How Do Rumors Get Started...

Ok, if you believe the 80's 'hit' by the band, Timex Social Club, this is how rumors get started...

They're started by the jealous people
And they get mad seeing something
They had and somebody else is holding...

Well it's not quite like that in the way 'rumors' are reported in this "Social Club", aka, Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets.  Reporting in the industry has really changed over the last few years with the popularity of blogs, and social media.  What do you believe?  Who do you believe? Is the information coming from a credible source?  Is the information accurate?  All reasonable questions.   Here was just today's talk about James Shields, and what team he'll choose today or tomorrow or whenever....

James Shields spent all 9 seasons of his career in the AL and that will soon change…#Padres source sounds confident they’ll land Shields
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) February 8, 2015

James Shields was considering a contract offer from #Padres as recently as the last 12 hours, source confirms. @FOXSports
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 8, 2015

It would be a big upset if the Padres don't get James Shields. Multiple GMs who have inquired on Shields believe he ends up in San Diego.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 8, 2015

shields call expected soon: padres seen as a favorite, cubs as a possible threat. http://t.co/08kcvWgRmF
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) February 8, 2015

It's fun isn't it?  Everyone has a source.  Everyone has an 'inside' view.  Now to be honest, the tweets I featured here, are from what I would consider extremely credible sources.  These are veteran reporters, former GM's, and those with the knowledge to know WHO to believe, and what information they received from "team officials", "sources close to the situation" and player agents is real and what is propaganda.

This is fun for fans, feeling as though they are in the know through all this social media frenzy.  For some of us in the industry, it's seen as a battle that has to be won.  Be the person with the right information.  Be the person with the excellent source.  Be the person, not just to have it first, but to have it correct.  Shouldn't that be the goal after all?

Who knows, by the time this blog post is published, James Shields will pick his team, and the salary will be somewhere in the range of 1 trillion dollars for 30 years!

Again to quote the 80's song:

When you look at all these rumors surrounding
Me every day I just need some time, some time
To get away from from all these rumors
I can't take it no more, my best friend said
There's one out now about me and the girl next door

So in the meantime, enjoy the Tweets, enjoy the mass of information and pendulum swings to your team and away.  This is an exciting time to be living, information is right there at our fingertips, constantly updating, constantly changing and evolving.  Enjoy the ride!