Final Pic Blast!

The shoot is winding down and the crew is preparing to pack up and head back to Cleveland.
But not without one last round of pictures and video for the season....

With the shooting over, the team will turn to the business of spring training games.... beginning today against the Astros!

And if you havent had the chance to check out a spring training camp, load up the bus and head south! It's a lot of fun for the whole family - no snow shovels are necessary!

Hearing that crack of the bat......

or a ball hitting a mitt.....

the sounds of summer are approaching!

So there it is - a final look at what the guys have been up to in Winterhaven.....Several days of shooting "in the can" with our favorite baseball team! Great work guys - see you in Goodyear, AZ next year!

Who You Will See on the Mound

Today is the first intersquad scrimmage for the Indians, and don't forget, you can see all the highlights on Spring Training Daily tonight at 8:30 on SportsTime Ohio. The pitching is set, and here are some of the men on the mound today: Paul Byrd, Joe Borowski, Rafael Betancourt, Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey.

A few of the guys pitching in Wednesday's intersquad game will be Fausto Carmona, Cliff Lee and Masahide Kobayashi. The starting rotation is set for the first three Grapefruit League games. Jake Westbrook will start the opener Thursday in Winter Haven against the Astros. Byrd will then get the start Friday in Kissimmee against Houston, and then C.C. Sabathia makes his spring debut Saturday, March 1 against the Tigers in Lakeland.

If we do some quick math, here should be the starters for the next few days:

Sunday, March 2 vs Tigers Carmona
Monday, March 3 at Blue Jays Lee
Tuesday, March 4 at Reds Westbrook
Wednesday, March 5 vs Braves Byrd ****

The March 5 game is the first game you will see on STO. The other two televised games before St. Patrick's Day are March 8 vs the Phillies (undecided), and March 11 vs the Tigers, which should have Sabathia on the mound.

One name that unfortunately is missing from that list is Adam Miller. The Tribe's prized prospect is out for at least one week with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand.

More Photos from Winterhaven

And here is more...Mac working overtime to keep us up to date from the big promotion shoot in Florida...Hard to believe that a few days of shooting occurred - the crew was really busy....

But so were the players...let's check out some of these photos....

Keep in mind, many of the 40 man roster players go through this process....and it happens in training camps all across the country.

This is truly the best time of the year for the media to perform its "leg" work making sure there is video and still pictures for all of the team.

Here is Mac pasing along a little direction.... The players take direction well as previously mentioned and can enjoy the whole photographic/video process...

They are just as intereted to see how they look as the crew is - you could say it is really a collaborative effort....

Here is Steve directing his player exactly where he would like to see him...with the proper lighting and the correct placement.

And so it goes....more pics to come on the final day!

Game Time

Fans, believe it or not the games are about to begin. I know the schedule says Thursday, February 28 is the first game of spring training, but tomorrow and Wednesday the team will be playing intersquad games. If you want to see highlights of these games, tune into SportsTime Ohio each night for Spring Training Daily. I was down there last season for the intersquads, and though they don't mean a whole lot, I remember being impressed by a couple of guys named Carmona and Francisco in those games. You never know who may surprise, and who may lay the groundwork for a big season in these games.

And speaking of games, the first real spring game kicks off Thursday in Winter Haven. Eric Wedge's pick for his opening day starter is..........Jake Westbrook. No, that doesn't mean C.C. Sabathia isn't starting March 31 vs the White Sox at Progressive Field on real opening day. It just means Sabathia will probably make his spring debut Saturday, March 1, which would be exactly 30 days before the opener, meaning six spring starts on his regular four days of rest.

Speaking of starting pitching, probably the biggest battle on the team is for the fifth spot in the rotation. Aaron Laffey ended the season in that role and did quite well, posting a 4-2 record. His main competition would seem to be coming from Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers. And remember this about Lee, this is a guy who won 46 games in three seasons form 2004-2006 and appears eager to earn back a starting spot.

More Hollywood in the 'Haven....

Looks like the guys are back "on the set" in Winterhaven.... let's see how things are looking...











Great to see the guys
back in uniform
and having fun!












Here's what it looks like if you are getting your picture taken on the set....

Hey Steve...make sure I am in focus... oh you want to shoot my good side?....... Why should I turn around then? Heyyyyyyyyyy....I got that.........

