I love Wrigley Field.
I love it from both a personal and professional point of view. And for pretty much the same reasons. Allow me to explain.
Arguably, there is no better atmosphere in any Major League ballpark. From the first pitch to the last, the fans are into the game. It is one of the few venues where the crowd noise is "electric" the whole telecast.
Wrigley Field is a beautiful building. The ivy, the neighborhood and the closeness of the fans to the field all add to the fan's "experience" at the ball park. These factors also add to the telecast. Live billboard shots and just shots in particular are easily found at Wrigley.
In an earlier blog I stated that today's telecasts try to put the viewer "on the field." Well, the low cameras at Wrigley are about as close to fair territory as any in baseball. This also adds to the viewing experience.
Unfortunately, the low third camera position (Cubs dugout) is located on the outfield side of third base. The home camera position is just to the dugout side of this camera thus eliminating any shot of the Cubs' dugout. The third base coach blocks the pitcher shot especially when there is a runner on second base. I, therefore, eliminate this low third position and reposition it to high first base. This now gives me a clear shot of the Cubs' dugout. This camera combined with the camera at high third base, which gives me a clear shot at the visitor's dugout, provided our viewers with one of the most memorable shots of the Cardinals/Cubs contentious rivalry a couple of seasons ago. There was a heated argument between each manager from each respective dugout that could only be captured by these two camera positions. From one camera to the next and with the use of a split screen, this "moment" is still talked about and, in fact, still shown on sportscasts when teasing the Cards/Cubs rivalry.
It seems strange that a ballpark built in 1914, before television, can offer up some of the most compelling shots of any sport, not just baseball.
It is great to have such a venue as Wrigley Field to televise the intense rivalry of Cubs/Cardinals.
The crowd noise from beginning to end and the beautiful pictures from the building all add up to an intimacy that is a rarity in television. It is an intimacy with a furious energy. An infectious energy that leaves a television production crew wiped out after a telecast.
God, I love Wrigley.
I love it from both a personal and professional point of view. And for pretty much the same reasons. Allow me to explain.
Arguably, there is no better atmosphere in any Major League ballpark. From the first pitch to the last, the fans are into the game. It is one of the few venues where the crowd noise is "electric" the whole telecast.
Wrigley Field is a beautiful building. The ivy, the neighborhood and the closeness of the fans to the field all add to the fan's "experience" at the ball park. These factors also add to the telecast. Live billboard shots and just shots in particular are easily found at Wrigley.
In an earlier blog I stated that today's telecasts try to put the viewer "on the field." Well, the low cameras at Wrigley are about as close to fair territory as any in baseball. This also adds to the viewing experience.
Unfortunately, the low third camera position (Cubs dugout) is located on the outfield side of third base. The home camera position is just to the dugout side of this camera thus eliminating any shot of the Cubs' dugout. The third base coach blocks the pitcher shot especially when there is a runner on second base. I, therefore, eliminate this low third position and reposition it to high first base. This now gives me a clear shot of the Cubs' dugout. This camera combined with the camera at high third base, which gives me a clear shot at the visitor's dugout, provided our viewers with one of the most memorable shots of the Cardinals/Cubs contentious rivalry a couple of seasons ago. There was a heated argument between each manager from each respective dugout that could only be captured by these two camera positions. From one camera to the next and with the use of a split screen, this "moment" is still talked about and, in fact, still shown on sportscasts when teasing the Cards/Cubs rivalry.
It seems strange that a ballpark built in 1914, before television, can offer up some of the most compelling shots of any sport, not just baseball.
It is great to have such a venue as Wrigley Field to televise the intense rivalry of Cubs/Cardinals.
The crowd noise from beginning to end and the beautiful pictures from the building all add up to an intimacy that is a rarity in television. It is an intimacy with a furious energy. An infectious energy that leaves a television production crew wiped out after a telecast.
God, I love Wrigley.
posted by Cutting The Game at 6:54 PM
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