For reasons unknown, the Kansas City Royals and their fans are blessed with one of the best beat writers in baseball. Bob Dutton has been covering the Royals for the Kansas City Star since 1987, so he knows more of the ins-and-outs of the Royals better than just about anyone else – IF there even is anyone else.
If you have doubts about this, you can listen to an interview he did with Kansas City Baseball Vault at the beginning of the season. It’s fantastic.
Recently he has taken his domination to Twitter. Maybe it is the winning or maybe he is on just one of those professional rolls, but in the last few days Dutton has been on a roll when dealing with the craziness of twitter. You can ask Danny Duffy about the oddities of Twitter, so doing what he is doing is not an easy thing.
Dutton has to walk a fine balance between reporting news, interacting with readers, and having a personal voice while keeping his sanity. I don’t envy that job.
For proof of his recent domination, here is a round-up of some of his better moments from this week. (Note: You can follow Dutton on Twitter here – @Royals_Report – and his work for the Kansas City Star here.)
RANDOM JOEL GOLDBERG DIG
Can meet at Rivals and throw stuff at @goldbergkc. @Koreanfan_KC: If I can make it to KC & The K... I would like to meet @Royals_Report
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 14, 2013
YOU DON’T LIKE ME AND I DON’T LIKE YOU
It isn’t really that Dutton doesn’t like people, but of late he has had little patience for people with people who are not bringing coherent thought to the table.
Ripping? @PhilGarver: @Royals_Report @Royals What pleasure do you get by ripping a man fulfilling a dream?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 11, 2013
Wow. Hopefully, he's not as sensitive as you are on his behalf. @PhilGarver: @Royals_Report @Royals Why put him down?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 11, 2013
Does your cat give a flip? @daysleeper1980: I named my cat after you Bob because all it does is poop and frown.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 14, 2013
Think my opinions are irrelevant.@the_d0e Do you ever answer with opinion or just strictly state facts? Curious, not attempting to be snide.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 13, 2013
Really? Thought that was an opinion. @jcav0813 @the_d0e and yet you still won't answer the guys question
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 13, 2013
GRUMPY DUTTON
Not grumpy enough to block…yet. @JonBlumenthal The heat of a real pennant race is clearly wearing on @Royals_Report. #grumpy
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 14, 2013
Instead of guessing attendance, let's play a new game: How many attendance questions before I start blocking?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 10, 2013
As previously noted, that is a smile. @WellsISU If we sweep the Red Sox this weekend, will you smile in your avatar?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 10, 2013
(Note: The picture of Dutton at the top of this page and in all of his tweets is the picture he is referring to.)
Did we watch same game? @Babyquad why is Yost afraid to use best bullpen in the league? Starters looking worn down, especially Shields.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 11, 2013
SNARKY DUTTON
Snarky Dutton may be my favorite version of Twitter Dutton.
Well, it is a fantasy page. Davis tomorrow. @DiggityDawg66: @Royals_Report My Yahoo fantasy page has Duffy going tomorrow, not Davis. Typo?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 11, 2013
Other than not being a factor in the decision? @Brianyoung1414 any reason why no salvy in the lineup tonight on his own t shirt Tuesday?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 14, 2013
Am for it. Some disagree. @golden8806 please describe, in less than 140 character, both sides of the argument for the Designated Hitter
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 13, 2013
Tough on twitter. Suggest google search. @Hookah_Pro_Pete Hey, could you explain how the "player to be named later" typically works?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 13, 2013
Well…count back nine months...@Ringneck85 whatever happened to having babies in the off season?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 12, 2013
DUTTON THE CONSPIRACY THEORIST
Has anyone ever seen a kid beat the 13-second clock in the race around the bases at the Little K? I haven't. Smelling a scandal.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 13, 2013
“YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH”
You've had enough. @TJFsports I think the royals should try to get mike trout on waivers. Thoughts?
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 12, 2013
…to being blocked. @CreepyRoyalsFan @mblaise524 im so close
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 12, 2013
Not sure what it means that Jamie Gordon retweeted my tweet about her being close. Do know this: Alex has no slumps at home.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 12, 2013
Should have accounted (sigh) for the lowest common denominator on my Jamie Gordon tweet. Just saying the woman is stunning.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 12, 2013