - January 10, 2010
As DMZ would say, "The M’s front office leaks nothing."
*Except at our USSM event.
Janic - January 10, 2010
UNETHICAL
Robert - January 10, 2010
I'm contacting my lawyer!
There’s a class action in here somewhere…
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
Was there pizza?
Teej - January 11, 2010
Well...
This was the first time I thought the FO guys were too vague and evasive. I had a great time at the event and I feel we’re very privileged for a fan base, but when I thought back about ACTUAL interesting information gleaned, I felt like this was the most evasive the FO guys have been. I’ve been to several of the LL/USSM events and felt in the past, they were more open in the past and gave fewer answers along the lines of “each of these four guys have a different opinion”.
It makes sense though. There are obvious needs left on the club and Z is known as being secretive.
batura - January 10, 2010
Plus this was literally twice as big as the last one
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
So you're saying they're afraid of Slugworth stealing their everlasting gobstopper recipe?
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
You're a bird
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
This is a new one
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
Take being called a bird as a compliment.
katal - January 10, 2010
Being that the bird is the word and the word is the son of God I shall take it as the highest compliment
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
No religion please.
Coach Owens - January 10, 2010
Coach, please refer to the LL QC.
Specifically, here.
katal - January 10, 2010
Twas a joke.
Coach Owens - January 10, 2010
Twas a joke.
Coach Owens - January 10, 2010
I would suggest you click the link then
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
Funny
I guess everyone gets out of something what they want to. I found it more informative in a get-to-know-you sort of way than previous meetings; but that was just me.
I would like to mention, though, something that I haven’t seen mentioned here, and that is the enlargement of the thing. My opinions means nothing in the big scheme of things, but I really think it should be limited to 500, and that’s it. The bigger this gets, the more risk of info getting out and then obviously not being able to do it anymore. This may just be the cold medicine talking, but that’s my personal take on it. It just seems like any further increase in attendance numbers is asking for trouble.
section331 - January 10, 2010
This is I think we should keep the venue at the Hall. It'll keep the number of people close to static.
Goose - January 10, 2010
I did like the hall
The seats were nice and comfy, it was run well, what everyone else said already, etc.
Really, I was just happy to be there. I think it was a nice size, and since it’s on the bus lines with an $8 garage across the street, fairly affordable/convenient for everyone.
section331 - January 11, 2010
I took the light rail from Tukwila
Cost me 5 bucks, and the elevator up from the tunnel dropped me in the lobby at Benaroya
tootthekazoo - January 11, 2010
Cool
Just like in a real city
wandergeist - January 11, 2010
And I caught the bus from Newport Hills to South Bellevue Park and Ride ...
… waited about five minutes, and transferred to the 550 bus, which dropped me off right below Benaroya Hall. Tapped the reader with my Orca pass to handle fares and transfers.
We dropped one car from our family about five years ago. I actually take the bus quite often. It does help that we live in a part of Bellevue (Newport Hills) that has reasonably good bus service.
Steve Nelson - January 11, 2010
$8? Only cost me $7.
Goose - January 11, 2010
I think
We may not have gone all the way around the block, or missed the parking garage. We wound up in the one north of the Benaroya, and it was $8 flat on weekends, all day. I’m fine with it, as it was much better than the $11 I originally thought I was going to have to pay…
section331 - January 11, 2010
I think the most interesting information comes out in what is not said ...
… Given the venue and the nature of the event, it’s clear that Zduriencik et. al. will be circumspect in their comments. Accordingly, I think the interesting stuff is revealed in other ways. Sometimes it is what they don’t say, as when discussing Jose Lopez. Sometimes it’s an expression on a face when a question is asked, that suggests they completely understand a comment, or that registers a disagreeement.
They say little that can be quoted, but there is much more going on than just the words.
Steve Nelson - January 10, 2010
I wish I could have gone.
But Benaroya Hall sounds like it would be a lot better than the room in the library as the seats are positioned so that people can see. That was one of the biggest problems with the library location.
Mariner John - January 10, 2010
The seats were much more comfortable as well. I kinda hated the rubber seats at the library,
Not to mention they didn’t fold up, so when somebody had to walk by, it was always a tight fit. Very annoying.
Goose - January 10, 2010
The room was great
Everyone had a good view and yeah, seats more comfortable.
AtomicGarden - January 10, 2010
Huh. I was way the heck up in the back at the library
And I could see fine. Maybe it was a problem for the folks in the front? I know the guys on stage at the library had trouble seeing people in the back to call on them for questions, but the prepared questions thing fixed that anyway.
FWIW I was sitting in the back row at Benaroya and the view was great. So was the audio. Well, except for Jeff whispering and mumbling, but I don’t think that was the room’s fault.
