I could think of no better subject to pick for the first interview in SmallBall history than Matthew Cerrone. I'm sure he needs no introduction. But just in case, Matthew is the founder and author of Metsblog.com, a tremendous blog that covers the Mets.
This is a great day for me, personally, as Matthew has been a tremendous driving force in me finally deciding to chase my dream, to cover the Mets. Without further ado, I present to you our Q&A.
SB: You've made mention several times that in the beginning of Metsblog, you were balancing a full-time job and Metsblog. How did you strike that balance?
MC: Not well. I was working from home in DC, doing work for a media relations company in CT. I started MetsBlog.com and found it to be a great way to stay up on the Mets while living out of market. I loved it. I knew people were reading so I kept at it. It wasn't long before I was spending more time on MetsBlog than my 'real job.' I enjoyed media relations, and I learned a lot, most of which I applied to getting publicity for MetsBlog. But, I'd say I spent 60% of my time on MetsBlog, but wasn't earning a dime from it.
So, in 2007, when faced with having to either give up the blog, or make it a full time gig, all advice from friends and family said stick with it, earn what you can, and give it another year. I did. Then I struck up my talks with SNY, and here I am.
SB: Well, I'm glad you stuck with it, Matt, as I'm sure most Mets fans are. I, myself, now have a newfound appreciation for that struggle.
You do a fantastic job of keeping a constant flow of Mets information to the site. How do you get your ideas?
MC: I listen. I listen to myself, and what I'm most worked up about, but I also listen to WFAN, I listen to Twitter, my friends, etc... I see the blog more like talk radio, or like hanging out in a bar, more than like some sort of print/news vehicle. And so, just like you'd do hosting a radio show, or hanging with friends watching the game, while one thing might be important to me, as I talk to others, I realize some other topic is equally interesting or important, and so I take that up.
SB: Interesting, I never really thought of it that way. But it certainly makes perfect sense.
You're pretty famous in the Mets stratosphere now. What's it like being a celebrity? Do you constantly get stopped in the streets when you go out?
MC: Well, I mean, I'm no Kevin Burkhardt. Yes, I will get stopped on occasion at Citi Field, or occasionally in NYC, but it's less than I think you think, and I'm fine with it either way. To me, it's just another opportunity to talk about the team and listen to what another fan has to say, which I enjoy and appreciate it every time.
SB: Laughing hysterically at the Burkhardt reference. The fans certainly do love him.
How does it feel to know that guys who were instrumental in cementing your love for the Mets (Darling, Hernandez, Howie, and many more) now read your blog? Do you have a favorite reader?
MC: THAT is still very strange to me. It's not just them, it's people in management, it's players, and that's still very bizarre. However, I don't really think about it. Honestly, I still write the blog like a journal. Or, at most, a one on one discussion between you and I. It's flattering that Keith or whomever might read it, but I am more concerned with having a place to express my thoughts and ideas and to log information and connect with other fans.
SB: That's a great way to look at it. But I'm sure in some way it's still a source of pride in your work. Sort of like how this interview is now a source of pride for me.
You've always been very friendly and supportive of other Mets blogs and media, even though they haven't always shared that support (namely some "mainstream" media). Does that come about as a result of you being a Mets fan first? Or is it just in your nature to do so?
MC: It's not that complicated. I'm an information junkie. I read, listen and watch lots of stuff, and I post links, etc., to that content on metsblog because I assume other fans will find it interesting. To me, it's no different than if you and I were hanging out and I said, 'Hey, did you read what Jon Heyman wrote on SI.com,' and then I'd tell you what I thought about it. To me, that's all i am doing.
SB: Insightful as always. This is why so many people read your blog.
One thing I've noticed when reading your site everyday is there isn't much direct interaction with Mets players. Is this something you've given consideration to doing?
MC: I think about that a lot. I think fans don't realize how awkward it is to rip a guy on your blog all day, a blog you know LOTS of people read, then having to face him one on one, in person. That's not easy. Also, at that point, why would that guy talk to me? I wouldn't blame him if he told me to get lost. And so, I need to make a choice: Do I want to do interviews? Or, do I want to be a fan? Because, I am not sure you can do both and be totally, 100 percent authentic. I love baseball and want to remain a fan. I love yelling at my TV and watching games with my buddies. There is a such thing as too much information, and being too close to the players, and I have no interest in changing who I am. Yes, I know some of the players from doing this blog for years. I'll talk to them casually, learn some stuff to make my opinion more educated, but that's it. I try not to go in to the clubhouse, I try not to interact on purpose. That's not what the blog is about.
SB: I can appreciate that. It's important to stick to your objective and not stray from it. I would venture to say most of your readers relate to you because you are a fan above all else.
I have just one final question for you, Matt. I know you're busy, as a big fan of Metsblog, I don't want to take too much of your attention away from it. Is there any point and time where you wish you could go back to being just a regular fan, as opposed to a fan who blogs about the Mets?
MC: I am a regular fan. I mean, I get to experience certain things and access stuff and do things most fans do not, but at the end of the day I still just want the team to win. I still get pissed off when K-Rod blows a save. I do miss watching games witout taking notes and thinking about what to write, etc., but that's a small part of my day. For the most part, I love every second of what I do, and I love being a Mets fan, and I wouldn't change a thing.
SB: Excellent.
Well, thank you on behalf of SmallBall's readers (even if they are few and far between right now), and particularly myself. Your wisdom and insight was great, as it always is.
Our First Interview: Matthew Cerrone
