This was the best telecast of the season in regards to video highlights.
There were four plays in the game that provided some of the best replay sequences of the year. The following descriptions of this action is in no particular order because each of these replays had a value all their own.
There was a real time replay of a player from the tight centerfield camera showing the swing of the bat, following the player up the first base line, rounding first base, slowing down, and then as the crowd cheers (the centerfielder booted the ball) races to second base and slides head first into the bag as the fielder drops the ball. This replay displayed a nice swing, good hustle, and a good reaction to a misplay, and an excellent tight look at a close play at second base.
Another excellent replay sequence also concerned a base runner. This runner was on first base and tried to go from first base to third base on a ball hit to left field. This runner slid to the inside part of the base and was tagged by the third baseman and then bobbled the ball. The umpire made the out call and then immediately signaled safe. This was the replay sequence of the play: robotic camera on backstop shows ball hit to left field, picks up the runner in the shot, and tightens to play at the base. 2nd angle captures the play from the left field corner and tightens in to the play at third. 3rd angle finishes with a tight look at the play at the base. Three great angles with all three providing wonderful video.
Base running was the subject of another excellent replay sequence. The batter hit the ball up the first base line. In his haste to tag out the base runner, the first baseman collided with the pitcher and could not make the play. The three angles – mid first base camera, centerfield camera, and low first base camera – all provided some of the best “action” video of the season.
The fourth example of wonderful video captured by our cameras and the subsequent replays detailed a great catch by the catcher as he fell part way into the dugout. The first two angles that we replayed showed the difficulty of the catch. The high home camera showed how far the catcher ran to make the play and the mid first base angle captured the danger of the play. These two “looks” were both captured by the third angle of the replay sequence. The camera in the first base dugout followed the catcher from home plate to the dugout where the catcher caught the ball and was helped by the manager and a coach in the dugout - just a few inches from the camera!
These four examples created memories for the viewer. These four plays are examples of wonderful video captured by following the ball. Every fan in the stands saw these plays. The only difference between what the fans at the ball park saw compared to the TV viewers is that the TV viewers saw more angles and experienced some tight “looks” at the plays.
However, the best video of the telecast was a camera shot that only the TV viewers at home were able to see. This was video that did not concern the ball. This video occurred early in the game and proved to be a precursor of the good video highlights to come in the telecast.
There were runners on first base and second base. Our left field corner camera shot both runners and tightened to the runner at first base. As this base runner was leading off, we noticed the first base coach intensely talking to the base runner as the he seemed to be watching the first baseman and the pitcher at the same time. We alerted the announcers to this event and covered the first base coach throughout the at-bat. The audio provided by the announce team paired with the video provided by the TV truck proved to be one of the most interesting moments of our season.
Every TV baseball production team can capture a moment when following the ball. Following the ball is a primary responsibility of most of the cameras on a telecast. Every fan in the stands follows the ball.
When the TV baseball production team captures a moment away from the ball, the results can be most gratifying.These results add quality to any telecast.

This past weekend we televised each game of the three game series from Detroit.
This was the second time that we have televised out of Detroit’s Comerica Park in the past two seasons.
While I worked out of Detroit for hockey for many years, these two visits are the only times I have done baseball in that city.
Of all the venues in the National Hockey League, Detroit was always my least favorite to televise from. The mobile unit never seemed to work properly; there were always audio problems, the on-camera location was terrible, and the camera locations were average at best. The crew members were pleasant and did a good job, but the limitations of the arena greatly impacted on the quality of the telecast.
I directed baseball from Detroit for the first time last season.
The working conditions were, once again, terrible. We were in a dual feed situation and our work area was very cramped. The camera locations were better than the locations in the hockey arena but, all in all, these locations were average at best. Last season, the difference between the hockey experience and the baseball experience was the crew. While the hockey crew worked hard, was pleasant, and enjoyed themselves, the baseball crew was lazy, had a chip on their shoulders, and was miserable. Televising baseball in Detroit last season was the worst experience of the season. In fact, when the 2007 Major League Baseball schedule came out in September, 2006 and it showed the Cardinals playing in Detroit, our whole TV crew was ticked off.
As we left Los Angeles, the four members of our traveling party were dreading this three game series.
There was a huge difference in this season’s experience compared to last season. The dual feed was, once again, cramped and the camera locations were the same, but the crew worked hard, was pleasant, and enjoyed themselves.
