Ugly Ugly Game

The Royals defeated the Cardinals tonight 4 - 2 in 2:50 at Busch Stadium. This was a rare game/telecast. More often than not the telecast is uglier than the game. There are thousands of split second decisions made by the TV team during a baseball telecast and mistakes will be made and are made in every show. It is therefore true that there are more mistakes made on the telecast than are made on the game. Almost always. Not tonight. This was one ugly baseball game tonight in St. Louis. The play of the game had more mistakes than the mistakes on the telecast. This was the ugliest game I have ever witnessed and I have been in the chair for 33 years. In my career, 99% of the telecasts I have been involved with have been uglier than the game. Not tonight. The other 1% showed it's face tonight.

Done

12 innings. 4 hours and 28 minutes. A 3 - 2 victory for the Royals. The first game back after a 3-city roadtrip. All of this adds up to an exhausting evening. The only saving grace Is that we were home. I don't recall a drive home after a game at Busch Stadium where I was more wiped out. Unlike after most games, I didn't have to "wind down" after the game. In fact, my adrenaline disappeared before the game was over. I was done before the game was done.

KC Crew

The final game of a 3-city, 8-game roadtrip ended with a victory for the Cards over the Royals tonight in KC. This Kansas City crew really really wants to deliver a quality product. The camera ops anticipate and seem to always deliver the best shot. Tape is fast and video packages are poignant. The audio mix is solid and the video operator rides the levels. Indeed, the pictures were some of the best we have seen this season. Don't take this wrong but it is really nice when a director doesn't have to direct.

More Comfort

The Royals beat the Cards in 2:32 tonight in Kansas City. There were 2 games in one in this one. All the runs in this 6 - 2 contest were scored in the first two innings. The first 2 innings took 1 hour to play and the last seven took 1:32. Yes, there were two games in one but there was only one TV crew - and a good one at that. Working in Kansas City is almost like working in St. Louis. I know the crew and they know me. Another comfortable situation as was Seattle. This has been a very comfortable roadtrip. One more game to go then total comfort - home with my family.

Great Fun

The Cards beat the M's 11 - 6 in 3:25 today in Seattle. The Redbirds had 17 hits of which 13 were for extra bases. Hey, I got to cut 6 Cardinals' homeruns - great fun. Yes, 3:25 is fairly long for 9 innings but I got to cut Major League Baseball with the Seattle crew - great fun. I am now at 33,000 feet flying to Kansas City on the Cardinals' charter - great fun. The next 4 games are against the Kansas City Royals - great fun. The first 2 games are in KC - great fun and the last 2 are at Busch Stadium - great fun. The Royals 2-game series at Busch Stadium begins a 3-team homestand - great fun. My immediate future includes my wife and my 2 grandsons - great fun. I am so blessed!!

Comfortable

The Mariners defeated the Cards tonight in Seattle by the score of 5 - 4 in 2:53. Comfort level is very important and goes a long way towards the quality of a telecast. That is why home shows are much better than road shows. The way to rate the quality of a road TV crew can be measured by how quickly a comfort level can be reached between the members of the visiting TV crew and the TV teammates who live in the city where the game is being televised. Comfort levels differ in every baseball town. Count Seattle as one of those towns where the comfort level is extremely high and was reached in an extremely quick fashion. The past two telecasts were among our best road shows of the 2016 season. Thank you Seattle TV teammates!!

Love Seattle

The Mariners walked off with a 4 - 3 victory tonight in 2:52 at SafCo Field in Seattle. This Seattle crew is good. This Seattle crew is fun. This Seattle crew is friendly. This Seattle crew is conscientious. Seattle sea food restaurants are fabulous. Seattle coffee is delicious. Pikes Market in Seattle is a wonderful experience. I think I'm going to talk to the Commissioner of baseball. It's about time that Seattle moved to the National League.