Sometimes in the TV baseball business the game is good and the production is bad, or sometimes the game is bad and the production is good. The worst case scenario is when the game AND the production are both bad. That leaves the best case scenario which is when both the game and the production are good.
The past two nights here in Denver have followed the best case scenario.
Both games were memorable contests that featured some remarkable athletics feats from some of the players.
Both telecasts were memorable because of some creative, hard working crew members who captured some of the best TV “moments” of the season.
Even though we were in the back end of a dual feed, our telecasts were about as good as they could be because of the total team effort of our crew. In the game “wrap up”, our analyst described the Cardinals’ win as a total team effort with many of the Cardinals players contributing to the victory.
This comment could also describe our telecast.
The camera operators were fantastic. They continually covered the action with crisp shots both during play and during commercial breaks. It is a tremendous feeling to be part of such a hard working and aggressive camera crew. Being in the back end of a dual feed, our production only has three cameras, but this crew made it seem like we had our full complement of eight cameras.
The audio mix was superb as well.
During both telecasts, our graphics Producer continually called up pertinent information that both informed and entertained the audience.
Our lead “tape” Producer edited concise sequences of the action and produced some entertaining video pieces.
Memorable moments of the two games included the winning run scoring from second base on a routine ground ball to the second baseman in the top of the ninth inning of the first game. The second game included TWO plays where the centerfielder threw out base runners at third base. Both of the throws were from a great distance and, as our commentators debated on the air, these throws could be considered two of the greatest throws of all time.
We were fortunate in our telecast to capture these electric moments with concise “live” shots from the great camera crew and with excellent replays that elevated the quality of the play and the production.
Our camera crew also captured moments before and during the game that could not be seen from the fans at the ballpark. One notable example that our lead “tape” Producer noticed occurred in the bullpen while the Cardinals’ starting pitcher was warming up before the game. The Cardinals’ pitching coach noticed that the pitcher was “opening up”
his front shoulder too quickly during his delivery. The pitching coach motioned with his shoulder to the starting pitcher and, after the pitcher threw another warm up pitch, one could read the pitching coaches lips saying “much better”.
When this pitcher took the mound in the bottom of the first inning, our Producer had the tape room cue up this video from the bull pen. Not only did we air this piece then, but we revisited it later in the game when the starting pitcher was pitching brilliantly. Tonight, we are going to revisit this moment again when we get a sound bite from the pitching coach concerning this moment from the bull pen.
The two victories for the Cardinals were, indeed, two total team efforts.
The two successful and entertaining telecasts from our production crew were total team efforts as well.