They were a pleasure to work with. There was one bad apple on the crew but this “waste of time” wasn’t worth wasting any time over.
All in all, covering the game action in this series was a much more enjoyable experience than working on the telecast from Detroit last season.
Our TV team also has some responsibilities for the pre-game and the post-game shows. The usual Producer for these shows was unable to be in Detroit for the weekend series. Earlier in the afternoon, this Producer communicated with the game Producer via telephone with instructions on the format, interviews, live hits, and the video necessary to be sent down the line to be recorded in St. Louis.
Then, during the actual pre-game show, this Producer communicated to the announcer through the game Producer via telephone. Thus, the counts to and from sound bites went from the pre-game Producer (in St. Louis) to the game Producer (in the mobile unit at the ballpark) to the announcer on the field. The immediacy of the “count down” to the “bite” was not as tight as is necessary and the quality of the show was affected.
Since we were in the back end of a dual feed, our show only had three camera operators. Because of the on-camera segments of the post-game show, one of these three camera operators must be released after the bottom of the eighth inning to man the booth camera for the post-game show.
Both the game and the post-game show are now affected by the loss of this camera position. The two positions remaining for the post game show in Detroit were the mid-first base camera and the tight centerfield camera. This meant that the live post game player interview had to be shot from one of these two positions. (Hardly ideal)
With the game telecast down to two cameras, it was imperative to utilize the “home” show coverage of the game to a greater extent because they were working with a full complement of equipment.
While it is true that every Major League Baseball TV team does it’s best to cover the great game of baseball, it is also true that every Major League Baseball TV team’s telecast is slanted towards the team it covers.
Thus, the St. Louis Cardinals’ telecast became the Detroit Tigers’ telecast.
For example, during lulls in the action, I will take more shots of St. Louis Cardinals players than players on the other team. I believe that every baseball Director “directs” the game in this same manner. As baseball Directors, we have the responsibility to our fans to 1 – cover the game, and 2 – highlight the players of the team we are representing.
A dual feed situation limits the ability of the TV team in the truck to showcase the players of the baseball team they cover.
While we understand the fiscal reasons for the use of dual feeds in our industry, this does not diminish the level of frustration the TV team feels when the “product” is affected.
The level of frustration I felt at the conclusion of this three game series was as high as I can ever remember.
It must be Detroit.

I am writing this blog from 30,000 feet as we wing our way from Los Angeles to Detroit.
The game coverage of our telecast ended at 10:28 PM Pacific time. We completed our post-game show requirements with approximately thirty minutes remaining before the team bus left Dodger Stadium for LAX and our four hour flight to Detroit. We should arrive in Detroit about eight in the morning.
Oh the glamour!
There was a moment in the Tonight’s telecast that reminded me of how much “luck” plays into each show.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the top of the third inning and were leading 3-1. The Redbirds have been scoring their runs in bunches quite a bit lately, so I asked our graphics Producer to look up information to verify this fact. This member of our production team did some extensive research and built an insightful graphic that validated the fact that the team had, indeed, been scoring their runs in bunches.
We aired the following graphic before the Cardinals came to bat in the top of the fifth inning. To set up the graphic, we came back from break with an inning by inning line score of the current game that showed the Cardinals scoring all their runs in one inning.

RUNS PER INNING
SINCE MAY 1ST
1 RUN 3
2 RUNS 4
3 or more 10

This was the point in the telecast where we almost got lucky.
After the first batter flew out, the next two Cardinals batters reached base. There were runners on first base and second base and the clean-up batter was coming to bat.
Here was the scenario:
We came back from commercial showing the Cardinals recent propensity for scoring runs in bunches. We set up the telling graphic with an inning by inning line score which, in and of itself, made the graphic even more telling.
Then, after setting up the scenario of big innings, the Cardinals get two runners on base with the meat of the order coming to the plate.
Obviously, this was going to be another “big” inning.
Unfortunately (and unluckily), the next two batters struck out and our chance of creating and enhancing a moment of the game never materialized.
To add insult to injury, the LA Dodgers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and ended up winning the game by a score of 5-4.
Sometimes the TV baseball production team gets lucky and sometimes it doesn’t.
When luck falls our way, a memorable broadcast moment will occur.
Lady luck almost found us tonight.
Perhaps tomorrow’s telecast will be different.

