Its The Season Of Idiots And Jon Heyman Is Ringleader

Tis the season for change. Both candidates are for it. The American people, who are of one mind on just about all issues, are for it as well. Heck, even I'm for it, and I'm not for anything. Still, there are some things that aren't going to change, even if we'd like them too.

Take free agency rumors. Please!*

The time after the World Series ends and before free agency begins could be known as The Time That Time Forgot. Its filled with endless repetition upon repetition of rumors, many of them making very little sense. Like this one. Or this one. Or this one.

Sure, that team would trade its starting center fielder for a third starting shortstop. Oh, absolutely that starting pitcher will turn down upwards of 100 million dollars because he just fell in love with Milwaukee. And of course that Scott Boras client will assuredly place loyalty above all else.

The one writer who will write any rumor, including all of the above, is Sports Illustrated writer and admitted stats hater Jon Heyman. When it comes to rumors about any major league player joining any team in any potential trade or signing, Heyman has no compunction about throwing it into a column.

Scott Boras is looking for a 4 year $80 million deal from Boston to keep Varitek? Sure, sounds rational to Heyman. The Yankees will sign every free agent starting pitcher on the market for what comes out to be roughly $550 million? Why not?

So, whats the moral to the story? "Don't listen to anything Jon Heyman writes because his brain consists of actual diarrhea." should cut it.

*Ha!
*Also he's about as uninformed about the game as any writer I've ever come across. This is probably too much to quote verbatim from another blog, but I'll do it anyway. The always excellent Aaron Gleeman had the below to say regarding a couple of Heyman columns back in late August of 2007 and I think it perfectly encapsulates far better than I am able to why Heyman is a moron (not that Gleeman would ever resort to such language; but then he can write and I have no such excuse):

"SI.com's Jon Heyman, who got my dander up earlier this season for some questionable reporting about Johan Santana, recently wrote the following in response to a question about considering stats like Value Over Replacement Player or Runs Created in a discussion of MVP candidates:

I am more interested in "wins created" than runs created. And the day I consider VORP is the day I get out of the business. The idea of the MVP is to honor the player who has had the biggest positive impact on the pennant races.

A popular sentiment among veteran sportswriters when something like VORP gets brought up is to say, "I have no idea what that is, but I'd never pay attention to it." That stance has always fascinated me, because it's essentially bragging about being ignorant and trying to impress people by your lack of an open mind. Heyman isn't quite at that level with the above comments, but it still reveals plenty about his personality and analytical ability. It also makes me (and Neshek!) less likely to value his opinion."