Plaschke

I'll preface.

I agree with Bill. That is a pretty drastic pay cut for a guy who deserves better. If you refuse to click the link, I am referring to 87-year-old Dodger scout George Genovese. The Dodgers are cutting his annual part-time salary from $18,000 to $8,000, which seems steep considering all the details of the owner's divorce proceedings. (Plaschke thinks this)

Now, if you will consult your bibles, you will see that Plaschke has a soft spot for scouts and, most likely, a soft spot on his head. You know he's crying heavy tears when typing yet another fluffy scribe.

So why does Genovese deserve $18,000? Let's let him tell his story:

"I don't know who listens to me anymore," he said. "I'm not sure anybody does."

Oh.....alright.

Hmmm, let's do a 180 here. I actually think you should be fired.

Genovese doesn't use a computer, and fears his handwritten notes are being ignored, as several of his prospects have been drafted by other clubs.

He also doesn't use a stopwatch or the newfangled equipment of younger scouts, and fears his old-fashioned approach is being used against him.

Here's an example of a handwritten note from Genovese:

"I don't like that Kemp fellah because I don't think he's allowed to play in the majors, yet."

(low blow indeed)

For the life of me, I do not understand why this is an acceptable excuse. There are tools to make your job and your coworkers' jobs much easier. If you choose not to use them, I have no sympathy for you. If you can't use them, you're 87 years old. You should be happy they care even this much.

"I know this is a different era, but baseball is baseball, isn't it?" said Genovese, who has yet to sign a Dodger who has made it to the major leagues, but has tipped other scouts on hundreds of local players he knows better than anyone.

Some will argue that the Dodgers are being charitable by continuing to employ an 87-year-old man. But like Evans said, scouting is different. Age is an asset. Experience is irreplaceable.

Key here: "has yet to sign a Dodger who has made it to the major leagues"

I AM arguing that the Dodgers are being charitable by continuing to employ an 87-year-old man. I like how Plaschke doesn't name a single player in the article. Wouldn't want to indict this fossil with something 100% relevant like a performance evaluation, would ya Plaschke?

Again, in Bill Plaschke's world, age = infallibility, experience = infinite employment, modern tools = the devil's workshop.

For the record, when Plaschke writes an article, he uses the original moving type printing press.

Logan White, the Dodgers' assistant general manager in charge of scouting, said, "I try to use George the best I can, but I know everybody always wants to be used more."

White did not deny the pay cut, saying only, "I can't go into details about it, but I'm taking a different path here and making changes in the whole staff. I can tell you it has nothing to do with the divorce or with finances. We're just trying to improve our local feel."

But what can feel more local than a North Hollywood guy whose name is attached to scouting's highest honor, the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation's George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award?

Way to go! That last part is worth noting! Way to wait until near the end of your article to point it out!

Genovese hasn't always sucked at scouting. This is a pretty decent list of serviceable to AS caliber players. One thing to notice: jack squat for the Dodgers. Logan White tried to put it nicely, but he basically meant: "What will it take to get this old man to go home?"

"I'm here if they need me," he said. "I'm always here if they need me."

....eh, I wouldn't throw the word "always" around too much at your age.

Until then, he will drive around town in search of a game, ignored but unbowed, his biggest crime being that he is not a fancy swimming pool or a Four Seasons hotel room.

"I'm just a baseball guy," said George Genovese, scouting superhero, the Eight Thousand Dollar Man.

Scouting Superhero? Most superheroes can use a computer. They're called supercomputers. *rimshot*

Anyway, I get what Plaschke is saying. The McCourt's suck, so why should they take it out on this walking bag of flesh? I'm just paraphrasing there. But, the point remains, be nice to old people because they become ghosts.