Brutal

The Redbirds lost to the Pirates today by the score of 7 - 3. The game at Busch Stadium was played with the temperature over 100 degrees. That was about the only thing hot about this game/telecast. Apart from an unbelievably great super slo-mo replay on an attempt by the Pirates centerfielder, this game did not offer much in the way of entertainment. There are very few games that could possibly offer less to a telecast than this game. There was a grand slam hit by the Pirates in the top of the first inning that teased of the possibility of an entertaining contest, but that is where the game ceased to provide even a speck of entertainment. A brutal day for the fans because of the heat. A brutal day for the TV viewers because of the game.

Full Responsibility

Yes, the Pirates scored a season high 14 runs and collected a season high 19 hits as they defeated the Cardinals 14 - 5 tonight in 3:09. And yes the Cardinals scored their 5 runs on just 7 hits. Yes, this was a good old fashioned butt whooping. The Pirates came into Busch Stadium and absolutely spanked the Cardinals. Do I give credit to a well-played game by the Pirates? You bet I do. Do I give them credit for the victory? No! The St. Louis Cardinals TV production team will take full responsibility for this brutal loss. This loss absolutely rests on the shoulders of all involved with the telecast. This loss was our fault. Let me explain. Going into the top of the 5th inning, the Cardinals were leading the Pirates by the score of 5 - 2. At this time we aired a graphic over Cardinals starting pitcher, Adam Wainwright, that pointed out the in his career Wainwright was 50 - 1 when given 5 runs of support or more. The Pirates scored 3 runs in the top of the 5th on a bases loaded double to tie the score at 5. To make matters worse, the Bucs scored the runs after the first two batters of the inning had been retired. After the Cardinals went down meekly in the bottom of the 5th inning, the Bucs took the lead for good with 3 homeruns in the top of the 6th. The Cardinals were sailing along rather smoothly until we aired that graphic. This loss was our fault. We take full responsibility.

Just The Way He Should Be - Invisible

There were some moments in tonight's game/telecast that were most noticeable: The Cardinals once again jumped out to a quick 1st inning lead (2 - 0). The Marlins tied the score in the 5th inning when their only walks of the game both scored. The Cardinals took the lead in the top of the 7th inning when back-up catcher Tony Cruz hit his first major league homerun. What was most noticeable about this moment was the fact that Cruz is from south Florida and many of his family and friends were in attendance. The Marlins took the lead for good in the bottom of the 7th with back-to-back homeruns. The second homerun came against a relief pitcher and had to be reviewed by the umpires. Looking back, however, the most noticeable aspect about this game was something that was totally unnoticeable - the home plate umpire. During the first two games of this series, the homeplate umpire played a big role in both contests. The first game featured the home plate umpire relaying the wrong information on a double switch by the Cardinals to the Marlins manager and the Marlins manager was ejected by the home plate umpire during the second game. Tonight's homeplate umpire called a great game and was invisible - just the way he should be.

Very Comfortable

The Cardinals scored 5 runs in the first inning tonight and cruised to a comfortable 5 - 2 victory over the Miami Marlins. Speaking of comfortable, this was the most comfortable telecast we have had in a while. There was a good flow to the show and everything clicked. For almost every telecast, both home and road, it may take a few innings or more before a comfort level sets in.
This was not the case for tonight's game/telecast. The comfort level was there from taping the three segment open until the final out. This game matched the life style of southern Florida - very comfortable.

Bizarre Strange Weird Huh?

The Marlins led the Cardinals tonight 2 - 0 going into the seventh inning in a fast paced, well pitched affair.
Then the weirdness began.
The Cardinals scored a run in the seventh on a passed ball making the score 2 - 1 Marlins.
The Marlins countered with 4 runs in their half which included back-to-back bases loaded walks.
The Redbirds picked up a run in the 8th inning when a Marlins player made 2 errors on one play.
Score 6 - 2 Marlins.
The Cardinals score 4 runs in the top of the ninth inning capped by a 2 out 2-run homerun.
The Cardinals then scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th with the second run scoring on the first major league hit, an infield hit, by a rookie pitcher who was forced into the game because of a mistake by an umpire. In fact, with runners on first and second the Marlins intentionally loaded the bases to face this player.
The reason this player was in the game was because the home plate umpire relayed to the Marlins manger the wrong information about a Cardinals double switch.
The Marlins then scored a run in the bottom of the tenth inning and had 2 base runners when the game ended.
4 hours and 7 minutes of the most bizarre, strange, and weirdest games ever played.
Huh?

Advice

The Cardinals swept the Royals today by the score of 11 - 8. There were 5 homeruns hit in the game and, as you know, homeruns are great fun for a TV baseball director to cut. The homeruns were the only part of this awful game that offered any enjoyment to me as I cut the game.
One cannot utter the words "good baseball" without also uttering "good pitching".
The Royals have some really talented players. Players that are fun and exciting to watch. Trust me, there have been many, many young talented and exciting players who have been ruined because they became use to losing. I truly hope this isn't the case with the Royals so I will offer the Royals organization some sound advice - develop pitching!

Nice

I spoke with the Royals TV director and asked that his X-mo (tight cf) give me more batter shots than last might's telecast. He did and cam 6 was great. This has been a nice road trip from the TV side. Detroit and KC are both fun places to work. Would somebody please talk to the players and tell them to improve THEIR game.
Help us out Players - we want good TV as well as you do.