A's Baseball on Television

Minimal flashy graphics, no sense that every second must be filled with sound or information, no excess information. The broadcast should move at a baseball pace, not video-game pace. Just give us good camera work and selection, the occasional relevant stat, etc.

1.  When you have a first game at a visiting ball park show us some visual shots from around the park, at special places that make that park different or special, or particularly interesting.
2.  On critical at bats, edit the tapes to show the pitch sequence.  This is done, but not a regular enough basis for me.  It can really show graphically how a pitcher sets up a batter for his "out" pitch.
3.  More split screens: i.e. when a runner is tagging up from third; or a runner is going from 1st to 3rd, or 2nd to home.  Let us follow the ball and the runner on the same screen in real time (if possible?)
4.  Show a continuous pitch count on the corner graphic that shows the Balls/Strikes and Outs.
5. Show graphically how fielders reposition themselves depending on the the count, or the pitcher , or whether men are on base, i.e. here is how the infield played Mark Kotsay in the first inning with no one on; in the 4th inning with a man on first; or in the 7 inning against a different opposing pitcher.

 

Get a play by play man who clearly doesn't care about the team, tells long-winded and time consuming stories about his days with other teams, and makes horrible jokes that lead to excruciatingly awkward dead air. Check.

Besides that, I've always thought you guys do a good job.

In all seriousness, I actually like it when they get guests in the booth. It's always kind of cool to hear ex-players- even if they don't say anything terribly important, they're a nice link to A's history. And I like hearing the beat writers speak after reading them every day.

I also kind of like it when ESPN mikes someone on the bench...not the awkward in-game managerial interviews, just the "sounds of the game."

just 1 thing sort of irked me during games. It was the speed gun and how it popped up the speed of the pitch, but placed it right over the count. Is it possible to just have the speedgun in a different place? or drop down below the count? I know its minor, but a lot of times I'd look up to see the count after a pitch and just see the Radar gun.

One thing I don't like about watching the game on tv is all the close-up shots, they make me feel like I'm watching baseball cards playing the games.  I don't always need to see a single pitcher or batter in the frame.  I would like to see more of the field and get a better feel of being at the game.  A wide shot showing all the player movement (infield and outfield) would be nice to see for an at bat once in awhile.
Oh and I have no idea how this works, but since I live in Texas and can only watch the games through the mlb website it seems that I very rarely get the Broadcast from the A's broadcast team.  Although it is fun to hear how different teams' announcers talk about the A's I like to hear our guys talk about our team too.  Some of the coolest games to watch last year were the games when the mbl-site linked the A's radio broadcast with standard stadium cams.

I agree that pitch counts should be shown once an inning, maybe more often in the later innings.  For relief pitchers, more relevant stats should be shown (ie, WHIP, ERA, right/left splits, inherited runners scored) if possible.

As far as on-screen graphics, a good model to avoid is the FOX national telecast.  Too many explosions, flying whiz-bangs, etc.

I really like watching pitch sequences.  I think you show maybe one per game.  Another would be cool.

pitches per plate appearance become a little more commonplace.  It gives an idea as to who really is a patient hitter.  And it isn't that hard a concept to explain like any of the defensive ratings, etc.

OPS might be a little too "out of the mainstream" right now for A's telecasts, but honestly, if any team should start incorporating additional stat measurements into it's broadcasts, the Oakland Athletics should be that team.

Nice to have you here, Mark.

Briefly:

-More informative stats, as described in previous comments.

-A less cheap look for the ch. 36 broadcasts, especially that big ugly logo.

-More relevant discussion of batters, particularly their history against the pitcher, as well as anything interesting about them.

-Related to the above, less ignorance of the batter.  There is always something to say about the guy up to bat, even if it is "Stole 21 bases for the Milpitas Roughnecks." It seems like entire at-bats are ignored when the broadcasters are consumed by some old story or joke.

-If Hank does anymore telecasts, he should be banned from telling stories about the Dodgers and Yankees. He doesn't have to learn the A's if he doesn't want to, but he could be provided with things to say about each of them, as well as the opposing players.

Overall, great job Mark!

Do not incorporate the dirt cam! The one that looks up at the batter, from a bit past the opposite batter's box, where you can see dirt at the bottom of the screen. It's as bad as the crotch cam they have in the nba, looking up guys' shorts as they dunk.

Mark,

You've come to the right community.  I can't get any of the local channels cuz I live up in Oregon, but if I had local access I would request this......

First, I hope that you are shooting in HD for every homegame.  This is critical.  Check out the Seattle Mariners and Safeco field.  Personally, I can't stand the Mariners, but I tell you what, I watched so many games last year because watching baseball in HD is second to being there, really.

