Great Localization Story
Published by Al Adomite on June 5th, 2008
“Localizing” stories is one of those important lessons taught in Journalism school. How can you take a big national story and find a “local angle” to interest readers.
Norm Sanders of the News-Democrat found a great story today, with what I thought was a much more interesting story than the regional and national story it was meant to complement.
First, the BIG national story: Today was a revolutionary day for Major League Baseball. The first time their annual amateur draft was held on ESPN, similar to the big events that the NFL and NBA drafts have become.
The Cardinals drafted Arizona State’s Brett Wallace with the 13th pick overall. We’ll be lucky to see him play by the start of the next decade.
Which is why I found the lede of Norm’s story so intriguing:
He was taken three picks after Reggie Jackson in the first round of the 1966 draft, pitched to Willie Mays, was a roommate with Mike Schmidt and was on a first-name basis with Leo Durocher.
In all fairness to Norm’s great reporting, I’ll make you click on the link to find the answer. But reading this story is much more worth your time than watching hours of general managers picking players who won’t ever make the majors. The draft lasts 50 rounds, after all.
Meanwhile, Mizzou’s Aaron Crow, who was one of the top pitchers in college baseball this season, went with the #9 pick in the first round to the Washington Nationals (a team that needs some good pitching). Then, Highland Bulldog pitcher Jake Odorizzi was taken with the #34 #32 pick by the Milwaukee Brewers. Finally, the Cards took Ole Miss pitcher Lance Flynn with the #39 overall pick. What a day for pitching.
(Update:) The News-Democrat has a great story on Odorizzi’s selection yesterday.
Odorizzi’s senior pitching statistics — 13-0 record, 0.09 ERA, 11 shutouts, 133 strikeouts and five walks in 82 innings — are outstanding. He allowed only 26 hits and three runs, just one earned.
This is hard to say as a Triad grad, but good luck to the Bulldogs this weekend at state!
Filed under Breaking News
June 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
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