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
God dammit
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
I start talking and this is what happens
Jeff Sullivan - January 10, 2010
One time I was standing 5 feet from Jeff and could only hear every other word coming out of his mouth
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
I don't know what your prolem is because I am practically deaf and can understand him just fine
Poochie - January 10, 2010
The problem could have been that we were at a loud based ball game and I had been previously deafened by fireworks directly behind my person
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
But I'm pretty sure it's because Jeff mumbles
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
The people behind you were lighting off fireworks?
Poochie - January 10, 2010
No, Fogel has a person
And the fireworks were directly behind said person. No idea how close this person was to Fogel, but since the person belongs to Fogel and one tends to keep one’s retinue nearby in case one has, I don’t know, grapes to peel or whatever people who have persons need to have done, presumably it was close. But not that close. People who have persons need their space, too. It’s a conundrum. This is why persons, good persons, are so hard to find.
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
There were no people behind me
Dewey N - January 10, 2010
I was behind you!
Kirk - January 11, 2010
Butthols don't count.
Robert - January 11, 2010
Dogs are supposed to hear really well.
Two Rs and Two Ls - January 10, 2010
You're obviously more suited for typing things out
When’s your birthday? I’ll get you one of those type-to-speech things, like what Stephen Hawking uses
tootthekazoo - January 11, 2010
I know you guys wished I was there! ('Cept Graham, of course)
Next time! (Maybe)
Coach Owens - January 10, 2010
You should have come out.
katal - January 10, 2010
Coach if you don't come out to one of these I will have somebody molest you.
Robert - January 11, 2010
Of course if you do come to one of these, Robert will molest you.
abender20 - January 11, 2010
If I start saving now (and at some point get a job)
I might be able to make it next year!
Eyeball Kid - January 10, 2010
We should have a UK members trip scheduled for next years event!
EnglishMariner - January 11, 2010
Laura: When the upcoming Mariners magazine was announced, Matthew's contributions to it should have been better acknowledged.
katal - January 10, 2010
Plural is unneeded.
There is only one contribution. Though it is long.
Matthew - January 10, 2010
I bet you say that a lot.
Phil Hatzenbuehler - January 11, 2010
I don't really understand what the "hush hush" thing is about...
I enjoyed the event immensely, but they really didn’t reveal anything juicy. It was really interesting and fun; I loved the way Zduriencik answered questions and some of the interaction that went on between the bloggers and the FO was amazing. The “if that’s Alan Nero, we’ll let you take that call right now… we’ll even take it for you!” bit was awesome. The most critical information they gave away was about stuff that already happened and isn’t that stunning in the first place, so the “keep it quiet” thing doesn’t make a ton of sense to me.
Graham should have definitely talked more, though, that was the most disappointing part.
lailaihei - January 10, 2010
It seems to me that while a lot of the things that are said during the meetups aren't surprising to us
they aren’t the kinds of things the front office would say publicly. They might seem innocuous to the blogosphere because we agree with them, but were these events truly public I would imagine the responses would be a great deal more measured.
Aaron Campeau - January 10, 2010
Totally agree ...
… if they knew tape recorders were rolling for public attribution I can’t imagine they would have responded on many issues the way they did – Jose Lopez being one example that comes to mind. Some of what they said might be stuff they would say as background to someone such as Geoff Baker – and on background they may be even more forthright with a beat writer – but it’s not something they would every say at a press conference or a Fan Fest.
Steve Nelson - January 10, 2010
Yes.
section331 - January 11, 2010
Having a blanket rule helps
Because without it, then why not YouTube videos and podcasts and live blogging and actual credentialed press people… and there goes your “Well, it’s misunderstood hearsay by a bunch of crazy folks on the internet” deniability. And then you have to watch every word for fear somebody says something that could get taken out of context or used by an agent or ruffle a player. The Milton Bradley discussion might have skated close to that, I don’t really know, but better safe than sorry, right?
Anyway, it’s not like the LL/USSM guys made up these rules just to create an annoying informational elite of insiders and a frustrated mass of outsiders. If that’s how the FO wants to roll and we really don’t like it, I guess we could just not come as a protest or something.
Anyway, every time Graham opens his mouth he makes the rest of us sound uncultured. Just as well he remain an International Man of Mystery.
wandergeist - January 10, 2010
Informational Elite
If anything LL/USSM is fighting an informational elite. Information moved from the few to the many, 4 to 500.
The front office is playing a game of incomplete information. It is in their interest to reveal nothing. What is and isn’t said helps me understand how that game is played. I thought the front office representatives were generous with their answers.
