Great Win, Terrible Loss

The Cardinals beat the Nationals tonight at Busch Stadium by the score of 8 - 5 in 3:07. Leading 3 - 2 going into the 7th inning, the Cards coughed up the lead when a 2-out 3-run homerun put the Nats in front 5 - 3. This was a game in which the Nationals desperately needed to win. After the homerun the Nats seemed to exhale a sigh of relief. Then, in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Redbirds scored 5 runs with 2 outs and the Nats seemed doomed. However, in the top of the ninth inning, the first 2 batters singled which sent arguably the MVP to the plate. This batter was leading the league in homeruns. During the at-bat, a wild pitch was thrown which rebounded off the back wall behind the plate right back to the catcher. Both runners took off with the lead runner stopping and going back to 2nd base thus trapping the trail runner who was tagged out. Needless to say, the baseball Gods were never going to let the National back into the game after that base running blunder. They didn't and the Cards prevailed. A great win for a great team. A terrible loss for a team now on playoff fumes.

Exhausting

In this 3 hour 8 minutes game there were 12 runs (a 7 - 5 Cards victory) 25 hits, 11 pitchers and 3 homeruns. This game had a little bit of everything. Everything but a replay review. This was a hard game to telecast. This was a game that was just relentless. Something was always happening. There was no relaxation to this contest. This was one of those games where the edge of the seat was where everyone on the TV crew was situated. This was a mentally exhausting game/telecast. I am now 1 hour into our flight home. At 32,000 feet, I am waiting for the adrenaline to subside. Mentally exhausted - yes I am. Home sweet home tomorrow.

Fans

It was a 6 - 0 victory for the Cardinals over the Giants today in San Francisco in a game that too 3:11 to play. Baseball fans would have enjoyed this game as it was a well-played contest. Cardinals fans may not have enjoyed this victory that much because the Redbirds starting pitcher left the game with a sprained ankle. TV baseball fans would have enjoyed this game because of the work of the RF camera operator. Just great great stuff. It's kind off odd that RF camera operators are either really really good or really really bad. I can't explain this but it is true. Fans of the outdoors would have enjoyed this game because the weather was absolutely perfect. Fans of San Francisco enjoyed this game because it was a day game and the rest of the day will be spent on the town. Which fan are you?

Love It

I love San Francisco. I love the ballpark and I love the TV crew. I love the restaurants and the bars. Despite the fact that the Giants beat the Cards in 3:02 by the score of 5 - 4 tonight at AT&T Park I loved the game. Some sloppy play by the Redbirds led to a 4 - 0 lead after a grand slam by the Giants. Sloppy play by the Giants helped the Cards tie the score at 4 apiece. This 4 - 4 game became a real battle between 2 great teams. A bases loaded single with a 5-man infield decided the game for the Giants. The electricity in the ballpark for the last two innings made me sit on the edge of my seat as I cut the game. One hour later and I am still pumped. The bottle of wine I purchased from a wine shop I love should help me calm down. There is a day game tomorrow with the atmosphere assured to be exciting and then dinner at Scoma's. Did I mention that I love Scoma's?

Hoping

This 3:24 game between the Cardinals and Diamondbacks in Phoenix tonight was a nightmare. Yes, the Cards prevailed 5 - 3, which is a good thing, but 3 hours and 24 minutes can be excruciating. And, tonight it was. The first 2 innings took an hour to play. As we entered the bottom of the second inning our Producer looked at me and said "This is our worst nightmare." It just so happened that I was thinking the exact same thing at the same time. Everyone loves a well-pitched well-played baseball game especially on getaway day. We are currently at 32,000 feet as we make our way to San Francisco. San Fran, like Phoenix, is one of the better stops in baseball. A well-pitched well played ballgame makes it even better. Let's hope.

The LaRussa Factor

Wait a minute! Stop the presses! Did this just happen? A well-pitched, well-played Major League Baseball game from both teams? The Cardinals prevailed tonight in Phoenix by the score of 3 - 1 in 2:35. A game with a great pace and, thus, a show with a great flow! This was truly a fun game/telecast to watch and direct. Trust me, because of the TV broadcast schedule of local telecasts - 150 games - this type of game is cherished. One may experience a game such as this between two good teams fighting for the best playoff position. This game featured the best team in baseball - the Cardinals - and a team fighting for their playoff lives - the Diamondbacks. Kudos to the AZ D-Backs! It looks to me like the Tony LaRussa influence is being felt by this club. I have seen the LaRussa influence with the Cardinals. An influence that carries over today despite the fact that he hasn't been a part of the organization for almost 4 years. Good to see with the D-Backs!!