Hollywood in the 'Haven

To show that things have started up in Florida for us on the broadcast side, folks from WKYC are already hard at work at Chain O’Lakes Park. There are many facets to the creation of Indians baseball on SportsTime Ohio and Channel 3. Right now let's go right where the action is - in Winterhaven!

Blue skies and sunshine greet us on the drive into the grounds. If you look in to your left, you can see the ballpark itself. It is nice to see green again….and the palm trees don’t hurt either!

Our production team there is videotaping the players for various promotional mentions throughout the season. Just like in the movies, a green background is set up to record the various players in front of it. Once this is done, the recorded video can be superimposed over any background….like the ballpark or a fireworks display….whatever would make sense at the time. Many home computer editors have the ability to use this effect and have some real fun….like putting the family on top of the Eiffel Tower or being superimposed with a rock band on stage…

Here is what our setup looks like at the ballpark…..

Indeed, Hollywood has come to the 'Haven!

The lighting is set evenly so that all the green disappears in the transfer of video in the edit process. The players stand in front of the green paper and pose accordingly. They generally have fun with it and are pretty patient with the process as it can take a while. I mean you know how tough it is just taking the family photo at the reunion picnic!

Here is "Mac" Mahafee checking out the "limbo" set on the production stage. The "limbo" stage is erected with a black material as the background.

(No, not the "limbo" you are thinking of - I have seen Mac dance before....) The lighting here can be a little more dramatic - giving the videographer more opportunites to create an edgier mood. Again, the players stand in front and pose for the camera giving the post production team more options in the creative process.


With his back to you walking toward the set is Steve Pullen, who is directing the videography for the session. He will assess the lighting and background situations for each shot. A big part of the entire shoot is just getting all the equipment there on the scene. Steve has done it again and the shoot is well on its way to being completed.

Once the shoot is over, then the real work begins. Looking for the right shot to complete the task is turned over to the art director.

Here is Greg Golya of WKYC providing that touch as he views some of the takes of the day. He will review the shots and the lighting to make sure that everything is going to plan. And there is a plan….a blueprint is worked out for the entire shoot before they leave for spring training. And with great coordination and assistance from the Indians, the entire project will be completed in a few short days.

I hope to have a few more shots from Winterhaven up and running as the week continues. Many thanks to Mac who shipped these up for use here on the blog.

Keep up the good work fellas … now go have a strawberry shake at Andy’s. It is on me!

STO in HD....

This will be the season for us to transition into high definition television for the entire regular season. (Don't try to adjust your set during spring training - those games will still be in standard definition.) I have seen over time our good friend here at WKYC Frank Macek addressing the subject of this very exciting change in broadcasting.

There is still time for you to acquire that 52" screen for the Tribe's run for the pennant this year. If you feel so inclined, I have added a couple of links here for you to check out just what HDTV is and how it works. These are just a couple of reports listed with many other articles on digital vs. HD, as well as what to look for in a set.

You will notice a lot more detail. in the HD picture. We certainly can tell that in showing off ballparks, the wide shot takes on another dimension. We have offered many different looks of Progressive Field --- even Fenway Park looks like a place you would like to visit! (OK, maybe not) The panoramic shots give you that film appearance of cinemascope leaving you with an interesting view inside the park and sometimes out to the city, making you feel like you are actually there.

Surround sound adds another dimension to the visual. When the show is mixed, crowd noise fills the air and again, you can be transported to the game itself feeling that you are a part of it. Once again there are a variety of ways to do this, depending on room size and the seating arrangement.

Dont be shy... pull up your easy chair, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy the excitement of the games in HD! I know we will!

Live from spring training

Hey fans, just a quick reminder in case you're getting the itch to see what's going on in Winter Haven. SportsTime Ohio will be broadcasting shows from Chain of Lakes Park for the next two weeks. Spring Training Daily will air each night at 8:30 PM on STO and will have all the interviews, access and updates that you cannot get anywhere else. (And don't forget the sunshine and 80-degree weather)

You won't see Matt Underwood and Rick Manning broadcasting games just yet, but you will see them every day leading into March, giving you the latest from Winter Haven during the Indians final season in Florida. And in case you wonder what C.C. Sabathia has to say about his contract situation, he will be on the show tonight with Matt and Rick to let YOU know.

