So today I opened this casual looking email from Pluck to learn my blog has been selected to be included in their new ‘On Demand’ rollout.  No big deal I thought to myself, how many folks want to read Bucco Blog on a website in, say, Utah?

In the email I was provided a link to my syndication report which showed the number of times my posts were featured at traditional media sites.  I almost didn’t click the link because everytime I logged into my workbench it had been blank. 

Well guess what?  I had been logging into the wrong area all these months and found publications like the Chicago Sun Times, news services like Reuters and Internet Broadcasting Systems, and even a few local media outlets like WPXI and WTAE, had all used my content.  The list was as long as my arm.  And not just once or twice, mind you, but often.

Initially I was shocked, to say the least.  Absolutely flabergasted.  But then I realized I was witnessing the climb of social media firsthand.  I stopped to recall that Rich Levin at MLB had told me a year or so ago they were researching credentials for bloggers and my email to him on the subject this year was never returned.  The same was true of an email I sent to John Blundell at MLB.  Clearly, they don’t want to talk about it right now.

But when you consider how deep our little blogs are reaching into traditional media, perhaps MLB needs to revisit the idea sooner than later since the very media they credential is using our content as well?

I’m in favor of limited access for bloggers – a media seat or two for blogging representatives at prime events like the World Series and All-Star Games, reasonable and timely access to MLB personnel, especially the club a blogger covers, one seat in the media booth during games for rotating credentialed bloggers, those sorts of things.  I do not feel we should be granted carte blanche access because if any of us were that good, we’d probably be working for a major media company anyway.

But some of us have more daily readership than many of the media outlets do. 

As time goes by I think the BBWAA should allow bloggers a junior membership and, if enough time goes by, full membership and eventually a vote.  Or perhaps all the baseball bloggers should form their own BBWAA-type association because, just like old school baseball vs the new wave, things change.

Social media is that change.

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The rumor front is quiet and probably will be now until after Thanksgiving, although we might see other clubs a bit more active.  As the winter meetings approach, I think we’re going to hear a lot of discussion on players that might be available, or should be.

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For once, Larry Dobrow’s annual dribble makes some sense.  I especially like the part about dealing McLouth asap.  I’d add Doumit to that list too.