Discussing the “NLCS Powered by JABO” with Rob Neyer
Tomorrow night, Fox Sports 1 is going full nerd. While their mothership is showing the traditional broadcast of the game, FS1 is going to have a simulcast of the game action, but instead of the traditional play-by-play and color commentary audio, the crew from Just A Bit Outside — C.J. Nitkowski, Gabe Kapler, and Rob Neyer — will be offering their insights while the game occurs. They’ve also wrangled Bud Black into joining them, and the whole thing will be hosted by Kevin Burkhardt. You can read more about what they have planned here, or watch this video preview, or you can read below, where I talk to Rob about what it is they’re going to do tomorrow night.
Also, while those guys getting ogled on your TV screen, we’ll be making sure JABO.com is still loaded with content. Jeff Sullivan, Drew Fairservice, August Fagerstrom, and myself will be representing the FG crew, providing quick-hit analysis and commentary on the site, and expect a few other notable voices to chime in as well. If you want to be fully ensconced in analysis while you watch the game, tomorrow is the night for you.
Dave: So, what exactly is this thing you guys are doing on Saturday night, and how can people watch it and the game at the same time?
Rob: That’s exactly what they can do! At every moment, anyone watching FS1 will see the same game they would see on Fox. Often it’ll be a split-screen, with the game in one screen and our panel in the other. At key moments, we’ll switch the game action to full-screen and you’ll hear us doing our thing. And occasionally during a break in the action, you might see just us.
Dave: This is like color commentary on steroids, then? Wait, maybe that isn’t the best metaphor. But I gather this broadcast will focus more on the commentary side of things and less on the play by play of a traditional broadcast booth?
Rob: Very little play-by-play, unless we’re in the middle of a discussion, or there’s a lull, and Kevin Burkhardt pulls us back into the game for a little context.
Dave: What are some fun things that you expect to be able to do on Saturday night that fans aren’t used to getting in a traditional broadcast? Are you going to actually going to say the words “linear weights” on television?
Rob: I’ll be shocked if linear weights doesn’t come up at some point, at least in passing. Essentially, we’ll be talking about all the things that we — and by we, I mean you and I — talk about when we get together: defense and the vagaries of measuring it, pitch-framing, game theory, wOBA … You know, all the good stuff. But it won’t be just the sabermetrics. We’ve got a big studio, a bunch of cameras, and two tremendously smart and experienced ex-players in Gabe Kapler and C.J. Nitkowski, who can walk away from the desk anytime they like and give us all lessons in how the game’s really played. Oh, and we’ve also got Bud Black! You wanna know what it’s like to manage against Bruce Bochy? I’ll bet Bud Black will tell us.
Dave: How much is the balance going to lean towards appealing to people who read FanGraphs versus retaining mainstream appeal for casual fans who might just be flipping through the channels? If my wife watched the broadcast with me, would she enjoy the simulcast, or is this something we should watch alone in our mother’s basements?
Rob: Honestly, I think any baseball fan who’s not utterly hostile toward sabermetrics will enjoy this broadcast. We’ll be explaining everything we talk about, but I think briefly enough that neither you nor Amy will be bored. Also, there’s this: Gabe and C.J. are both wildly engaging. Just great people to be around, and I think if you’re watching you’ll feel like you’re just in the middle of a great conversation about baseball, not to mention the occasional moments when those guys step away from our desk and demonstrate pitch-framing or reading a left-handed pitcher or whatever. We’ve done a few hours of rehearsals, and my only regret is that I can’t just hang out at home and watch these guys do their thing. Because they’re really, really good at it. Plus Kevin Burkhardt is one of the best studio hosts I’ve ever seen.
Dave: If we overnight you a FanGraphs t-shirt, will you wear it on the air? What if we special order a FanGraphs button-down, or better yet, a FanGraphs flannel? You’d wear that on TV, right?
Rob: Can you overnight me a FanGraphs tie? They’re making me wear a tie. And fancy pants, too. It better be worth it.
Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.
But what if I want to listen to Harold Reynolds?
That’s about as likely as hating baseball and reading Fangraphs.
That would make you a masochist. Or Harold Reynolds.
*OOOOOoooooHHHH* Look at Rob Neyer, Mr. Fancy Pants…
Still mad that I wasn’t able to watch the NLDS at all due to this FS1 channel.
Joe,
Someone you know is bound to have a cable subscription with one of the companies that will let you stream Fox Sports 1 for free online. Use their login and password. It’s called Fox Sports Go.
On the other hand, if he’s under the age of 40, it’s unlikely that any of his friends has a cable subscription because who watches fucking cable TV anymore?
You watch cable sports because it was bundled with your internet cheaper than internet alone. Then when the special deal runs out, you go through a two day period of smartphone internet until you are able to subscribe to whatever other company competes with the provider you just canceled on. And the cycle continues.
can they add Jim Kaat to the team:
http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/98115030/jim-kaat-advanced-metrics-dont-mean-anything-when-it-comes-to-postseason-baseball
It is ironic that advanced metrics (namely, defensive metrics)help explain the Royals and the Orioles. It certainly isn’t back-of-baseball-card numbers. No budding Joe Morgan before August of this year would have said, “You know why the Royals are so great? Because they’re winners. They know how to win.”
