From the truck

2010 - A NEW DECADE

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:03:00 +0000

Ready or not - here it comes! The change of yet another year - out with the old an in with the new. To that end, here are a few things to look for in this new year, where if you blink, you have missed something....

Frederic Chopin celebrates his 200th birthday on March 1st. PT Barnum celebrates his on July 1st. That's Mr. Chopin on the right....Be sure and listen to some of his soothing piano concertos over the course of this year.....

The Apple Tablet is close to being revealed. Depending on your media desires, this device will play music and video, display books, newspapers, and magazines, have a browser, Wi-Fi, the ability to run web applications, and an option to connect through a wireless network. Another device to change the world? Film at 11 on that one.....

Most importantly, there will be baseball and it will start up soon....if you need to mark your calendar, here is a link to our friends at MLB that will get you started for the season. No matter what is happening in the world of electronics, politics, or the economy, baseball will provide you with a few hours of escaping the "real world". Join us on WKYC and SportsTime Ohio for a full schedule of Cleveland Indians games coming up soon. Shovel the driveway for now - Opening Day will be sooner than you think!

Pirates in Pittsburgh....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:59:00 +0000

On our National League docket this year was a trip to Pittsburgh to play against the Pirates. We always say it is a shame the team isn't playing better as the ballpark has a terrific view back into the city and over the Ohio River.

The park itself has a beautiful layout and is a great baseball field. From the different views, to the club seats, to the field dimensions, to the eateries, this park has a lot to offer its fans. It's too bad that over recent history the team has suffered through some tough times. Their last World Series appearance was in 1979. Names like Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, and Roberto Clemente are just some of the storied names on the Pirates roster to have played over the years.

Forbes Field was the original home of the Pirates and was demolished in 1971. Over this past summer, the Heinz Museum in Pittsburgh featured an exhibit with artifacts from the old ballpark. Some facts and figures are located on the web regarding this original stadium.

Time does march on...and there is still time left in this season for more pics and info...For now, here is a look at some of the TV side of PNC Park....

Catching Up......

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Sorry for the long delay, but this season has been one for the books... As we move into the last two months, it has flown by with so many developments on and off the field....

So to sort of re-group, let me take you back to a couple of our interleague battles that took place in two very different environments - Wrigley Field in Chicago and PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

First to Wrigley...If you haven't been here, it is as much a party as it is a ballgame. The park is surrounded by many outstanding watering holes for adults creating a festival type atmosphere on a game day. But it does have quite the history which you can check out here....

So here are some of the pics from our weekend, and here are some other pics and history as well...

PNC Park is next.....

More Intrepid....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:53:00 +0000

Here is the final installment of the Intrepid Museum from New York.....We are now so used to the digital displays that we see everyday that this older technology really stands out. It is truly an informative and outstanding museum in the greater New York City area. If you are in the neighborhood, be sure and stop by to visit this tribute to the men and women who dedicated their lives to our country.

More travels of the season coming up.....

Clear The Flight Deck....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:26:00 +0000

With a sunny day and a full deck of planes, it made for great picture taking at the Intrepid Museum. The list of planes was impressive feature the SR-71 Blackbird, one of America's premiere reconnaissance planes. There was also selection of Russian jets, assorted helicopters, and other jets from different periods.

You can literally walk from one end of the deck to the other to see these assorted aircraft. It is a diverse collection - indeed.

There is one more set of photos coming that show the inside of the carrier and some of the devices that they used back in the day. The technology has changed so much over the years that to see the technology then and knowing what has evolved is short of amazing.

Takin' Off....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:44:00 +0000

From the history department......

Here are some shots from the Intrepid museum in New York of the world famous Concord jet aircraft that has been retired from passenger service. The stories of its speed across the Atlantic are legendary.

Here in New York, they have placed it on the pier right next to the Intrepid. You have the opportunity to walk through it and see the narrowness of the fuselage. There is also a chance to peek inside the cockpit and view the instrumentation of the aircraft.

The plane itself has a very rich history. Since it has been retired, folks have built models of the aircraft for display. It is one of those planes that will live on in history for the ages because of its supersonic capability.

Coming next...more planes from the Intrepid....

Opener in the Bronx......

