The sports media is under attack! No, not from irascible bloggers, but rather, athletes! Last week, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, writing about a Tigers victory over the Giants, noted:

Adding to the wickedness was the fact that Sanchez was beaten not by one of Detroit’s high-salaried thumpers, but a .219-hitting scrub named Ryan Raburn, who pinch-hit for Kenny Rogers in the eighth inning …

Todd Jones, a closer on the Tigers who happens to have a column in the Detroit Free Press (don’t ask), absolutely shredded Schulman, for his use of the word “scrub,” noted that Detroit manager Jim Leyland was livid, as was the entire team. Troglodytes they are not - these guys read the paper!

Isn’t that a little harsh? I can’t think of anybody who has ever played in the major leagues as a scrub — not even Bob Uecker. Sure we’ve got thick skin, and reporters don’t bother us for the most part … But when it’s a personal attack on a guy’s ability or perceived place in this game, enough is enough. I’d rather be a scrub than be a guy who sits on the sideline and watches what happens and then writes about it.

He had us until he invoked the whole, “I’m an athlete, you’re not” garbage. And you want a scrub? How about Johnny Gochnaur? Defend that guy!

Todd Jones: Columnist’s scrub comment was uncalled for (Detroit Free Press)