As I was riding the team bus from Dodger Stadium to the team hotel after the game, a friend of mine called me on my cell phone.
Not only is this person a friend, but he is also a respected peer in the business of television baseball.
After answering my phone, our conversation went as follows:
“Well, you guys did it again.”
Knowing that this person is a prankster, I asked, “What are you talking about?”
“I read your blog from yesterday’s telecast, and you guys took what the game gave you and turned it into a telling replay sequence.”
(I knew what he was talking about) “You mean the package that showed teammates “picking up” one another?”
“Yea, that was great.”
As our conversation continued, he talked about the show and how much he enjoyed the use of the historical footage we aired in the telecast. We both agreed that the use of historical baseball footage in the telecast is a nice feature that adds to the quality of the show. We both agreed that the use of historical baseball footage is a wonderful tool that excites both the hard core baseball fan as well as the casual fan.
We also agreed that the importance of using of historical baseball footage in telecasts is often missed by TV baseball telecast teams.
I know our TV team is guilty of not incorporating this valuable tool into our shows as much as we should. I believe my teammates on our production crew would agree as well. The quality of our telecasts can only be enhanced with the use of this footage.
The St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Club may have the richest tradition of any National League Club. The tradition of the Cardinals may only be surpassed by the great tradition of the New York Yankees. All the more reason this valuable tool should be incorporated into our telecasts on a more consistent basis.
One of the nicest aspects of the TV baseball business is the constant “throwing around” of ideas from members of this fraternity.
“What about this?”
“Would this work?’
“Have you tried this?”
Another aspect of the TV baseball business that is rewarding is the mutual respect that members of our fraternity have for each other. The phone call from my friend/peer tonight is a perfect example of this respect.
The replay sequence (which warranted a phone call from this fellow member of the TV baseball fraternity) was another example of our Producer recognizing what the game was giving to the telecast, packaging these events, thus enhancing the viewing experience.
The video sequence highlighted instances of teammates “picking up” for teammates who did not deliver in a situation.
The following is what occurred in the game and the video sequence that boosted the value of the telecast:
(Top of the 1st inning, runners on first and third, no outs) The batter hits an infield pop fly for the first out. The next batter swats a double to drive in a run and put runners at second and third.
(Top of the second inning, runners on first and third, one out) The batter fails to advance the base runners with a sacrifice bunt. The next batter smacks a base hit to drive in a run.
(Top of the third inning, runner on second, no outs) The batter fails to advance the runner to third base. The next batter gets a base hit to drive in the run.
Three prime examples of a teammate “picking up” another teammate – one in each of the first three innings!
This video sequence was one of the “coverage” highlights of our season. This sequence was so good that it warranted a call from a peer in the business who understood the value of this sequence to the telecast.
I believe that most members of the TV baseball fraternity want to provide the viewer with the most enjoyable, most informative “coverage” of each game.
Therefore, interaction between members of this fraternity is essential.
Most members of our fraternity welcome ideas that enhance the viewing experience. Most members of this fraternity love to hear a peer say, “That was great!”

Our telecast of the final game of the three game series with the San Diego Padres matched the quick pace of the game (2:28) with a nice flow to the show.
The Cardinals lost the game 3-0 and collected only three hits.
Needless to say, the game did not present much in the way of video “highlights” concerning the Redbirds.
As I wrote in a previous blog, when a baseball TV production team covers the game to the best of its ability, the game will most likely reward the telecast with some rewarding “baseball” moments.
This was certainly the case in this telecast.
Early in the game, both starting pitchers were nearly hit by the baseball as it was smashed through the middle by the batter.
There were four angles available to the Producer for use as replays:
Centerfield – (this was the “live” look at the play as it occurred)
High home – (followed the ball from the pitcher’s hand to the batter and back through the box to centerfield)
High left field – (a pitcher/batter angle that shows both positions in the same shot)
Low 1st base – (isolated on the pitcher)
When the first base hit (that nearly hit the pitcher) occurred in the top of the inning, the Producer called for the centerfield and high home “looks” for replays immediately after the play occurred.
Then when the other starting pitcher was nearly hit by a smash up the middle in the bottom of the inning, the Producer called for the centerfield angle followed by the high left field “look” as the replay sequence.
These two occurrences in the game were so similar and happened so close to each other that it seemed they were the same play. If one was not paying attention, one might have thought they were the same play.