Earlier Start/ Same Old Ending

It took 3:10 for the Cardinals to defeat the Diamondbacks 9 - 1 tonight in Phoenix. It took 3:10 for the final out to be made but the game was over after the first 25 minutes. The Cards scored 4 runs in the top of the first inning and the game was essentially over. We really like the 6:40 start they have here in Arizona. However, the 25 minute top of the first essentially eliminated any advantage the early start may have given us for an earlier than usual ending of the game. Still, getting off the air before 10:00 is a plus. Did this blog make any sense to anyone.

A Perfect Example

The Cards beat the D'Backs 5 - 3 in 3:19 tonight in Phoenix. This was a game of big moments. This was a game that clearly showed the difference between a good team and a team trying to get there. The Diamondbacks had 4 glorious opportunities to swing the game in their favor and the Redbirds turned 4 doubleplays. When the opportunities were there for the Cards to swing the game in their favor they came through with big RBI hits. The Cardinals know how to win and the Diamondbacks are trying to learn how to win. This game was a perfect example of the difference between these two clubs.

Just Saying

3 hours and 29 minutes. That is what it took the Redbirds to defeat the Padres 10 - 3 today in San Diego. The relievers in the ninth inning for both teams pissed me off. Going into the ninth the score was 8 - 1. You would have thought it was a 1-run game the way the relievers picked and picked at the strike zone. Listen up relievers - a 7-run lead in the 9th means the game is over - OVER. Stop messing around! (I wanted to use another word besides messing) in a 8 - 1 game, the ninth inning should never take 45 minutes. This game did. Awful. Embarrassing! Just saying.

Thoughts Are Things

Another blowout loss for the Cardinals as the Padres, with help of a 7-run 7th inning won the game 8 - 0 in 3:11. This Cardinals team has had the best record in baseball, by far, for most of this season. Yet, the negativity I am beginning to hear concerning this team concerns me. Read the newspaper or watch the news - 90% of the content is negative. That is why I don't read the newspaper or watch the news. These and other outlets cause people to think in a negative fashion and that is why most people live negative, unhappy lives. It is a fact, in fact it is a law - you become what you think. Think happy, positive, loving, prosperous thought and you are happy, successful, loved and prosperous. Think negatively in any aspect of your life and your life will suck. This is not bullshit. Thoughts are things. Thoughts are as real as gravity, as real as electricity. You become what you think about most. You can't get around it - it is a law of nature. You have a choice. I know what my choice is.

Another Matter

The Padres used a 5-run inning and a 4-run inning to beat the Cards tonight in San Diego. The way this 3:07 affair started had one believing that the Cardinals were in for an easy victory. The Cards starting pitcher was dealing and the Padres starter was barely getting by. Then, it seemed all of a sudden, the Redbirds unravelled in the bottom of the 5th inning. They committed 3 errors in the inning and the Pads plated 5 runs. Still, the Cardinals battled back and actually had the winning run at the plate in the 8th inning. But San Diego scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th and the game was essentially over. Now to another matter. How in the world does anyone go to work in this town? The weather in this town is perfect all 24 hours of the day. Just absolutely perfect.

Thank You

The Redbirds beat the Giants tonight at Busch Stadium. The 4 - 3 game took 2:54 to play and was one of those contests that the home fans and home TV crew really enjoy. A solo homerun in the bottom of the 8th inning was the deciding factor in this game and a moment that took away the feeling that this game was going to take awhile to be decided. In fact, a member of the Giants TV team was heard to say right before the bottom of the 8th inning, "We are going to be here awhile tonight." When this statement was uttered, it seemed to be a true prophesy. The homerun proved this wrong and the game ended after 8 1/2 innings. Thank you.

WOW

After a :31 rain delay to start the game, the Giants beat the Cards 2 - 0 in 3:09 at Busch Stadium. There is nothing really to say about this game except a 2 - 0 game between two quality teams should never take 3:09 to play. Not a complaint - just an observation. Here is another observation. On the drive home, I witnessed an absolutely wonderful, powerful lightening display across the whole western horizon. I final 20 minutes of my drive were filled with countless exclamations of "WOW!" This storm should reach my house within the next 30 minutes. I am staying up. WOW!

