I think he's just in over his head in terms of people he has to carry water for. It's almost like he has lost the forest for the trees. Everything he proclaims sounds like he is parroting someone's party line.

In reading his columns for what seems like forever, I don't think that's far off from what he has always done. He no doubt loves the game, and specifically seems to take great pride in being the one to let the world know who the next great phenom will be that no one has ever heard of. As a consequence, he overhypes many prospects as the next great superstar. Before the days of SoxProspects, he was an invaluable source of information when it came to discovering which lower level prospects were on the verge of greatness.

Fifteen years ago he wrote a column basically campaigning for Dan Duquette to be hired as the GM, and shortly thereafter Duquette got the job. I think he has always been a spokesman for various people within the game, this is not new. The speed of which stories break has simply gotten too fast to keep him as relevant as he used to be, and the internet (this site being a perfect example) provides so much information that his role is not as important any more. All that's left are his relationships with industry types, which probably makes him come across as a spokesman for too many people. Personally, I still like his columns because he still uncovers a unique perspective on certain events that few others can deliver. Obviously, though, he does not play the same role he once did.