The replay sequences that the Producer called for immediately after these plays occurred were effective in capturing the similarities of the action.
But it was the teamwork of the Producer and the replay operators that really captured the essence of the moment in each of these two instances.
The four-part video sequence put together by the “tape” room utilized the use of “real time” replays to turn this moment from an ordinary replay into a memory. The sequence went as follows: Centerfield angle to side angle of pitcher to centerfield angle to side angle of pitcher. Each angle was “rolled” at real speed with the audio being tracked. The importance of “real time” replays to the telecast cannot be matched. “Real time” replays allow the viewer to not only see the action, but hear the action as well. In this sequence, the viewer watched the pitcher throw the ball, heard the bat crack, and saw the ball fly past the pitcher. The side angle “iso” of the pitcher combined with the natural audio allowed our viewers to experience a unique example of the speed of the ball off the bat.
These two instances in the game were excellent examples of the “game” giving the TV production team a unique opportunity to create a memory from the action.
It would have been very easy (and very lazy) to treat the two hits up the middle as just another part of the game - as just another ho-hum replay. But our TV team took what the game gave us and turned it into a valuable resource that added quality to the telecast.

There was a comfortable flow to the telecast tonight.
All the action in the game occurred in one inning. The Cardinals won the game 5-0 and scored all their runs in the third inning.
The left fielder for the San Diego padres was the center of attraction in tonight’s game. He dropped a ball he should have caught and he almost caught a ball he shouldn’t have caught. Both of these plays occurred in the third inning and both of these plays decided the outcome of the game.
The replays on our telecast of this action from the third inning were excellent. The angles that we aired on the ball that should have been caught by the left fielder showed precisely why the ball should have been caught. The replays on the ball the left fielder almost caught were precise in depicting how great a catch this play could have been. This player traveled a long way and almost came up with a spectacular catch.
The third inning of this contest was the only inning that tested our crew in the TV truck and we nailed it.
Unlike our wonderful telecast from last night, tonight, our crew could not find any memorable nuggets. This camera crew in San Diego is one of the hardest working crews in Major League Baseball and if there is a story to be found, they will find it.
The nicest aspect of televising Major League Baseball is the fact that it is the “game” that determines the response from the TV crew in the mobile production unit. When televising a “live” baseball game, there is no script. The production team in the truck cannot and MUST NOT come to the TV mobile unit before a telecast and say, “We are going to air this in the telecast today/tonight.”
It is beneficial for the telecast team to have production elements “in the can” before a show goes on the air because, when these elements are apropos to the game, their insertion into the telecast improves the quality of the production.
However, nothing diminishes the quality of a sports television production more than when a production element is forced into the show.
(“I have built it therefore I am airing it” is a common attitude of the inexperienced.)
Unfortunately, for our team in the TV truck, this game refused to deliver any memorable moments apart from the action of the third inning.
This particular game featured an excellent performance from the Cardinals’ starting pitcher. This career reliever, turned starter, was the major story line of the telecast. The video packages we aired in the telecast focused on this particular players’ performance.
This telecast was mistake free.
The show flowed from beginning to end.
When the game warranted a reply, we aired a replay.
When the telecast warranted a sponsor promo or a paid drop-in, they aired.
Not once did a “paid” item in the telecast take precedence over a replay. In fact, not once in the telecast did the Producer make a decision between the replay and the “paid” item.
This telecast covered a well-played, well-pitched game that the Cardinals won.
This telecast flowed from beginning to end.
Apart from two plays in the third inning, we were never seriously tested in the TV truck.
After we signed off the air, the Producer looked at me and said, “Gosh that was boring.”
He was right.

Last night’s telecast was the most entertaining, informative show of the season.
The game itself was not very entertaining to the Cardinals’ fans as the Cardinals compiled only three hits and lost 7-0, but, because of great teamwork from our TV crew, this telecast may have been our most effective show of this season.
The starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres was basically untouchable. We highlighted this performance with two different video sequences. The first sequence was a montage of the 10 strikeouts this pitcher had during the game. He used a variety of pitches to get the strikeouts and the video package really showed the arsenal of pitches utilized by this talented starter. While this video clip accentuated the weapons of this starter, the second montage effectively displayed the movement of these pitches. This clip was a pitch by pitch sequence of one of the ten strikeouts from this pitcher and this 5-pitch sequence highlighted the fact that each pitch moved differently. These two video clips demonstrated the quality pitches of the starting pitches, but these clips also showed the quality of the pitches of this player. In summary, our production team not only gave the viewers a look at the different pitches of this player, we also showed the movement of these pitches. Here are the pitches and here is what they do.
