A Good Day

Let me count the good things that happened to me today in no particular order. After a 20 minute rain delay to start the game, the Cardinals beat the Twins 3 - 2. The game was well played and well pitched and took 2:32 to play. I had a nice conversation with my former college teammate (1975 - 1977) and roadtrip roommate (1975) Twins manager Paul Molitor. I worked in the same TV truck with my oldest son, Tom, who was running the duet for the Twins feed. I had dinner with my son as well. All around, this was a great day. I am blessed.

Rained Out

Today's game between the Royals and Cardinals at Busch Stadium was called at 3:54 due to rain. We ran our 4 open segments and open billboards and waited. 5 hours and 54 minutes after I arrived at the ballpark the game was cancelled. What does a TV crew do during a rain delay you ask? Nothing absolutely nothing.

Electric

It took 2:46 for the Cardinals to beat the Royals today at Busch Stadium. The 3 - 2 score epitomized the quality of these two teams. They both enjoy the best win/loss records in their respective leagues. They are clearly two of the best teams in baseball and they play like it. And, covering baseball games that feature 2 quality teams is great fun. This is only the middle of June yet these games have a definite playoff feel and the atmosphere at Busch Stadium is electric. I can't wait for tomorrow's game/telecast.

Great Fun

The Cardinals beat the Royals tonight at Busch Stadium by the score of 4 - 0 in 2:38. This game is my favorite type of game - well pitched! The Cards starting pitcher pitched 8 solid innings allowing only 4 infield singles. He also knocked in a run with a two-out single. I was really looking forward to this game and this series. The best teams (record wise) in each league. A full Busch Stadium was rocking with it's sea of red and pockets of blue. I was expecting great fun and great fun was delivered. More great fun tomorrow please.

Love Fest

I love Denver Colorado. I love the city. I love the weather. I love Coors Field. I love the Ritz Carlton - the best hotel in the National League. I love doing baseball with that TV crew. From top to bottom, they are all great! I love walking to the ballpark before the game and I love taking a rickshaw from Coors Field to the hotel after the game. I love the restaurants and bars in the city. I love Elway's - the bar/restaurant in the hotel. I love the espresso coffee machine in the room. There is only one thing I may love more than my Denver experience. My own bed. I am in it tonight. Ok enough of the love fest. Goodnight.

2 Things

I don't usually add an additional post to this blog. In fact, I never have added an additional post to this blog on the same day. However, I feel compelled to offer an additional post tonight. First of all, kudos to the Denver home TV crew for a very comfortable dual experience. The visiting TV crew members on our crew at top notch. No worries. Also, we on the St. Louis TV team are breaking in a new director. I have been doing this for 32 years. I know what I am doing and forgive me for my confidence - I know what I am doing? Our lead tape producer wants to learn how to direct and we are giving him the opportunity to do so. So far so good. I know that it took me 15 years before I knew what I was doing cutting a game. 15 years to realize I cannot be surprised. As I sat next to him, producing the telecast tonight, I remembered how I felt as he cut the game and I smiled in the great understanding of how hard directing baseball can be. It is exciting for me to watch him grow and learn as a TV baseball director. Trust me, cutting baseball is the most difficult sport to direct - period. Our new director is going to get more opportunities. I can't wait to watch him progress.

I Sucked

After a 1:07 rain delay, the Rockies beat the Cards 4 - 3 in 2:56. I missed a pickoff tonight. After a batter was called out on strikes on a 3 - 2 count, he slowly started walking out of the box but up the first base line. I told my low first base camera op to shoot the pitcher. As he was framing the shot the catcher threw to first and the runner was called out on a close play at the bag. I believe my high first camera op (my pick off camera) thought the batter had walked because he was panning for a shot of the Cards pitching coach in the dugout. He whipped back and caught the tag at the last second. It's a helpless feeling when you look to your pickoff camera and he is not there. I don't blame the camera op who is great. To make matters worse, the Rockies challenged the call on the field and it took the umpires 2 minutes and 9 seconds to uphold the call. 2 minutes and 9 seconds to emphasize how I sucked on my cut in that situation. It felt like 2 hours and 9 minutes.