Games start in 11 days, and the first game broadcast is in 17 days here on SportsTime Ohio. I hope you are looking forward to it as much as we are!

Heading to the Bigs...

Sitting in the truck, we have the advantage of seeing the players up close on the field through the lens - in the good times and the bad. Their emotions spill out as pictures can tell more than words at times. So now, I start to think of the emotions we will see at spring training...

Most of it is pure fun! The gang is back together and they are playing - baseball! Work involves scooping, sliding, hitting, and throwing. And when we get to televise these games, it is the best. This is the time they have to work out the bugs, shake off the winter rust, and get back at it as a team. That is where we on our television crew are coming from as well. We shakedown our systems, communication, and timing making way for the full regular season to start.

The emotions that we will soon be capturing are for the most part smiles during the playing of those games. But make no mistake there is a lot of intensity building inside as we head to the season. Young men trying to make the team and veterans looking for another shot round out the competitors on the field And, for us as well, we have some fun, enjoy that Florida weather, and work out the bugs during our eight game television stint in WinterHaven.

One of the best ways to swing into the mood this spring is to watch Brian Anderson's attempt to head back to the majors. His show is "Back to the Bigs" seen regularly now on STO. He represents another group of players - trying to make a spot on a big league roster. This is a fun, documentary style show that chronicles the story of his journey back to the majors.

We have had the opportunity to work with Brian on games and other Tribe programming last season. Everyone is pulling for him - even though Tampa was the team that invited him to spring training. He has a great work ethic and a boatload of intensity. But for him, playing loose and having fun is key.

So if for some reason his quest is unsuccessful, he can always play on our team - anytime! Good luck Brian!

Indians Ode to Yankee Stadium

It may seem silly, but in TV you HAVE to think as far in advance as possible. I know it's only the middle of February, but it's never a bad thing to look ahead into the old crystal ball.

2008 is the final season for Yankee Stadium, and the Tribe takes their final regular season trip into the Bronx May 6-8. And in thinking ahead, we started to pull some old video of some of the Indians' best moments at the famous House That Ruth Built, and I thought I would trigger your memory on a couple of these.

The first thing I was thought about was some of the Indians' playoff games at Yankee Stadium. The first thing I thought of was obviously Game 4 of the ALDS last season. How nice was it to see the Indians celebrate on that famous field for the first time, and quiet all of those Yankee fans? It sure was nice, and you never know if it could happen again this season......

How about the 1998 ALCS-do you remember Chuck Knoblauch seemingly standing for seconds after the ball was thrown past first base on a Travis Fryman bunt attempt? The Indians won that game in 12 innings, 4-1. One of my favorites was Game 2 of the '97 division series, rookie Jaret Wright's first playoff start, and certainly his coming out party. After walking the bases loaded and giving up three runs, Wright got out of the firstand the rest is history. That was it for the Bronx Bombers, and Wright finished off New York in the 6th by striking out the side in his final inning.

Regular season moments in recent years include Jim Thome's first career home run in 1991. The coming-out party of Manny Ramirez in 1993 in front of his hometown fans, going 3-4 with 2 homers, trotting triumphantly to the Tribe dugout as his Dominican friends celebrated in the stands. And Bartolo Colon's one-hitter in 2000, a 2-0 shutout out of the pinstripers.

You never know what you may see when the Indians play in Yankee Stadium, but you will see it on SportsTime Ohio in high-definition, certainly not the way Babe Ruth ever would have imagined it.

Snowbound Progressive Field.....

Today was a great day to head over to the baseball field and check out some camera positions for the upcoming season. We might be making a couple of changes and thought we would swing over and take another peek at them. It always looks so desolate in the winter - but even having said that, it is indeed one of the better looking parks around the leagues. Great sight lines and an open look to the city make give it some real flair. Hey I worked out of old Cleveland Stadium... growing up with it, then working out of it, and then saying goodbye are all fond memories but this park has soemthing special (so much for unbiased reporting!).

Now I sit here typing this and watching a game on STO featuring the Indians and the Red Sox in a regular season broadcast from Progressive Park, and I can't wait to begin the season (Beckett vs. Carmona). After seeing the snow all over the field and standing on home plate today (or approximately where it is), and now watching the Indians take the lead in this game, I have to admit, I am ready to go!