These two video snippets were effective, informative, and entertaining.
Later in the game, this same pitcher was dealing a one-hitter and was facing the starting pitcher of the Cardinals. Because of the quality performance of the Padres pitcher, we began to isolate him to a camera. This meant that the low first base camera (camera 1) operator’s responsibilities changed from left-handed batters, runners and defense to exclusively covering this pitcher. During this at-bat, the pitcher became angry for a pitch he had just thrown. He cursed and was visibly upset. On the very next pitch the batter laced a double to left centerfield. Indeed, this was the hardest hit ball of the game by the Cardinals. Instead of showing the double as the replay, we replayed the reaction by the pitcher from the pitch thrown just before the double. This replay was the most telling replay of the telecast.
This replay was effective, informative, and entertaining.
The next inning included two examples of excellent baseball television.
During the top half of the inning, one of our camera operators found two Padres pitchers in the dugout talking about pitch grips. The importance of this camera shot was accentuated because the two players in the shot were Greg Maddox, a future member of the hall-of-fame, and David Wells, who once twirled a perfect game. This great look was so important that I returned to this shot between pitches. Maddox was showing Wells how different grips on the ball affect the movement of the ball. Earlier in the telecast, I took a shot of Maddox in the dugout and he was holding a baseball. Our analyst pointed out that all pitchers like to hold on to a baseball during games just to get a “feel” for the baseball. This earlier shot proved to prophetic as, later on, Maddox was teaching a teammate about getting a “feel” of the baseball. What was even more telling about this shot was the fact that this is David Wells last season. This veteran is winding down a great career yet, here he is in the dugout, talking pitching with a future member of the hall-of-fame.
These live shots were effective, informative, and entertaining.
The second example of excellent baseball television occurred in the bottom half of the inning. The Cardinals” starting pitcher was pitching out of the stretch. We noticed that as his front leg came to rest when he completed the stretch, the pitcher moved it once again. It seemed to be a balk. We started with a replay and the color analyst commented that he thought that this extra movement from the front foot could constitute a balk. We followed up on this story line with live shots of the front foot. Although these shots showed the extra movement of the front foot, no balk was called.
The replay, followed by the live shots, mixed with the color commentary, proved to be effective, informative, and entertaining.
This effective, informative, and entertaining telecast occurred because of total teamwork from the TV crew. The sharp eye of a camera operator, the editing talent of a replay technician, and the baseball knowledge from the announcers and the Producer/Director team all combined to give the baseball viewers and baseball fans a quality telecast.
Being a part of a telecast such as this is very rewarding and exciting.
I can only imagine how great this show would have been if the Cardinals had won.

I waited to write this blog until after the three game series with the Colorado Rockies, because I wanted to use this blog to compare the three telecasts.
The first game of the series featured three plays that concerned the second base umpire. There were two disagreements that occurred because of rulings by the umpire about base running and there was a play where a ball that appeared to be a home run (substantiated by our replays) was called “no home run” by the umpire.
In each of these instances, the manager of the ball team affected by the call confronted the umpire. In fact, the manager of the Rockies was ejected from the game for vehemently arguing the “non-home run” call.
The winning run in this contest occurred in the top of the ninth inning on a bases loaded walk. The game ended with the tying run on third base and the winning run on first base. Indeed, the ninth inning was the most exciting inning of the season for our TV team. This game included exciting moments and moments seldom seen in a baseball game. Our experienced production team in the mobile unit was concentrating and into the telecast and, thus, we were not surprised by the rare moments in the game, and, I believe, we nailed the show.
Our telecast had a nice flow to it and may have been the cleanest show of the season. This telecast was refreshing and, unlike the previous few telecasts, it felt great to be “in the chair” directing baseball.
The Cardinals won game two of the series 4-1, and captured the rubber game of the series by a score of 9-2.
These two telecasts were the first telecasts of the season that felt like we were televising the Cardinals’ teams of the past few seasons. The 4-1 game seemed like a rout and the 9-2 game was dominated by the Cardinals.