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:03:00 +0000

The opener in the Bronx was quite the spectacle. Beginning early in the morning, the whir of helicopter blades was unmistakable as news crews prowled along the Grand Concourse area of the Bronx around the new Yankee Stadium.

For the home television folks from the YES network, it marked a couple of years of preparation for the first telecast from the Yankees new home. For those of us on the visitor side, it was more like weeks of conversing about the various issues we may confront upon our arrival.

Once we really were involved at the site, the local crew really helped in setting up our cameras inside the ballyard. Finding the right connections, and delivering both audio and video signals were the main focus of the day. To their credit, just about everything worked. We were never able to receive the data for the pitch speeds from the ballpark. Recent conversations with Yankee folks have lead to the same result - they are still unable to retrieve a signal.

We did not have much time to really see much of the hoopla of the opener - but the Tribe came out on top - and that made the opener in New Yankee Stadium good for us!

Opening Daze.....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:36:00 +0000

It has been a whirlwind of a month as we have gotten the 2009 baseball campaign underway. Our group went through 3 opening days - Texas, Cleveland, and New York. The weather, which was great in all 3 openings, can be a factor. The worst was a cold snap in Arlington and our Texas friends were forced into heavy overcoats for our setup that started at 7 AM....but they survived and actually accused us Clevelanders of bringing in the cold weather...cold in Cleveland? Brisk maybe, but not cold to us natives!

From the last out in Goodyear to the latest weekend here at Progressive Field, the time has flown....and we have moved into the season without any delays. Upcoming will be some pics of the new Yankee Stadium as well as the Intrepid - the aircraft carrier museum docked on the Hudson. New York is always a grand place to visit - oh and beat up on the Yankees!

But for before this season is too far along, here is a question, what will be the top 10 stories this year? For a starter, check out this link to MLB.com's thoughts... look at their thoughts , but then make up your own - sort of like new year's resolutions - and see what happens at the end of the season.....

In the meantime, a little baseball humor never hurts - and here truly are some humorous thoughts on the boys of summer.......

When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball."

Willie Stargell, 1981

I managed a team that was so bad we considered a 2-0 count on the batter a rally.

Rich Donnelly, minor league manager

Finish last in your league and they call you Idiot. Finish last in medical school and they call you Doctor.

Abe Lemons

There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.

Tallulah Bankhead

I could never play in New York. The first time I came into a game there, I got into the bullpen car and they told me to lock the doors.

Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles

Passing Through Old Town.....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:20:00 +0000

The pics of St. Pat's are now long behind us...as March finished up....

For us, we returned for yet another set of games in the Valley of the Sun. We had another fun set of games with the crew and folks over at Goodyear. While there, the schedule allowed for a little time off and some sight seeing in the picturesque surroundings of the greater Phoenix area.

Scottsdale is well known for its fine homes and great looking golf courses. One of the spots that is home to shopping, food, and some outstanding galleries is Old Scottsdale. This is a great area to spend some time on a nice day and check out the neighborhood - and make a few purchases as well!

It is located in the southern portion of Scottsdale and covers several city blocks. On a weekend, it is a very crowded area to be in with all the folks checking out the area. But between the old coach ride and the singing cowboy, it has the atmosphere of an old West area.

Our next trip - opening day in Texas.... As we say in Texas, "Baseball season is here pardner - play ball"!

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Our next trip to Goodyear is coming up quickly for the last set of preseason baseball. Spring is just around the corner, opening day is fast approaching, but before all that, there is St. Patrick's Day. And what a day it t'was here in Cleveland! The weather was great, the parade was outstanding, and I saw a few leprechauns (really I did!).

The history of the parade here dates back to 1867. Thanx to our friends at MetroMix, there is a brief history they put together that can be found here. But of course everyone is Irish for the day anyway, so every neighborhood is an Irish community on the 17th. And at the end of the day, mid for some, there is no shortage of Irish pubs scattered throughout the area.

This year though it t'was a grand day - and it looked like Clevelanders really came out of their winter cocoons to enjoy the day! It is still a little chilly.... but knowing the frostier, snowier days are behind us, gives us a little optimism anyway...oh, and there is Opening Day here on the 10th of April.... It will be 65 and sunny - a leprechaun told me....

Arizona Fun Facts and Trivia......

