Very nice exchange on both parts.  I had a bizaare experience a couple of years ago after writing a negative review on Amazon.com about The Echoing Green, a book about the Bobby Thomson home run.  The author (who had been reviewed favorably in The New York Times) took offense to things I said in the review, somehow managed to get my home phone number; we subsequently had an e-mail exchange in which he tried to convince me to change my review.  So, it’s not just athletes that can be sensitive.
I often am uncomfortable about some of the things that fans say on these blogs.  It’s one reason (aside from lack of talent) that I would not want to be a professional (or, for that matter, college) athlete.  I understand why people that have over come incredible odds to play in a major professional league–even if they aren’t great players–can take offense to comments from people that can barely put on a jock strap.   I often think about Pete Orr–not a good major league player but still one of the best in the world and struggling to hold on to his dream.  On the other hand, they are in a public professiona and often make unimaginable amounts of money.  So, it’s a conumdrum.  Thanks for sharing.