These games were full of action. There was a lot of offense and some good defense. These games are the type of games that are especially enjoyable as a Director in the truck because I am able to watch the coverage of the game on nine cameras. Seeing all the action with nine different “looks” only enhances my appreciation for this great game.
I believe that our TV crew puts forth the same effort in every show. Because the telecasts are of high intensity, each show must be approached with the same mindset. Each member of the crew must concentrate and be focused for the entire game. Televising sports is a profession where the TV production team gets one chance to capture a moment as good as that moment can be captured. Every TV sports production team is capable of covering a game, but the telecasts that not only cover the game but enhance the viewing experience are the shows that stand out. The TV production team in the truck cannot approach any particular telecast as being more important than any other telecast. The same level of concentration must be put forth for each telecast in order to provide a quality show. If the TV production team in the truck maintains this consistency, then, when there is a game with a heightened importance such as a pennant-clincher, there is a better chance of a quality show.
Also, each game has different levels of excitement throughout. The most memorable moment of a game may occur in the top of the first inning. There may be an instance in a game that occurs very, very infrequently such as the “non home run” call of game one of this series.
When a TV sports production team maintains a consistent level of concentration, the team is very rarely surprised. There is no worse moment during a telecast than when the TV crew is surprised. This is a profession that relies on hundreds of split second decisions each telecast and surprises can only cause mistakes.
Experience – the knowledge gained from every telecast.
Preparation – the knowledge learned from every game.
Concentration – insures the proper mix of experience and preparation.
A TV production team that combines these three qualities into a telecast will provide the viewer with the highest quality viewing experience.
Our past three telecasts are a great example of a TV baseball production team combining their sports television experience with their knowledge of the game of baseball to provide quality telecasts.

There were many positive aspects heading into yesterday’s telecast.
1 - We were the only television feed covering the game which meant we utilized our full complement of equipment for a road telecast – 6 cameras and 4 replay machines and a 2-channel Elvis, which is used for replays and building video packages.
2 – The opponent, the Milwaukee Brewers, is in first place and playing excellent baseball.
3 – The pitching match-up seemed to bode well for a well-pitched game.
4 – A sizable crowd was expected.
We were the only TV feed covering a game that included a hot ball team, a good pitching match-up, and a ballpark that had some atmosphere to it. This is a formula for a successful telecast.
Sometimes, however, the signs of a good telecast do not always come true.
The starting pitcher for the Brewers was hit in the leg by a line drive and left the game after the third inning.
The starting pitcher for the Cardinals pitched well, but not well enough, and the Redbirds lost 4-0.
The announced attendance of 23,299 was the largest crowd of the season in Milwaukee since opening day. The atmosphere in the ball park was not what we expected as about half the crowd rooted for the Cardinals and half were Brewers fans.
This was a game that included some controversial calls from the umpires and a bad-hop single that proved to be the pivotal point of the game. The camera work was good and provided some excellent replays covering these two moments of the game.
With so many positives pointing towards a rewarding telecast, why was this show so difficult to direct?
There was never a flow to the show. Each half inning seemed to be different from the previous half inning. There was never a point in the telecast/game that I could have stated, with confidence, what inning we were in. In fact, I remember checking the Fox Box, thinking we were in the 6th inning, and discovered that we were in the bottom of the 8th inning.
I do not believe this discovery occurred because of a lack of concentration on my part. Some shows, for whatever reason, are more difficult to direct than others and this was one of those telecasts.
Our telecast included good replays on disputed calls and sharp camera cuts in situations that do not regularly occur in a baseball game. (The step towards the runner at third base and the throw to first base actually happened in this game and was successful. This play also led to one of the controversial calls of the game. The live “cut” covered the moment and the replays captured the moment.)
All in all, the telecast was a fairly clean show with only a few minor mistakes.
This telecast was also the most trying and most difficult telecast to direct this season and I do not know why.
Thankfully, I have the weekend off.
I am going to need it.

This is the 20th season that I have been a member of the St. Louis Cardinals TV production team.
During this tenure, there have been seasons where the team did not perform well, there have been seasons where the club battled but did not quite have enough to win consistently, and there have been seasons where the club could not lose. Our production team has been spoiled by the success of the Cardinals, give or take a season or two, since 1998.
The success of the previous seasons has not been duplicated thus far this season.
