Favorite Local Baseball Sportswriter

[John Bonnes]

Before I put this topic out here, I'd like to request that this be a positive thread. If you want to be critical or a writer, start your own thread.

 

Who is your favorite local baseball writer? I'm asking for two reasons:

1) I'd be interested in which of the local writers is making an impression on most of our members and

2) I'm wondering if some fans of these writers would like to try and post links to their favorite stories in the forums as they appear.

 

So I'd be interested in both - who is your favorite and why do you think others should read them?

[Brad Swanson]

I think Rhett Bollinger and Brandon Warne are both really good at their jobs.

 

Bollinger has so much access, but he doesn't come off as a Twins shill, at least not to me. He's a good reporter and adds great insight.

 

Warne is good with numbers and stats, but he integrates them cleanly and clearly. He seems to have a good finger on the fan pulse too.

[Twins Twerp]

La Velle E. Neal III

[gunnarthor]

I've always liked Reusse. First and foremost, it's obvious he actually loves baseball. And he also has important connections inside the Twins so when he writes an article that player X is an up and comer to watch or player Y should shape up, it's probably someone in the Twins that wants that message out there. And I also like how worked up he gets some people.

[Mike Sixel]

Not sure what to say about the writing for sure, but I love to listen to LENIII on the radio. He's great there.

[Thrylos]

Last year it was Mackey hands down. Really liked to read Sinker's stuff too, but this is so far and in between these days

This year I really like what Woolfson, Warne and Berardino doing as well. So these 5 would be it

 

ESPN1500 for me leads the web sports content for Twins' sports by a huge margin. Looks like the Stib is third these day (sorry LaVelle) with Joe C's departure and (especially) Howard Sinker's semi-retirement from the Twins' world.

[ThePuck]

Brad,

 

Are you talking about the stuff Rhett writes other than for the Twins MLB site? Cause, in there, in my opinion, Rhett tells the Twins story exactly the way the Twins want him too and nothing more. Basically is another PR guy for them. I don't read his other stuff, if he has any.

 

LEN3 right before the beginning of 2012 ST, didn't know Dozier had been a shortstop like forever...and this is after Dozier was Twins minor league player of the year. He said they're trying to convert Dozer from a 2B to a shortstop...as if shortstop was new to him. Apparently he went to a game where Dozier just happened to play 2B so, bam, he was a 2B. It's hard to believe his stuff when he doesn't know simple stuff. NOW he's been converted to 2B.

 

I got to go with Mackey.

[Brad Swanson]

Brad,

 

Are you talking about the stuff Rhett writes other than for the Twins MLB site? Cause, in there, in my opinion, Rhett tells the Twins story exactly the way the Twins want him too and nothing more. Basically is another PR guy for them. I don't read his other stuff, if he has any.

 

LEN3 right before the beginning of 2012 ST, didn't know Dozier had been a shortstop like forever...and this is after Dozier was Twins minor league player of the year. He said they're trying to convert Dozer from a 2B to a shortstop...as if shortstop was new to him. Apparently he went to a game where Dozier just happened to play 2B so, bam, he was a 2B. It's hard to believe his stuff when he doesn't know simple stuff. NOW he's been converted to 2B.

 

I got to go with Mackey.

 

I think Bollinger does a good job especially when you consider that he works for the Twins (I'm assuming) and that he can't really be critical. For me, I read him because I like the access he has, I think he is a good writer and he seems like a nice guy. In that position, that works for me. I mostly follow him on Twitter, where I feel like he does a good job of reporting the facts.

 

I get most of my analysis from bloggers, so when I'm looking for a different type of information, Bollinger seems to always have it.

[Celebrity Weddings!]

In the interest of keeping things positive, I should note that this opinion has nothing to do with a lack of quality in our current options. But I got to say it. I still miss Kelsie Smith. It's been, what, like two years now and I'm a bit bummed when big Twins news happens and she's not the one I'm reading for the story.

[Guest USAFChief]

I agree with gunnar...for baseball, nobody locally comes close to Reusse.

[drjim]

Right now is the best collection of writers the Twins have ever had.

 

I'm still a Reusse guy first but there is great diversity over. Berardino is my go to beat guy.

 

On a side note, if you aren't following all of them on Twitter you are really missing out.

[Mike Sixel]

Does Seth count as a writer for these purposes? The first place I turn to every day is the minor league report (and I know he does not write them all). I know this sounds like butt kissing, but really, that is the only article about the Twins I read every single day.

[Nick Nelson]

Phil Miller and Mike Berardino are my favorites, and two of the better writers we've had on the beat in some time.

[TheLeviathan]

Berardino may be the only reason I know the Pioneer Press exists. He almost makes it worthwhile to subscribe. For opinion, I go hot and cold on Reusse and on Mackey.

[Seth Stohs]

Let me ask this... Is your opinion, in any way, swayed by things other than their article, specifically, how does a beat writer's twitter activity affect your opinion. I definitely have my favorites, and I can make a list... I just really like most of them as people. For me, Twitter activity is a huge part of my opinion at this point.

[drjim]

Let me ask this... Is your opinion, in any way, swayed by things other than their article, specifically, how does a beat writer's twitter activity affect your opinion. I definitely have my favorites, and I can make a list... I just really like most of them as people. For me, Twitter activity is a huge part of my opinion at this point.

 

For me I want about 90% of tweets to be about baseball, the Twins, or interaction with fans/questions. Less than that and I generally won't follow.

 

Seth, I appreciate the work you do but the extraneous stuff you had on twitter made me stop following. I imagine I am in the small minority.

[Seth Stohs]

No worries, and no need to apologize. I'm not going to apologize for occasionally writing about non-baseball topics. I may have to take a look now... My assumption is my baseball tweets constitute at least 95% of my overall tweets, probably more.

[cmathewson]

Phil Miller and Mike Berardino are my favorites, and two of the better writers we've had on the beat in some time.

 

My answer exactly. Of the two Berardino is slightly better 'cause he's more of a stats guy.

 

I don't understand the fuss about LENIII. Sloppy and lazy, in my opinion.

[kryptik]

Reusse is probably my least favorite baseball writer in the Twin Cities just because of how lazy he usually is. Crusty old guy playing the "aw shucks" rube schtick, most of his non-insider stuff is low hanging fruit.

[Seth Stohs]

I really like Phil Miller's writing. I think Berardino is right there with Phil writing, but he does a great job on Twitter too.

 

I like Mason and Bollinger a lot too. And, Mackey was definitely at the top of the list the last two seasons. I'm a big Reusse fan too.

[DutchFarmer]

Thank goodness nobody has said Souhan (not even sure he qualifies though)....

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I thought LEN3 did a great job when the Twins were winning. Now I'm firmly on the Berardino bandwagon. (I even read the Pioneer Press when it shows up at my house.)

 

I appreciate that Bollinger gets news out quickly on Twitter. I'm also a fan of Mackey and Doogie.

 

The Strib's limiting of free articles is a nuisance, though I think I'd find myself going their less and less anyway.

[Halsey Hall]

I go with Ruesse, hands down. I have no idea how to tweet or twitter, or whatever, so no opinion there. I still miss Scott Miller in the ppress.

[Ben B]

I enjoy most of the names mentioned here, but I'll throw out the two guys who cover the Twins for the Associated Press, too: Dave Campbell and Jon Krawczynski. You probably never see their stories on the Strib or PP sites, but they're great on twitter, and they both cover all four Minnesota teams.

[Danchat]

Reusse is probably the best. Warne and Mackey are right behind him in my book. Whenever Tom Powers writes about the Twins, it's fun to read.