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:31:00 +0000

So if you haven't brushed up on your history much of the state of Arizona, I found a few places where you can turn to for a little light reading on the subject. Like all of the states, Arizona has a rich history, steeped in the legends and stories of the old west..and some other stories as well....

And then of course there is the obvious, like the state bird, flower, etc. These are basics you need to know to intelligently speak with our friends in the Grand Canyon State. And you can work your way around the state better....

The scenery with the mountains is breathtaking as they surround the Phoenix area....and they are everywhere, leading right up to the Grand Canyon. It is an area of many contours and has a fascinating landscape.

So much for the geography lesson.... we will be back there soon enough enjoying the sunshine, the desert, and the mountains.

A "Good Year" Begins....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:34:00 +0000

The 2009 season is underway! The Cleveland Indians have now "officially" broken ground in their new home of Goodyear, Arizona - and it was a grand day.... even if the good guys lost. There could not have been a better day for baseball...blue skies, slight breeze, and the sounds of bat cracks in the air. What snow?

The Indians and the Reds, who will be joining the complex next year, paid for the audio and video cabling of the ballpark. Simply put, it means that the facility has been pre-wired to place cameras in the basic locations of game coverage. This may be unprecedented in spring training facilities. Not necessarily a big deal to those outside the business, but to those of us who work in this area, this eliminates cabling around thousands of fans coming into the ballpark, keeps the park looking neat, and truly aids in a successful setup for the show.

They realllllly did it right here.... In a world where excellence has taken a back seat, they have truly met the challenge here in Goodyear for the TV folks. But enough about us....did I mention the great sight lines for fans? Or about the variety of food? What about the hospitality of the folks in Goodyear? And how about those Indians?

C'mon down and see for yourself....and if you can't, check out the games on SportsTime Ohio.... Forget the groundhog - spring starts now!!!!

Goodyear Park - Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:48:00 +0000

The time grows closer for the official opening of the ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. Final construction is underway with recent shots showing the field and stadium very close to being totally complete.

Here are some more shots of the ballpark continuing a tour around this beautiful,new ballyard. There may not be too much around it right now, but there is more construction to come as time moves along here.

We will be heading down to the Valley of the Sun early next week to prepare for our first ever telecast from Goodyear. We are looking forward to it! OK you caught me - I love the snow...... butttttttt.......having some sunshine and warmer weather ain't so bad either!

The good news about spring training for those of us in Ohio is that it truly means spring is around the corner - and with all the snow that has passed through the area this year, it can't come too soon!

If you can, join us at 3 PM Eastern Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on SportsTime Ohio as we "officially" begin the season for the Tribe. Play ball!

Goodyear Ballpark --- Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:43:00 +0000

So after just a day at the entire complex, we had a really good perspective as to the layout of the training facility. From what I understand they are making good use of it already - and the coaches are very pleased with the final product!

Now we move to the ballpark itself. It is just up the street from the training complex. A month ago or so when these pictures were taken, it was coming along very well. As they say "the devil is in the details" - and there was a lot of detail work left to do. Having said that, the entire area was buzzing with construction workers with opening day their main target. The project is really coming along quickly, but here is an installment of photos with another set yet to come...

Watch the snow fall outside and check these out!

Hit the Field!

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 03:25:00 +0000

So now it's time to head out to practice under that big Arizona sky....plenty of property and grass in the desert to work out on as well. It is an interesting contrast to see all the green with the surrounding brown of the desert floor and the mountains.

The pictures show just how much room the team has to spread out with .... and there is much more that you don't see. The folks at Goodyear and the Indians staff have really put together an outstanding facility for the use of the team and the community.

And by the way, the name Goodyear? As a side bar if you don't know, the history of Goodyear actually does have some ties to the Northeast Ohio area in its history in the west. We will look at the ballpark next!

Shaping Up...

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:21:00 +0000

One of the biggest issues faced by the team is injury - it can happen at any time or place during the pre-season or the regular season. The Cleveland Indians have taken a giant leap forward in this are with the new facility in Goodyear, Arizona.

As we continued our tour, we visited the spacious area designated for the medical department and training staff of the team. This area has been outfitted with 21st century equipment - whether it is used for building bodies or rehabbing them. It offers year round facilities to many of the players who live in and around the greater Phoenix area. To prospective players, it represents the thinking of a team that is interested in the health and well-being of its players.