The excitement a winning ball club generates cannot be matched. The organization, the fans, and the TV production team all feed off this euphoria. When the team is consistently winning, the TV production team is exhilarated and the energy of the telecasts cannot be matched. Televising the great sport of baseball is a blast in and of itself. Baseball is the greatest sport in the world and televising baseball is the most rewarding of all sports television because capturing this sport on television is the most difficult challenge in all of TV sports production – period.
Directing any sporting event is certainly a challenge. The sports TV production team has one chance to capture every “moment” in a game in the very best way possible. Baseball is the one sport that offers more “moments” than every other sport.
To properly cover a baseball game, the cameras must be situated in a 360 degree fashion around the ball park. The camera must surround the action in order to best “cover” the game. Every other major sport must have the cameras on the same side of the playing surface – 180 degrees.
Certainly, all sports present unique challenges to the TV production team, but no sport is more challenging to the Director than baseball.
I have been very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to direct Major League baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. This organization has consistently put a quality product on the field. I believe that our TV production team has always delivered a product that does two things. One – we have always understood that our viewers are tuning in to watch the greatest game in the world. We have always respected this great game in our telecasts. Two – our production team has always considered it a privilege to be a part of Cardinals baseball.
Not only do we get to televise the greatest game in the world, we get to televise the greatest game in the world for the best organization in the game.
Televising baseball has always been a special treat because the game is so special, but this feeling has always been accentuated because I am not only directing baseball, I am directing Cardinals baseball.
During the telecast tonight, I was reminded of how fortunate I am to be the TV Director of St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
We are in Milwaukee playing the Brewers. The Brewers have not had a winning season since they joined the National League in the mid 1990’s.
This season, however, they have a very good ball club and are currently in first place in the National League Central division by 51/2 games. Since we are in a duel situation during the telecast, I am able listen to the Brewers’ TV Director during the telecast. It is a pleasure listening and watching this Director “cut” a game because he is very talented. But, what was most rewarding and enlightening to me as the telecast went on was the energy this Director exuded as the game went on. He fed off the confidence that the Brewers ball team displayed during the game and he passed this energy on to his crew! Their telecast flowed, the shots were crisp, the replays were immediate, and the energy was infectious.
Watching the Milwaukee Brewers’ telecast team was exhilarating.
I know the feeling.

We did not televise this weekend because Saturday was the Fox Baseball Game of the Week and Sunday was ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
Two days off at the end of the first month of the season is a good time for all of us to recharge our batteries before the real grind of the season is upon us.
Unfortunately, a tragedy occurred on Saturday night that sent us all for a loop. A member of the Cardinals’ ball club was killed in a car accident.
The members of our TV production staff are included in the traveling party of the St. Louis Cardinals. We fly on the same charter and we stay in the same hotel. There are four members of the TV crew who spend almost every day together between March (spring training) and September. During this time, a bond develops between the four of us that is similar to the bond of a family. Away from the TV truck we will have lunch or dinner and after telecasts we enjoy beers together. The better the relationship a TV production team has away from the TV truck, the better the product this team will produce. There are certainly good days and bad days in this type of relationship, but friendships that are developed in this scenario are integral to the success of the telecast.
The bond that the four of us have is akin to the bond that a Major League baseball club develops during the course of a season.
The news of the tragedy stunned our TV production team and we could only imagine the devastating effect this news must have on the baseball team.
Flying on the team charter to Milwaukee was a sad, somber experience.
You could have heard a pin drop.
During the six months of the regular season, we spend much of the time interacting with front office personnel, clubhouse crew, manager, coaches, and players. Relationships are developed and friendships are made.
Preparing for the first telecast since the death of the Cardinals player and teammate proved to be one of the most difficult tasks of our careers.
For our opening two-part segment, we decided to scale down the audio and video hoping to minimize the “flash” our open segments usually provide.
This was a rare day where the game was secondary and the pain was obvious.
The most telling moments of the telecast were shots of the players’ jersey hanging in the bullpen and the dugout.
Early in the telecast, I noticed how quiet the TV truck was.
Usually the noise in the truck sounds like mayhem. The Producer is giving commands, the Director is “cutting” cameras, graphics and score box emit their sounds, and the audio from the play by play announcer and color analyst resound from the main speaker in the production side of the mobile unit.
Yesterday the truck had an eerie quiet to it.
It sure would be nice to have a couple of days off.