Second, I want to see this on TV in HD just once.......Byrnes on second, Scoot hits a weak flyball to left fielder Vlad Guererro, Wash sends Byrnes home, Byrnes slids in to homeplate and is SAFE.  This is all captured from the wide angle HD lense from behind home plate, you see all of the action in front of you.  No quick cuts of LF, Byrnes rounding third, the the quick cut to the plate, show the action up front, no cut aways.  Sure, there would be no close ups, but man , you would really get to see the intensity of a play like that, just like you would if you were at the stadium.

Let me try and tackle some of your comments:

Regarding the High Tight Centerfield camera:  Many of you wrote that you like that angle.  We do too, but like every other shot in the stadium, it has it's limitations.  Though it does a great job of showing if a pitch is really on the plate, it really minimizes the look of a good curveball, whereas the normal lower centerfield camera is poor at showing the strike zone laterally, it really gives you a great sense of how much Zito's hook breaks.  That's why we try to use both angles.  By the way, this camera position is available only at very few ballparks.  I am unable to use it at the Coliseum when the Yankees, Red Sox or Giants play because the seats where that camera resides are sold.

Defensive Player Positioning:  Great suggestion by all those who mentioned it.  The only problem is that much of the movement by players is subtle, involving only a step or two which doesn't show up well on television.  

Announcers:  As readers could probably tell, there was considerable discussion regarding the A's television announcers last season.  As has already been written, Hank Greenwald has severely cut back his schedule this year.  Glen Kuiper will be doing more games on KICU and both he and Tim Roye will increase their games on Fox Sports Net.

High Definition:  Though I'd love to tell you that A's games on KICU will be done in HD, that isn't likely, at least at this point.  At present, it's a case of simple economics.  It costs twice as much to televise a game in High Definition, but we cannot charge our advertisers more for the time on HD broadcasts.  On the other hand, Comcast, which is trying to stop people from dropping cable and going to satellite, is paying the additional costs for HD production by Fox Sports Net.  Remember, when a cable channel needs more money, all they do is raise their per subscriber rate to the cable companies which in turn pass that increase on to their customers.  Commercial television depends strictly on ad revenues.  Until that playing field is leveled (ever heard that phrase before?)or new revenue paths are created, it's not likely that A's games on KICU will get regular exposure in HD.
Showing Runners and the Ball together:

Here are some other specific responses:

genaro - We will try to do at least three SAP broadcasts this season where you will hear me call the game.  The post game local sports wrap you spoke of was discontinued by Fox Sports Bay Area.

greenmachine - specifically what do you mean when you say we should market to out of state fans?

rickeytime - any comment you would like to make is fine.  Don't pull punches.  I'm pretty thick skinned.

secret A Sian man:  If you notice, we don't use any sound effects at all in our show.  I think they can get tiresome.  It's very hard to find one that truly compliments your production and stands up to repeated playing game after game.

Jordan33 in Santa Cruz - Tim Roye will get more games on Fox Sports Net this season. I too would like to use more Minor League stuff in our games.  We will try to do so. I completely agree about getting an up close look at the players.  It's a bit hard to do during the games since most of the non-baseball time is spoken for with other commitments, but I will try to do something along those lines.  As for pitch counts, I think we try to update that as often as it seems notable.

Swishmix - Analysis of Stats by announcers?  Unless you are passionate about numbers like Gary Huckabay at Baseball Prospectus, then it comes our really boring.

Robert Melvin - Great idea about following the runner and the ball on the same play.  We did that a number of years ago and it might be a good time to try it again.

Tony - putting mics on players on the bench is not legal for local broadcasts during the season unless permission is granted by MLB.  The A's are not one of the franchises that has been given that permission.  We do however mic three people during pre-season telecasts which usually results in a fun broadcast.  Ron Washington is the king of wireless mic.  He's just terrific.

Satchmo22 - Sorry you don't like the closeups.  Television is a closeup medium.  Research has shown that when an audience gets to know and empathize with the players, they tend to feel more connected and watch the games more often.  Close ups are a part of that process.

Dingerpower:  Good suggestionr regarding camera angles.  I wish I had the budget to do that more often.  However, we must first make sure that we have cameras in place to cover the game well.  The rental of television equipment for these games is quite expensive so all of us who do local sports are trying to get the most for our production dollar. Specialty cameras with limited use are hard to justify in the budget.

