The minor league season winds down, and I'm issuing a report card of sorts.
No, this isn't about stats or player performance.
It's about maturity and respect, particularly the kind players will and will not give when a reporter is in the clubhouse. And, more to the point, a female reporter.
I find most of it funny. Even, oh, I guess charming. It's sort of adorable how much silly stuff they can come up with.
But there is such a thing as crossing the line and I've been there too. I've said this before and I have to say it again: I've had mostly great experiences in my profession. The bad has not outweighed the good, not by a long shot. Having said that, I think there's still room for improvement, but I'm not exactly sure how that happens.
Here's how it breaks down: if the Trenton Thunder were Yankees right now, they'd have that part of the growing process down. They are true gentlemen. They are respectful, even when having some fun with me. They are never unprofessional or rude and have made me feel comfortable at all times. I can say the exact same thing for the Reading Phillies.
The same can't be said for a couple of teams in the Eastern League, a league I've covered since I began my career five years ago. I won't name names. It's not how I roll.
Let me state one thing for the record to all my darling baseball players: no, I do not want to see you naked. The clubhouse is my workplace, which I think is very hard for players to understand. I'm there thinking about the editor who wants me to have a good story. Or the readers who tell me I haven't given them the information they wanted and can I please tell them what they really feel they need to know. I'm thinking of the clock on the wall that tells me I have ten minutes left to get five good quotes. I'm anxious about being around when you guys are undressing or just out of the shower. I don't belong there. I'm trying to get the hell out of there as quickly as I can.
I understand that minor leaguers are still maturing as men, as much as players. I've never taken that for granted. I know I'm walking through the fire being there and I can take it.
But I also know that there are players who won't make excuses and would never treat female reporters like that, just because they think they can.
To those players who've treated me that way this summer when visiting Waterfront Park: look to the Thunder, because even if they don't win the championship this season, they're acting like champions. Even if they aren't yet Yankees (and Phillies), they are behaving like Major Leaguers.
Why aren't you?