After this, we head to the practice fields to see some of the wide open spaces of he Arizona desert that are fast being occupied with baseball players!

New Digs in the Desert...

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:51:00 +0000

If you live in or around the Midwest of the U.S. on this day, you are in the process of receiving what weather experts are calling the worst snowstorm of the year! It could make you feel like Nanook of the North! So as long as you are sitting by the fire with your mukluks on, you can sit back and enjoy some warm, pre-spring training pics from Goodyear,Arizona without ever leaving the house. If you need a little refresher as to why the team is in Arizona and joining the Cactus League again, check out this note from Cleveland.com.

So after getting the film back from my local Fotomat store.....(there is an obscure reference... they really aren't around anymore)....check out the details if you missed their existence in the parking lot of a mall near you... OK, so I uploaded the photos off the card and have some fun shots of the new facility.

But first, a little description....the first thing you notice is space - and lots of it! There is office space for team officials, plenty of locker room space for the players, meeting rooms, video support, a workout room, and a full medical area. So to kick it off, we will take a peek at the new building that is a part of this complex. Roll the, er, film.....

Next ------- training area.....

Heading West.....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:34:00 +0000

There it is - our destination this past week in Arizona - the new practice facility and ballpark in Goodyear which will start serving as the new winter headquarters of the Cleveland Indians. Not only did we leave the snow for a couple days, but we also had the chance to visit one of the newest sites for baseball in the majors.

And up to date it is....This week, I will be adding a few different slide shows of all the pictures that I took in and around the entire facility. There is no doubt that the players who pass through here will marvel at the 21st century technology - nothing like Winterhaven. And yet, before dashing Florida to bits, the facility there in Central Florida was very quaint and reminiscent of a time gone by...and it certainly had its place and served the players and fans admirably.

But it is the 21st century, and the Indians have truly walked through that door. I heard an interview Kelly Shoppach on Bruce Drennan's "All Bets Are Off" show on SportsTime Ohio. Kelly has been working out at the facility during the winter and he spoke of it in glowing terms. I have a feeling that will be the normal response from other members of the club as well.

You will get your chance to see practice fields, locker rooms, and the new ballpark itself. So c'mon back this week and visit! I can hear bat cracks in the distance already....!

Turning the Calendar......

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:21:00 +0000

Greetings to all and Happy New Year! It is indeed 2009 whether we want it to be or not...As thoughts turn to baseball. the Indians soon will begin this year's campaign at their new facility in Goodyear, Arizona. New additions and the prospect for another strong year from seasoned Tribe veterans make this upcoming season look very promising - one that I know we will have a lot of fun covering.

First, we had to move through the holidays. When the partying was over and the new year had begun, I realized that there were things to be done in this new year and the list of resolutions was prepared.... with some thoughts like these in mind....

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. Joey Adams

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. Author Unknown

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. Bill Vaughan

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. Author Unknown

You get the idea - but I had put a string on my finger and I could not remember what it was there for - and why do you put a string there anyway? According to http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/ it goes something like this....

For many years, Mothers have chosen this way to help their children to remember something. This is a carry-over from olden days when people tied pieces of cloth around any painful part of their body.
This cloth was tied in one area to keep the "spirit of life" in that area, and so cure it and keep the pain from spreading to other parts of the body. The string on the finger was designed to "keep" the thought there, to be remembered later when it was needed.

Anyway, I had this string on my finger - did I forget an anniversary or birthday? Was I supposed to be somewhere for a meeting? Did I forget not to remember something? And then it hit me - the blog!!!! It's a new year and we have a lot to do!

So hang on - the blog is back starting right now.....through the whole year - rain or shine! Join us "From The Truck" for some behind the scenes TV and baseball fun. This year we open in Texas, are the first team for a regular season game in the new Yankee Stadium, and visit the Central Division of the National League including storied Wrigley Field - it should be a very interesting year...

This week, we head to Arizona for a quick peek at the new training complex and ballpark in Goodyear. Leaving this weather behind will not be so bad as we head to the warmer winter climes of the desert. That story and those pics will be coming at the end of the week after we return....Now its time to tie a string around your finger to remind yourself that pitchers and catchers report in about 24 days...

Enjoy the winter scenes if you have them- and don't forget to feed the critters!!!

