Link Report Preview -- What we can expect in audio / media in 2011

[Jim Goulart]

After checking in or reviewing recent press releases, here's what we can expect for Link Report audio connections in 2011:

 

MiLB.com has indicated that they still are not prepared to go back to archived full broadcasts of all games, as was the case a couple of years back. It seems like there was a lot of dependence on all the various radio station engineers to make that happen on a consistent basis, but the coordinated effort was certainly a boon to folks like ourselves, as we could track down highlights such as game-ending plays, critical on-field injury moments, and all the pre-game interviews. Still a big loss...

 

AAA: Stu Paul will be back in the booth in Nashville for a second season (all went just fine during his maiden AAA voyage), and we should continue to get archives of pre-game interviews. MiLB.TV plans to expand their subscription video package to other, if not most, AAA stadiums, but don't look for Greer Stadium to be included. Stu should be in-season blogging again as well.

 

AA: The Huntsville situation seems to be the most in flux right now. Once again the coverage appears as though it will be internet only -- fine for Link Report devotees, less convenient for those in Joe Davis Stadium, although today's mobile phone web technology will likely allow fans to listen in the stadium with their smart phones if they wish. Neither Chad Anderson nor Aaron Morse will be back. Chad now lives in Nashville, and is focusing on his other career interests (and his upcoming wedding), but is still involved in broadcasting as well and we hope to hear from him down the road. Aaron, a Huntsville intern last season, accepted a new media / broadcast position in independent ball, congrats.

 

We've confirmed that the Stars will not have an announcer on the road with the team, and will broadcast home games only. You'd have to think the Stars would be one of the very few, or perhaps the only AA franchise to not have full-time audio if that's the case, but the situation leaves us with the opponent feed only for all road games. Not optimum, as it appears those now infamous budget woes in Huntsville played a part in this decision. Thank you, Miles Prentice.

 

GM Buck Rogers updated Huntsville fans recently --

 

Look for a change to our broadcasts this season...every home game will feature our broadcasts not from a radio booth on the 3rd floor, but from the seating bowl of the stadium complete with a fan of the game on as a guest announcer. We're taking the broadcast into the seats and you'll have your chance to be an announcer for a game! We'll get you more information as we iron out the details, but if you've ever wanted to be a part of the broadcast team, you'll get your chance this season! Your family and friends can listen in around the globe, we'll have question and answer innings, shout-outs to listeners who email in, some food and drinks delivered to the broadcast team, and break all the molds associated with how games have been broadcast in the past.

 

Why are you having your game broadcasts from the seating bowl this season?

Very simply, to add to the fan experience. The radio broadcast booth has always been an area that has been off-limits for fans. Why? Most fans, given the opportunity would jump at the chance to get on the mike and help call a game. For some it would be the memory of a lifetime. Your family and friends all over the world could listen in on the internet. You could get a mp3 recording of it for a keepsake. I don't think we'll have any vacancies once we begin registration for guest announcers. All we're trying to do is continually improve and by bringing the booth into the crowd and having fans involved we think we'll add to some fans enjoyment. Sure, we'll have the traditional radio guys out there going nuts, but we found our host broadcaster who will call the play-by-play action while incorporating the fan and a guest into the game. His name is Pokey Hayden and he's been assisting the broadcast team of the Troy University sports department for the past couple years. And when you meet him - and his brother Preston - you're going to agree that he's the perfect guy for this job.

If this "fan in the booth" experiment is beyond a once in a while thing, it could be interesting, and not in a good way. Just sayin', good luck with that. The rest of the broadcast will probably be just fine...

 

Chad and Aaron did a nice job with game highlight and interview audio archiving -- we'll see what the coming season holds, but considering the hosting archive site belonged to Chad, a repeat is not likely.

 

Side note -- former Voice of the Stars Brett Pollock (2005 - 2009) will be part of the AAA Omaha (Royals) broadcast booth this year.

 

High-A: The Florida State League is not a media mammoth, as you know, and friends and families of the 2011 Manatees will face a similar situation as those from prior years. We'll let you know whenever an opponent feed is available (if you can stomach things from a Cubs' perspective, there are always plenty of broadcasts from the Daytona crew, a common enemy on the regular season diamond). At some point later in the summer, Stephen C. Smith, who self-produced and broadcast several Brevard County games at his own expense in 2010, may pick up the mantle again. As of right now, those plans are on indefinite hold.

 

A: The Timber Rattlers have extended their relationship with WNAM 1280 in Oshkosh all the way through the 2016 season. Mr. All-Things Appleton baseball and Rattler baseball, Chris Mehring, will be back in the booth for each and every game, and on his year-round blog, and with special features hosted on the Rattlers' official site. At some point we believe he sleeps, but we're not sure when. In addition, we'll remind you a day or two in advance so you can set your DVR's, but Time-Warner Cable 32 will again broadcast ten Rattler evening home games:

 

Day	Date	Opponent	Time
Thursday	April 7	Kane County	6:35pm
Thursday	April 28	Clinton	6:35pm
Thursday	May 12	Cedar Rapids	6:35pm
Thursday	May 19	Beloit	6:35pm
Wednesday	June 29	Peoria	7:05pm
Wednesday	July 6	Kane County	7:05pm
Wednesday	July 13	West Michigan	7:05pm
Thursday	August 4	Clinton	7:05pm
Wednesday	August 24	Kane County	7:05pm
Monday	August 29	Cedar Rapids	7:05pm

Rookie: The always popular Steve Wendt will lend his voice to all Helena game broadcasts again this summer. Link Report season always goes into overdrive mode when the two rookie seasons commence, and Steve's been a big part of that for many years now.

 

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As for game recaps and media coverage of home games --

 

AAA: Doug Scopel and the Nashville staff provide timely and very detailed game stories via the Sounds' site. The game summaries are the "lifeblood" of the Link Report in a way, and Nashville does it right.

 

The Tennessean and the other Nashville daily newspapers basically gave up on coverage of the Sounds last year. We'll see half-a-dozen features sprinkled throughout the season, and that's about it. That's not unusual in AAA, but still unfortunate. Compare that to the coverage we see from the rookie Pioneer League and all its outposts.

 

AA: We are hopeful that the Stars will be able to provide timely and meaningful game summaries of all their home games. Last season everything was hosted on former broadcaster Chad Anderson's own website -- we'll wait to see how it comes together in 2011.

 

The Huntsville Times has often provided very good game-day reports that went beyond the play-by-play. The articles were mostly written by non-staff correspondents, which was fine. At some point last summer those features stopped publishing on the archaic Times web site, although we understand they still appeared in the printed version of the paper. We will attempt to work with the Times to get access to anything of this nature for you.

A+: An occasional player / coach feature will appear in Florida Today, and the Manatees' staff did provide basic game summaries of home action last year. Not quite as detailed as those from Nashville and Wisconsin (those are tough to match), but certainly they were sufficient.

 

A: A new-look Appleton Post-Crescent will keep us very busy with their coverage, including many photo galleries. As noted, Chris Mehring will have our game summaries in good hands.

 

Rookie: Similar to Brevard County, we can expect basic but handy home game summaries. However, while Manatee newspaper coverage will again be very sparse, the Helena Independent Record will undoubtedly blow us away for another season with their work. Amber Kuehn is still with the Record, we can only hope she's once again the H-Crew beat writer for 2011.

 

Maryvale and the Dominican: Yeah, right.

 

Your debut 2011 regular season Link Report is Thursday, April 7th...see you then. Well, before then, too, but you know what we mean...