The Scorecard: Eric Byrnes can operate a videocam

Yahoo! Sports

Wed Apr 02 12:34pm EDT

The Scorecard: Eric Byrnes can operate a videocam

Over on Awful Announcing, there's a recap of the entertaining Eric Byrnes video chat that I watched on Tuesday afternoon. I've always liked the Tousled One, so I think what he's starting to do on LiveVideo.com is interesting.

Throughout the season, Byrnes will pop onto the site and conduct impromptu press conferences with the public. It makes for a nice unfiltered back-and-forth between Byrnes and the fans. That he's as open and accessible as they come for baseball players certainly helps, but it also gets me wondering if we're looking at the beginning of how athletes will talk to fans in the future. Is it really that far-fetched to think that each member of the lineup will have a live feed following each game in the year 2023?

And wouldn't that type of message control be preferable to what exists now?

Of course, they'd have to get dressed first. And what happens after someone doesn't show after an 0-fer?

For now, check out this little experiment. I particularly liked the segment where he razzed some kid for liking both Byrnes' Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox.

("It just doesn't work that way!" Byrnes said.)

Around the baseball blogosphere ...

• Which is the more impressive undefeated team: the '72 Dolphins or the '08 Pirates? [Honest Wagner]

• Will MLB's new media restrictions ever filter down to independent baseball blogs? [Gaslamp Ball]

• Finally, in praise of the designated hitter. [Sons of Steve Garvey]

• For the first time since 2004, the Red Sox aren't second in terms of payroll. [Extra Bases]

• The scoreboard at new Yankees Stadium is going to be impressive. [Pinstripe Alley]

• How often does the team 'who wants it more' actually end up winning? [Mistake By The Lake]

• Why the Tampa Bay Rays are like the New Kids On The Block. [The Good Phight]

• What's wrong with Chad Cordero? [Federal Baseball]

• A cool video from Opening Day in Philadelphia. [The 700 Level]

• Larry Bowa is still capable of getting angry. Very, very angry. [Bugs & Cranks]