Thanks to LL/USSM for making it happen.
two_hands - January 11, 2010
Speaking of "hush, hush"
Who’s had juicier stuff to tell their audience? Jack Zduriencik (and co.) or Bill Bavasi?
ThundaPC - January 10, 2010
Bavasi wasn't afraid to say things like "Gil Meche is a pussy" and "Fuck Dave Samson".
And I think he in a roudabout way called Jose Lopez a fat fuck once. Though I may be wrong.
Goose - January 11, 2010
Wow
gregrabble - January 11, 2010
He also ripped apart Scott Spiezio and had funny things to say about Carl Everett
arbeck77 - January 11, 2010
Carl Everett is not misunderstood
Carl Everett is understood
wandergeist - January 11, 2010
I guess I hate Bill Bavasi then
seattlebruin - January 11, 2010
Yeah, I suppose.
abender20 - January 11, 2010
He would have made a great PR guy, though.
Faux - January 11, 2010
He said he was pleased that he had Yuni under the contract he did and that if given the chance
Jose Lopez wouldn’t be.
Matthew - January 11, 2010
Wonder why he didn't work out
OlSalty - January 11, 2010
Haha yeah that's right.
Goose - January 11, 2010
Wow that's a ballsy statement.
CapSea - January 11, 2010
How about a lottery ticketting system? I missed both windows of opportunity because I’m not hitting refresh ever 5 minutes on the blog – by the time I got the 30min RSS feed update, tickets were already sold out.
kerrizor - January 10, 2010
I think their only real priorty is selling out the tickets.
Which they did, so additional work was unneeded. Who gets them isn’t really of their concern. A lottery is the type of thing that those that had extra tickets could have done, and I know that several people did offer their tickets on this blog and others, so there were plenty of ways to get them.
Also, please use a subject line in the future. Thanks!
CapSea - January 10, 2010
And if you had a 30-minute RSS feed you had time
.. with the second announcement it took several hours to sell out. And it seems to me the first offering also took at around two hours.
Steve Nelson - January 10, 2010
According to Dave's twitter, 3 hours for the first set and about 2 hours for the second. (Imagine how much quicker they would have gone if they had given any advance notice)
Janic - January 10, 2010
I missed the first part of the event and even though the rest of it was phenomenal, I would like a full refund.
Robert - January 11, 2010
I think I died and went to baseball heaven when I read the 2010 Mariners Annual post on USSM just now.
Decatur - January 11, 2010
Perhaps funnier is that USSM broke Maple Street.
CapSea - January 11, 2010
Does anyone know if they ship overseas?
Eyeball Kid - January 11, 2010
They hire the best!
CapSea - January 11, 2010
This had better mean yes, joke be damned.
(I rec’d it though).
Decatur - January 11, 2010
Oh shit!
J/M/Dave if you’re around – will there be a way to order these online or do we need to physically go purchase them?
seattlebruin - January 11, 2010
Yes, they'll be available through Maple Press's website.
Mariner John - January 11, 2010
Probably Amazon too
And your local bookstore can usually special order stuff also.
wandergeist - January 11, 2010
Much good, some suggestions...
Overall an incredible event—I went to the previous (Aug?) one and this was mostly better…
Venue was excellent (minus whatever mic problems you guys experienced). Comfortable, easy to hear questions and professional. Really good. I did miss the Mariners free popcorn (grin).
First section with the USSM/LL guys was super great. Fun questions, fun answers. All around excellent.
Second section with Z & Co was good, but not as enjoyable for me as in the past session. I left thinking that the “no audience questions” was the reason – somehow there’s something positive about taking Q’s from the audience I think – and it worked okay for the bloggers section I thought. That said, I can also see the submitted questions early working well too, though I’d offer these suggestions…
First, I would suggest only having one questioner from the USSM/LL folks — and it should IMHO be Dave. He’s very entertaining, and having only one guy will keep out any repeated questions which sort of happened Saturday. I understand the desire to spread this around a bit, but I think it’ll work better with a less egalitarian approach.
Second, I think there were a lot of questions about subtle stuff (what’s the decision making process in X scenario) versus fun/funny/obvious questions. The subtle stuff is fine, but it felt like some obvious questions (Felix?) and some entertaining, more “human” questions would be really appropriate. Dave’s wrap up on “tell us something you wish we understood” was an excellent example.
Anyhow, the event was overall spectacular, this is just my 2c on how it could be even moreso. Great job guys.
BrianF - January 11, 2010
ugh no not dave only
the guy can’t ask a concise question to save his life. matthew if anyone!
jelky - January 11, 2010
Please capitalise properly while commenting.
Graham MacAree - January 11, 2010
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