On the Beach in St. Pete....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:09:00 +0000

From the gulf side of the state, we have been in St. Petersburg, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Even with rainstorms in the afternoon, the Tropicana Field covers the field and allows play under any conditions. But when I was on the field yesterday, you could hear the raindrops pounding on the roof of this place - it made quite the noise.

With those acoustics, the volume of the crowd and their cowbells can make it very loud during game play. The amount of reverberation in the building is amazing, but I suppose that is considered to be a home team advantage. I would say the ray tank in centerfield also offers a touch of the atmosphere that surrounds the Tampa - St. Petersburg area with of course its proximity to the water here.

I have included some pics of the field and our base of operations for the few days that we are working. Many of the crew folks that we see here have worked with us in spring training in Winterhaven. This trip in is a little bittersweet in that now we will see our Florida friends only on the Tampa series during the regular season versus the extra time we spend with them in the spring. As it is around the country, there are some very talented people in this area and their work over the years has been much appreciated. I will definitely miss seeing them more often.

Check out the pics and look for info from Toronto upcoming this week!

On The Road Again......

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:54:00 +0000

After the All-Star break, it is time to gear up for the second half of the season. There is still plenty of baseball left before we hang it up for the year. Off we go traveling again on the road - this trip has us in Minnnesota, Tampa, and Toronto. This is our last trip to the Metrodome this season visiting with the Twins - and that could be a good thing.... They are a pesky ballclub to face - especially here in their building. We will be saying goodbye for the summer to the fine folks we work with up here at the Metrodome, and be back for their final year of baseball in the "Big Baggy" in 2009.

Tampa is our next port of call and Tropicana Field. The Rays have been pushing for a new stadium to be built in their area, but the ability to garner public support for the funding has not worked out so well. So for now, it will be indoor baseball until a further resolution can be achieved.

And then it is off to Toronto, which is always a favorite place to visit. The third dome on our trip here, the Rogers Centre, or as it was known as the SkyDome sets off the skyline of this great Canadian city. The best part of this is that we will be enjoying a day off in the city that offers great restaurants and an outstanding waterfront area. Our schedule used to have us visiting these cities twice, but with the re-formatting of the schedule for interleague, we don't visit these cities but once a summer.

The trek continues with pictures on one of our more scenic trips for the year!

The problem with no TV

noreply@blogger.com (Murph) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:33:00 +0000

As you well know, Saturday's Indians-Mariners was not on television for only the second time this season. Unfortunately, STO did not have an option to air the game. It was originally scheduled to be one of the Fox national games of the week, but was dropped a couple weeks ago from the Fox schedule. The Mariners did not change the time of the game from it's original 12:55 PM pacific time start, which falls in the Fox broadcast window. Because of this, Fox has exclusive broadcast rights, and we didn't even have an opportunity to pick up the game.

The problem with that is two-fold. Number one, you don't get to see the game (a 9-6 Indians win which ended a 10-game road losing streak). The second thing is we have no video from the game yesterday because it was not on any TV network. That means we can't show highlights, or any kind of player packages in today's game. So when normally we would want to run a highlight package of Shin-Soo Choo's 3 hits from Saturday, we don't have that option. So not only did we not get to see the game Saturday, we won't be seeing any highlights from the game today or any day the rest of the season.

The good news: that is the last time it should happen in 2008. So enjoy the rest of the season right here on STO and WKYC.

All-Star Salute....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:31:00 +0000

Time for the All-Star game once again....A chance for the club to catch its collective breath and for Grady and Cliff to be properly recognized by the baseball community - congrats to them! We know that baseball brings together the best of the best....but there may be some examples of that reflect the history of the game or even the worst selections...

For example, do you know who the 10 worst selections to the All-Star game may be? I had to check it out on this web page... For example, how does a player with just 208 career at-bats and zero career home runs make an All-Star team? Take the case of Frankie Zak, who played for the Pirates in 1944....and become the number one worst selection?

