I missed the entire game yesterday, catching only five minutes of the post-game interview with Bob Geren. Long enough to learn that the A's had lost, 6-1, relinquishing control of the AL West to the Angels. Ah well.

 Lots of things on my mind today, such as the all-righty lineup the A's rolled out Tuesday against Angels starter Joe Saunders. Or how to manage now-crowded outfield with new addition Rajai Davis and Travis Buck's impending return. Or the starting rotation, for that matter, with Rich Harden rehabbing in Sacramento while both Eveland and Smith appear to be holding their own. 

But I'd be remiss without mentioning one item that's buzzing in the sports blogosphere today (well, yesterday): the "Costas Now" town hall program that aired Tuesday night. The topic: "taking stock of the sports media landscape, including the rise of internet bloggers and sports talk radio." Alright, so it's a mouthful, but it's a great topic, for those of us who consider ourselves consumers of traditional sports writing, blogs, and sports radio. I didn't catch the program (HBO), but have seen and heard clips, summary, and reaction. 

By all accounts, it was very good, smartly produced and thoroughly researched. And plenty of vitriol from the old media establishment (well, Buzz Bissinger, anyway) aimed at bloggers. Or commenters, or blogs in general. What's the difference? Who cares? The most entertaining bits can be found here.

Okay, so Bissinger's an ass, and it's worth watching if only to make fun of him.

So it just occurred to me to check to see if Salon's staff sports writer, King Kaufman, covered this. He has. Good man.  I doubt I'll note anything he didn't in his column, but one quick point, before I leave this to the professionals.

The link between advanced statistical analysis of player talent with sports blogs may seem tenuous, but stay with me.  Bissinger's tirade, to me, sounded an awful lot like the rants you'll occasionally hear (or read) by longtime "baseball men," often former players (best and most-famously embodied by Joe Morgan). That new-fangled statistics (EqA, WHIP, BABIP) are no substitute for "baseball sense." That people outside the game, who haven't worn uniforms since cub scouts (wink, Michael Strahan), cannot possibly improve the game that they love from the sidelines.

Can't we we finally accept that increased access to information, statistics, and opinion is a good thing? For all of us. It's true. Really! And, it's actually happening, and there isn't a damn thing Buzz or Joe or Goose Gossage can do about it -- fans of the game, and those whose livelihoods are directly involved in the operations of a major league organization, are evolving. Pitches will be counted for young pitchers. Run production will be measured in new ways. Game-winning RBIs aren't, despite what children of the 80's were taught to believe, aren't even remotely important as a statistic.

The inane (and occasionally humorous) comments from commenters such as now-infamous "BigDaddyDrew," aren't the point. People don't read Deadspin for "BigDaddyDrew." People don't read Athletics Nation for comments from "bobbycrosbysbabymama." They read the blog because the posters (many of whom are, in fact, commenters) will explore every nuance, how we're effectively managing a 27-man roster through the DL and available options with our youngest players.

This is happening. Now. Already. I understand that blogs threaten Bissinger's livelihood. But Buzz, seriously. Learn the difference between bloggers and commenters. Embrace this newfound enthusaism for the game. There's real value in it, even for you.