Welcomed Victory

The Cards beat the Giants 2 - 1 in 2:40 tonight at Busch Stadium. This was just the type of game the home TV team loves. Well- pitched and well-played with the winning run scoring in the bottom of the 8th inning. About the only victory that beat this scenario is a walk-off win in the bottom of the 9th inning. I believe there is a huge percentage of TV production people and a huge percentage of Major League players that do not want extra innings. I also believe that this huge percentage of TV crew members and players still give it their best when a game goes extras. I prefer 9 innings or 8 1/2 innings at home but I still try my hardest to deliver if the game goes longer. That being said, tonight was a welcomed victory.

No Pace - None

The Marlins avoided being swept by the Cardinals with a 6 - 4 victory today at Busch Stadium. This 3:13 affair seemed to take much longer than that. The Rebirds uncharacteristically played a very sloppy game. This sloppy play was a major reason for the pace of this game but this was one of those games that seem to hit a wall. Time stood still. The clock stopped. When the pace of the game is at a standstill, it is near impossible to create a pace for the telecast. I'm not sure what is worse - matching a telecast with a fast paced game or creating a pace for the telecast when there is absolutely no pace to the game. I guess I would rather keep pace with a fast paced game then create a pace when there is none with the game. Today's game answered that question.

Blessed

Another stellar pitching performance by the Cardinals starter led to a 6 - 2 victory over the Marlins in 2:35 tonight at Busch Stadium. Another memorable evening for me as I met my college buddies for the second straight day both before and after the game. They loved Busch Stadium, ballpark village and the Champions Club. One of my buddies said, "The Cardinals have it figured out. It is an event to come to their games." He is right. I am blessed to be part of this organization and I am blessed to have such good friends.

Great Memories

I will remember this day as a day of great memories. Yes, the Cards beat the Marlins 3 - 1 in 2:24 at Busch Stadium and yes the Redbirds starting pitcher threw the best game of the season for this Redbirds squad - a squad with the best pitching staff in all of baseball by far. A memorable game in that regard. But, my memory of this wonderful day occurred both before and after the game. 3 of my teammates from the 1977 University of Minnesota College World Series baseball team came down to visit. We met before the game and drank beers after the game. Lots of laughs and just a memorable day. Same thing tomorrow - I can't wait.

Bad Bread

The Pirates defeated the Cardinals tonight 10 - 5 in 3:06 at Busch Stadium. This game was a sandwich which included good ingredients with bad bread. The Bucs scored 7 runs in the 1st inning and 3 runs in the 9th inning - bad bread. In between the bad bread the Cardinals outplayed the Bucs - good ingredients. In fact, after the bottom of the 7inning the Cars trailed 7 - 5 and they had all the momentum. Members of our TV team sensed a victory and it sure seemed likely to come true. Members of the Pirates TV team were also quite nervous. Alas, the final piece of bread - the top of the 9th inning occurred - and the sandwich was completed. Bad bread - good ingredients.

A Disappearance

The Cardinals, in another game resembling a playoff atmosphere, defeated the Bucs 4 - 2 in 2:49 tonight at Busch Stadium. This match-up featured two of the best starting pitchers in the National League and both of these hurlers are only 24 years old. Both of these pitchers pitched well although they were not helped by the sloppy play behind them. The highlight and oddity of the game was that the Cards catcher collected a double, triple and stolen base in the same game. This had not happened to the Cardinals since 1939. An oddity I also observed occurred when the Cards took there 2-run in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Pirates, a very very good team (2nd best in the NL) looked defeated after the Redbirds took the lead. I even said "They're done." This was odd to me because for the past 3 seasons I have respected this team as one that plays the game right and plays it with confidence. That persona disappeared tonight.

A Baseball Fan's Type Of Game

The 2 best teams in the National League faced off against each other tonight at Busch Stadium and the Cardinals defeated the Pirates 4 - 3 in 2:40. I love it when 2 good teams play each other. There are many exciting, dramatic moments. The cut is faster, the replay sequences are most effective and the TV crew delivers in all facets of the production. Indeed, the audio is crisper and cameras seem to capture the exciting moments with great framing. One may be a Pirates fan and one may be a Cardinals fan but everybody becomes a baseball fan in games such as these. Tomorrow's game features one of the best pitching match ups of the season. I can't wait!!