To those of you who complained about shots of Yankee and Boston fans at the Coliseum - point well taken.  But you have to admit that those fans do make themselves heard.  Ever go to a game at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park? There is a fairly substantial difference between those crowds and the ones at the Coliseum.  However, that said, I agree with you that we are doing an A's telecast and that should always remain our focus.

jmoney - weekday day games are a problem because advertisers specifically ask for weekday night games or weekend day games.  I suspect that Fox Bay Area will do more weekday day games as the number of games they do continues to increase.

jrbh:  I'm glad someone mentioned our scorebug.  We have been debating whether to continue with the lower left bug or go to the "strip" for a couple of years.  Surprisingly, most of the people I come in contact with prefer the box in the lower right.  Regarding our pitcher graphics at pitching changes, I don't understand why you say you need to "translate."  What's so difficult about wins, losses, ERA, K's, BB's, Opp. Avg? And finally, regarding commercial breaks:  television is still a business and the cost of doing Major League Baseball is substantial.  Thus, when we have the choice of making money versus watching one pitcher leave the game and another one trot in, we will run the commercial.  However, that said, if we were in the 9th inning of a big game and had run our prescribed pitching change breaks, I could elect to stay and not take the break.  We did that a few times last year and will do so again this season.

Again, thank you all for your suggestions.  They are most appreciated.  Keep 'em coming.  

Mark Wolfson

This is awesome, Mark.

I really like the Channel 36 graphics the way they are, except for when I'm watching the game later on TiVo. When fast-forwarding, the game graphics get obscured by TiVo's way too prominent bar across the bottom of the picture. I RELUCTANTLY vote the graphics move to the top.

Another thought: How about a graphic at the beginning showing wind speed/direction?

I've thought about this a lot over the years and am glad to finally be able to bring it to the attention of someone who can do something about it. My idea is this: Follow every foul ball into the stands until it is retrieved. I know this is done often, but many times they will cut back to the batter resuming his stance while the ump tosses a new ball back to the pitcher. That is a wasted opportunity. If you are at the game, and a ball is hit near you, or anywhere within your sight line, you don't turn your attention back to the field until that ball is in someone's posession. Because there is drama there. Will someone make a great catch or flub an easy one? Will that ball take 4 caroms and end up in a totally different section? Will some guy give it to a kid and make his day? I, for one, want to know the fate of every ball hit into the stands, as I'm sure do many others. And the best part is, you won't be sacrificing anything, just some useless between pitch routines.

Thanks for reading, I'd really like to hear what you and the others think about this idea.

thanks for seeking our input. I second all the comments saying the centerfield camera should be the only angle ever used for a pitch.

But my main contribution is one that would, ironically, save a lot of money. I watch about 120 games/year and always listen to the radio broadcast. Not only is it, in my view, superior, but I just think radio play-by-play, in general, is simply what goes with watching a game. I remember in my childhood, watching Warriors games where the "TV play-by-play" was Bill King's radio simulcast, and it never felt weird (like "he's giving too much detail")--it felt like how a game should look and sound together. For me, the picture, the graphics, and the radio play-by-play give me everything I want and need, no more no less. I never even think of the telecast as having a sound option.

I know my comment won't produce this kind of major change, but I thought I'd mention it. In fairness, I should also point out that as a former radio play-by-play announcer, I could be considered biased. Just wondering how many others share my view, or how many violently disagree.

First, "The Show" is produced by an outside agency - Atomic Productions.  I have no clue what their production schedule is, but I think they want to try and do a new show every month.

Per your and Hank's request, there will be less Hank Greenwald this season.

As for showing the national anthem, I hope I won't be considered unpatriotic, but I'm glad that they play it prior to our going on the air.  It doesn't lend anything to the telecast and in fact, some of the folks who perform it are better off not getting the additional exposure.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Mark Wolfson

last year I still found myself muting the TV audio and flipping on Bill and Ken, after a few innings of many games, when Hank upset me so much with mindless talk of his Yankee days, and sometimes even forgeting which teams were playing right in front of him. (Hank doesn't even try to hide that the Giants are his first love in the Bay Area.) I was able to tolerate a replay visually as the radio guys did their thing.  Just my thoughts, but I understand where you are coming from as the producer/director.

Thanks for asking us to help you prepare for the upcoming season.

I watch a little WGN on a slow work days.  At Cubs Games, WGN does so many closeups of "Hotties" in the stands, it's ridiculous.  Surely there are enough "hotties" in Oakland to do closeups between pitches.  I would rather look at "hotties" than watch the pitcher grab crotch, spit, and grab crotch, again.

More Closeups on "Hotties", Please!

Can I ask you what the feasability of the A's getting their own radio station in the Bay Area is? Would it cost too much? The Giants pretty much have KNBR (the only damn sports station in the Bay Area) and I think it would help the A's become more popular and get more fans if when you turned on the radio, you could hear talk about the A's and not wait around while listening to oldies on KFRC. How can you compete with the Giants if the common commuter or radio listener thinks everyone only talks about the Giants and ignores the A's.

but I just remembered a question I have been waiting and waiting for someone to answer--and I realize you probably can. It also is relevant to "what I care most about" regarding the telecasts, which is having my eyes and ears in synch (remember, I'm the commie-weirdo who listens to the radio for his audio).

