Does frustrated Reds skipper Price have a legitimate gripe with media?

Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price is generally a mild-mannered, stand-up guy. But on Monday, he lost his cool and took out his frustration on reporters, questioning their approach to the job.

By now, it's standard knowledge that Price fired a certain expletive 77 times in a 5½-minute explosion at reporters and then threw them out of his office.

Specifically, Price was angry at C. Trent Rosecrans, beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, for reporting news that Price thought was putting the Reds at a disadvantage.

Rosecrans, through honest reporting, found out that catcher Devin Mesoraco was not at the ballpark and that Tucker Barnhart was coming up from the minor leagues to take a spot on the roster. Rosecrans got that side of the story after he saw Barnhart in the airport and getting ready to go to the ballpark.

Price was upset that the story got out before he could tell Kyle Skipworth that he was heading to the minor leagues.

Also, Price was upset that the newspaper reported that outfielder Billy Hamilton wasn't available because of a sore hand that kept him for batting right-handed.

Price said he doesn't understand why the inner workings and roster shifts are news. And he said he's tired of the never-ending second-guessing by media members.

Did Price, who was obviously frustrated after losing seven of eight, have a legitimate complaint?

The answer is no.

Here's why: The independent media isn't beholden to the team it is covering. If it were, the daily reports and analysis wouldn't have any credibility.

Are reporters given information that they hold off the record? Yes. But, that has to be agreed upon with the team source - in this case, the manager - before a reporter will agree to go off the record.

Sometimes, before the game, a manager will give reporters a heads-up on a roster move that's going to take place after the game. If reporters are asked to hold off for a specific reason, and it is legit, they will do that.

That's called an embargo.

As far as Price, a former pitching coach, getting tired of the second-guessing?

The whole industry is successful because it is based on second-guessing. Without it, baseball would be boring. Managers and players need thick skins.
Reporters are representatives of the fans, who second-guess and judge over postgame beers with friends, on the radio and on social media.

Reporters have the right to ask managers questions about strategy and roster moves after every game. They are generally asking the same questions that fans watching the game would ask.

But a poll on the MLB Network said that 56 percent of the fans agree with Price.

Oh, well, it seems reporters can never catch a break.