He was in the right place at the right time, and the fact that his career took place during the watered-down talent pool during World War II didn't hurt, either. The All-Star Game was in Pittsburgh in 1944, and Zak was a late replacement. Evidently it wasn't a long search. Zak hit .300 that year in a part-time role. He played in just 36 more games after 1944, with a total of eight hits. He didn't play in the All-Star Game, but goes down as an All-Star .... The worst All-Star ever!
(www.Baseball.about.com)

And what about the first All-Star Game? It was held in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. That inaugural contest drew more than 49,000 fans and featured Babe Ruth, Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Gabbie Hartnett and Pie Traynor. The AL won the game, 4-2, and fans were treated to home runs by Ruth and Frankie Frisch. Rick Ferrell started at catcher for the American League and played all nine innings, keeping Mickey Cochrane and Bill Dickey on the bench. (www.historicbaseball.com) For more info, check out this part of the site.....

And so we finish our first half of the season - things on the technical side have gone very well thanx to the hard work of everyone involved. There will be more in the second half here about cameras, trucks, transmission, graphics.... all the fun stuff that goes into a telecast - with pictures as well!

Enjoy the break!

**********************************************************************************

What is both surprising and delightful is that spectators are allowed, and even expected, to join in the vocal part of the game.... There is no reason why the field should not try to put the batsman off his stroke at the critical moment by neatly timed disparagements of his wife's fidelity and his mother's respectability.

George Bernard Shaw

4th on the 5th.....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:56:00 +0000

We rolled into Minneapolis on July 3rd just ahead of all the festivities planned here for the 4th of July celebration. Here at the Metrodome, there have been a succesion of impressive ceremonies honoring the men and women in our military before the games - especially the one on Saturday night that featured a hot air balloon remembering those missing in action. It has been gratifying to see a very public thank you to those who serve.

On the 4th, when we started our telecasts here, we were certainly conversing with family and friends who were all enjoying the fabulous weather both here and in Cleveland. But the show must go on - and our crew here in Minneapolis performed admirably in getting us up and running for the 3 game set - putting up cameras and audio in the indoor ball field on a gorgeous holiday.

So the crews from both shows determined that the 5th would be a great day to celebrate the holiday on our own right here at the truck compound. These folks know how to set up a picnic! There was all types of food right down to desert - and the grills made it look and smell like a tailgate party. (Note to the boss: We passed on the adult libations until the post game party)
It was great fun and a good time was had by all. All of us in the TV traveling party would certainly rather be home, but our hosts from Minnesota made us feel at home in the course of our stay here.

Interleague Play - 20008 - Mission Accomplished!

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Murray) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:14:00 +0000

Our season of interleague play finished its turn on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds - and I know the Tribe is glad to see it finish up and move back into playing divisional rivals. We had the chance to see the Rockies' ball park and Dodger Stadium - a couple of places we would not normally see and the Padres and Giants visited us in Cleveland. It was good to see Omar Vizquel in the lineup and receive the warm greeting of the Tribe faithful after his many years with the club. I had the opportunity to at least visit with Duane Kuiper, broadcaster for the Giants, and his brother Jeff, producer for their TV show. Duane as you may recall was a member of the team in the 80's and it was great to see him in fine shape and enjoying his job with the team.

But what about this type of play? Are you for or against it? I know from my corner of the world it is interesting to see our team play in the National League format - but I would be just as interested to see more of the Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Rays in our own division.
Regardless of that what did the figures show? According to MLB.com, a total of 8,893,312 fans attended Interleague games through Sunday, an average of 35,573. One Interleague game remains on July 10 as the makeup for a Yankees-Pirates rainout.

With the continued popularity of Interleague Play, Major League Baseball's cumulative attendance average of 31,687 is up 0.6 percent over the same date during the record-breaking 2007 season. At the current pace, MLB is on track for a fifth consecutive year of record overall attendance.

American League fans again have the most to smile about when they reflect on Interleague Play '08. The AL is 149-102 -- and much of that damage was inflicted by clubs in the AL Central.

The Minnesota Twins (14-4), Detroit Tigers (13-5) and Kansas City Royals (13-5) all cleaned up in Interleague Play. The AL Central was 58-32 overall, with four its five clubs going 12-6 or better. Eleven of the 14 clubs in the AL finished over .500 and only the Mets, Reds and Braves broke .500 from the NL.

So there it is - the fans seemed to have spoken.... They like it and in great numbers! Now it's wait until next year.... In the meantime, plenty of baseball left and into the Central we go....

Baseball is like a poker game....Nobody wants to quit when he is losing; nobody wants you to quit when you are ahead.

Jackie Robinson