I have never understood why the telecast is in synch with the radio broadcast when on Ch 36 but is a 1/2-second delayed when on FSN (and even more delayed when on ESPN). What is it that is different about the 36 and FSN telecasts that causes this difference?

Knowing the answer to this question could significantly change my life (not in an actual way, but more in a Zen kind of way).

My simple request is to have enough time to read all of the stats posted on the screen.  I know some people have said that want less clutter, but I fall into the other camp.  I want as much statistical information as possible.  If you are going to post the information anyway at least give me enough time to read it all.

The best example of when this happens is when the opposing team makes a pitching change.  I don't have the time to follow many of the other teams, and often have no idea about what type of pitcher the A's will now face.  Naturally as an A's fan I want as much statistical information on the new pitcher as possible.  Usually the relief pitcher's stats are projected on the screen next to him while he is warming up.  There are about six items that are posted.  I have trouble getting through two or three, then poof they are gone.  

I am not 90 years old, not even close to being a senior citizen, and I don't consider myself to be a slow reader by any means, I just don't have time to catch each of the items.  Please "ease my pain."

It has very educational to read this thread--I've learned a lot in the last 48 hours. It also makes one re-appreciate how hard it is to produce/film a baseball telecast and what a terrific job you guys do overall. Whatever our personal preferences are (many of which contradict each other anyway), you have succeeded in all the major areas: producing a game that's easy to watch, without succumbing to too many temptations of overproduction or gimmickry. Like a good umpire, an A's telecast serves its purpose so well that you often do not notice it--it is just there, doing what it does and doing it well. Many thanks.

letting this Diary run on and on.  It was one of the most educational you have had.  Probably educational in both directions, for us and for Mark.

We've got an older TV and just the basic comcast cable and watch games on 36 (which comes in on channel 6 for us in oakland).  For some reason, the audio quality is always horrible -- it is always muffled and hard to hear.  We only have this problem when watching A's games on this station; at other times (on this station and others) it is ok.  It's so bad that we have to turn the sound off and listen on the radio.
Is it just us, or do others also experience this problem?

(However, I know I really shouldn't be sitting on my butt watching TV when I can listen on the radio and be semi-productive doing something else.  Maybe this audio problem is a useful reminder to get off the couch..)

Here's a thought on showing statistics.  While I'd like OBP to be on either instead of or concurrent with batting average, I'm not going to get too into what other stats we could be showing.  Really, if I'm that concerned, I can look up any stat I'd like. What I'd really like is the replacement of bad stats.

As this is the team we like to consider (and desperately hope is true) as being at the forefront of statistical analysis, the A's telecasts should likewise be at the forefront, or at least on the right side of the bell-curve as far as things go.

Clutch hitting is a myth. That clutch hitting does not exist is as well-documented as any negative can be.  Let's stop showing RISP stats.  Let's especially stop showing RISP w/2 outs, because it's only slightly more meaningful than BAIDGOTFPNB (Batting Average In Day Games On Tuesday Facing Pitchers Named Bob).

Reliever ERA has much less relevance than a starter's ERA.  Instead, how about, when a reliever is brought in with a man on, show his Inherited Runners stat?

Batter vs pitcher is fine, though please make clear exactly how small the sample size is.

kinda tough to watch out here, though i wouldn't miss a single game if there were more, or, say, you pre-empted Cubs and Sox games anytime the A's were playing!

:-)
a cable deal like the Yankee's would be cool

How about a streamed version of the games?
Or DV that we could download? heck, I'd even go do all the shooting (you'd get the tickets, right?)

pretty cool to have you submit our thoughts - thanks for taking the time.

Mark:

Thanks for asking for our feedback.  Nice to see the fans being consulted, and not just a focus group.  

So my 2 cents...ok 3 cents then...

Cent #1:  While I don't care between the bar and the corner box, I do care about "freshness", and the KICU games especially are looking "dated" with generally the same graphics for a few years.

Cent #2:  I don't know if this would be a "Segment" or if can just be incorporated into highlights when possible, but I have tried for years to explain to my wife why baseball isn't boring and that there are so many little things always going on.  So, that being said, how about showing Crosby showing the open mouth to Ellis, and then understanding why the ball was hit right to him on a hit and run because they decided who would cover.   Or, showing the movement in the outfield after the pitcher missed location and came inside when they were playing the hitter the other way. (this might also be a solution to how to show defensive movement also).

Cent #3:  Can I just add a plug for Greg Papa returning after Lewis Wolff takes over and opens the checkbook a bit, because even though I like Kuiper over Roye...Greg Papa knew how to have fun while also knowing when to get into the game!