Exciting

The Brewers defeated the Cardinals today at Miller Park by the score of 5 - 4 in 2:31. This was a very entertaining game for the fans of both teams. The Brew Crew jumped to a 3 - 0 lead with 2 homers in the 3rd inning. This electrified the Milwaukee fans as the Cards had shutout the Brewers the two previous games. The score was 3 - 1 entering the 7th inning and it looked like that could be the final score as the Brewers starting pitcher was dealing. Emotions switched sides as the Redbirds took the lead with a 3-run bomb. Now the Cardinals fans were buzzing. The score remained 4 - 3 entering the bottom of the 8th inning. Once again emotions changed hands as the Brewers took the lead with a 2-run homer. The emotional roller coaster ride was over. Truly entertaining. Off day tomorrow and then the most important series of the season begins as the Pirates visit Busch Stadium. Let the excitement continue.

Never Screwed

The Cards beat the down and out Brewers tonight in Milwaukee by the score of 3 - 0. This 2:45 game really ended when the Redbirds' lead off batter homered to start the game. The listless Brew Crew managed just 2 hits the entire game. This game was a National game that aired on Fox Sports 1. I enjoy directing these games because there is not as much clutter as our regional games. These games are naturally cleaner than our local telecasts. There really isn't any difference for me in cutting a regional game compared to a national game because I don't direct for the audience. I direct for my teammates on the TV crew. That lessens the pressure and I am never screwed.

Done

I have been a part of televising Major League Baseball as either a Producer or a Director for the past 32 years. In fact, I have directed MLB Baseball only for the past 25 years. I don't care what profession you have or are involved with - if you don't learn anything from that experience, you will not advance. Period. I have learned from my experience and I KNEW early on that the a Cards would defeat the Brewers. This Milwaukee club is done. I want good baseball. I guess I have to wait until Tuesday when the Pirstes come to Busch Stadium.

Dreary

Yes, the Cardinals beat the Reds 3 - 0 today in Cincinnati. Yes, I want the Redbirds to win every game. Even with this victory this was a dreary day. It rained all morning. After a 1:08 rain delay the game stsrted and it rained and misted the rest of the game. The video was dreary. This was a nice victory but after the delay the video, because of the weather, caused this to be a dreary telecast. The video always determines the viewers feeling about the game/telecast. A nice victory but the dreary day and the dreary video captured the day.

Sure Enough

There were 13 innings played with 13 total hits in this 4:14 affair which the Cardinals won 4 - 3. I claim complete responsibility for this extra inning game. Going into the top of the 8th inning with the Reds leading 3 - 2 I said " The Cards are going to score in this inning and we are going to be here awhile." I took the understandable cursing from the crew as I understood the severity of my statement. Sure enough, a homerun was hit to tie the game and, sure enough, the cascade of cursing was sent in my general direction. A day game tomorrow with rain in the forecast. My mouth remains shut.

Bad Feeling

From a TV truck standpoint, this was a strange game. I know that this next statement is wrong but during the middle of the game I got the impression that both teams were going through the motions and neither team gave a shit about the outcome. Now, this is absolutely absurd. This could and would NEVER be the case. However, that is the vibe I felt from this game. This was not just a moment during the contest. This "feeling" stayed with me for a couple of innings. I didn't like it at the time and I don't like the memory if it now.

Frying

The Cards beat the Rockies with a walk-off 3 - 2 win in the bottom of the ninth inning today at Busch Stadium. The walk-off part of the game was really the only exciting moment of this game. We have been televising a lot of baseball lately and we are all starting to fry a bit. Everyone of us on the TV crew was praying for no extra innings. Thank God our prayers were answered. I'm now going to take a nap.

Grind It Out

It took 3:00 for the Rockies to defeat the Cards at Busch Stadium tonight. It's amazing to me how the performance of a starting pitcher early on allows one to predict the future. During the top of the first inning I knew the Redbirds were in for a long night. Their starting pitcher had no command of any pitch and it was obvious he wouldn't find it. Colorado's starting pitcher whose repertoire consists of slow, slower, slowest had command and he dealt. This game is an example of my least favorite game to cover. You know early on that your team doesn't have a chance so you know you are going to have to grind it out. Directing a baseball game is great fun. Grinding through a baseball game is hard work.