We looked at sightlines, foul lines, and baselines - having to guess for all of them. There is a good sense about what we would like to do and how we will proceed, so that should not be an issue. I will have more on that as the season draws near - and explain in greater detail the objectives we would like to accomplish.

I started to think that maybe this is what opening day may look like in 2008...we know what it looked like in 2007! Somebody said "break out the zamboni". HMMMM....I will have to check the longe range forecast, the groundhog outlooks, the Farmer's Almanac, and also check to see if my left knee is throbbing (a sure-fire weather predictor).

Naw............ it couldnt happen again................. could it?

Heading to the 'Haven....

There is no doubt it is winter in Northeast Ohio. The beauty of Spring and with it, Indians baseball seem to be months away... So while you are waiting, there is nothing better than watching a light dusting of snow drop over the area, while enjoying the heat of a warm fire from the friendly confines of your home. (Snow is best viewed that way...)


But if you sit back and relax, and close your eyes, you may hear the crackling within the fireplace - but you may drift off thinking that it is the sound of Tribe bat cracks....one after the other. And the wind that is whistling around the house and through the trees, just may sound more like the roar of the crowd after a big defensive play or a game winning hit. That warms things up a bit.... and then cruel reality strikes - someone has to shovel the driveway....


Take heart sports fans....baseball is in the air - it may be Florida air - but it is indeed that time again. And for one last year, that means trekking to the 'Haven...or more commonly known as Winterhaven. The birds are heading north and Indians fans are heading south - taking advantage of one more glance at Cleveland's baseball complex in Central Florida. There will be many visitors from the area looking to take a "spring break" and many others who wish they were making the trip.


So if you cant board that plane jetting south bound or your family's schedule or pocketbook wont allow to make you the trip either, dont worry! You can sit by the fireplace and join us on STO for 8 games from Chain O'Lakes Park. At the end of the month, you will be able to see the last game from Winterhaven on March 27th. Then head to he closet, dust off your uniform, and grab a hot dog, because Opening Day comes your way on WKYC-TV on March 31st at 3:00 PM - with plenty of pregame fun prior to the first pitch! And through the 2008 campaign check out the bulk of the schedule either on WKYC or SportsTime Ohio - all in high definition!


And throughout it all, this will be a page that you want to mark as we bring you some behind the scenes thoughts, stories, and happenings from the Indians TV crew. Some of it will be a little technical but mostly it will be just fun... A chance for us to tell you how the show is going or how great the steaks are in Kansas City! This will be called "From the Truck" - from the folks who present to you the telecast of the show. It should be a great season on the field and we are equally looking forward to many success on your HD screen. So join us for the ride - it should be a great time!

Spring is in the Air

Ahhhh, spring training and baseball. It's hard to believe looking outside here in Cleveland that baseball season is upon us, but it is. And here at WKYC and SportsTime Ohio, those of us on the television production side of things want to give you a unique perspective of what goes on in the TV world, beginning in spring training.

But before we get to Winter Haven, let's think about a couple things before we enter the 2008 season. The Indians lineup and rotation are almost set. Jobs aren't going to be up for grabs like they have in season's past. So how the defending AL Central champs match up with the rest of the division may be the most talked about thing of the spring.

The most obvious conversation starter is the Detroit Tigers. Yes, on paper, they seem like a fantasy player's dream. But what about the bullpen? The Indians and Red Sox had arguably the best two bullpens in the A.L. last season, and they were the last two teams standing. With relief pitching becoming more prominent in today's game of baseball, the Tigers' pen may be worth keeping your eyes on.

And one other thing that should make an Indians fan smile; the Tigers' lineup, as loaded as it seems, averages 32 years old. The Indians lineup? It averages just under 28 years old a man. The philosophy in sports is always to win now, but this Indians lineup is going to be fun to watch this season and in season's to come, whether you're watching at home on TV or from the truck.

So what will you get From the Truck during the season. Behind-the-scenes access from the television crew of what goes on during a game broadcast is the biggie. Remember those Inside Sportscenter's ESPN used to show from inside the control room? Well, that'll be us, and we'll tell you what goes on inside that room. We'll have pictures, stories from the road (81 games a year can be either real boring or real exciting, and you'll hear all about it), where to eat if you're in Seattle, or why it seemed like the producer fell asleep during the game last night. We'll have it all, and we'll have it all season long.