Isn’t a defense efficiently turning balls into play into outs an example of the “execution” that Kaat drones on about? Wow, we have metrics to measure that sort of thing.
It is expected that the Orioles and Royals would continue to play brilliant defense in the postseason. It would be unexpected if the Tigers suddenly played defense like the Orioles and Royals in the postseason.
It would also be HILARIOUS if the Tigers suddenly played Royal-O’s defense.
“And Miguel Cabrera at the wall…and he robs the home run! What a play! How did he go that far from first base?!”
What’s this about JABO?
I will be one of the online contributors during the game, toning down my normal managerial vitriol but still providing biting commentary on whether the players and managers are making the right or wrong choices as the game unfolds.
For real, MGL?
This just makes it all the more likely that it’s must-see-TV.
Yup, thanks, unless you were being sarcastic, in which case, no thanks! 😉
“Often it’ll be a split-screen, with the game in one screen and our panel in the other.”
Why would anyone watch this? I can’t see why one would want to see Rob Neyer and co. instead of the game.
Yeah I don’t get that either. If it was just this crew calling the game instead of the regular announcers I would be all over that. But I can’t imagine why I would need to look at them and watch the game only in split screen. Is there going to be a puppet show or something? What’s the point?
Someone wants to show off their tie and fancy pants, obv.
Although a puppet show would be AMAZING.
‘We’ll utilize a double-box format, with the live game action in one box, and our studio hosts and guests in another, along with a constant flow of graphics.’-Rob Neyer.
I’m guessing the graphics will be a reason why.
can u replace the team with,santorm,huckabee ,murdock and palin?
I agree. If they want to cut away from the action during lulls in the game and have Gabe Kapler explain what a secondary lead is, fine. But it appears that this is going to be more intrusive and thus annoying.
They could accomplish their objectives by using voice-overs and graphics. But the format revealed in the brief preview reminds me of when MTV stopped playing music videos and resorted to gimmickry of hand-held cameras moving back and forth around the likes of a standing Kennedy or Daisy Fuentes.
I could give a shit who wins the game between Cardinals and Giants. I’d much rather focus on analysis in the context of a game, than primarily watch the game with snippets of analysis.
To me, a baseball fan who (against all reason) wants both teams to lose, the idea of learning more about these topics and building my knowledge base in a casual way is far more appealing. I’d rather learn about baseball than merely learn who won Game 1.
There are literally who simulcasts of radio shows on TV just showing guys talking into microphones (or falling asleep, also on FS1 as I understand it..)
But yeah, generally I agree with you. Don’t really need to see people talking.
this is the faux–no news and now no sports-
So I guess they figured Saturday night was perfect for its target demographic?
Mom has a date on Saturday, so I can watch it on the big screen upstairs!
but it’s also not going to make for good bar watching. I wonder if this is all a conspiracy to get the saber guys into the booth. “Hey, we liked your analysis, but it took away from watching the game. Why don’t we just listen to you.”
This is basically the BCS Film Room for the NLCS.
Is it possible for me to watch this if I reside in Europe? I would miss ‘Sutty’ on our international broadcast though. It sure was good to know Alex Gordon was a triple short of the cycle when he hit the go ahead homer in the tenth today.
WTF…… Worst idea EVER!
So far this is very good.
I like it so much better when there’s either fullscreen, or when the splitscreen is showing something besides talking while sitting.
For me at least, there’s just a very strong instinct to look at the people who are talking, so it takes actual effort to not look at them but still listen to what they’re saying. Showing the game fullscreen takes care of that problem nicely.
I also prefer it when the conversations relate directly to the game. That’s just because for the most part the non-game stuff largely feels like a rehash of things I already know. It’s probably better for those who don’t read FanGraphs on a a daily basis.
Yeah, but it’s devil-lovin’ FOX.
Add to that a Cameron-Cistulli “Kill NotGraphs” cabala, and…
Any indie rock fans out there know what’s next.
Infinitely more tolerable than the main broadcast.
The mute button while the TV is tuned to the Bravo network is preferable to a booth of Buck and Harold Reynolds.
HATE this format, I don’t need a bunch of suits yapping during the game, can’t even hear the balls and strikes called. Not to mention can’t SEE it with the stupid split screen. Why would I buy a large screen TV to sit and watch a bunch of suits yapping about who knows what, while I am desperately trying to find a channel playing a normal format. Local FOX channel will not be showing the game during the week, so guess I need to find it on a computer or radio, because this is ridiculous.
GET RID OF IT!
You need an announcer telling you sbout balls and strikes? What other handholding do u require? Do u need a helmet just to watch a broadcast?
I have a big screen TV for a reason. I don’t like you taking over my screen and I don’t want to watch a bunch of guys talking over the play of the game. I can’t hear the sounds of the game, the cheer of the crowd, or anything. Way bad idea and since game was recorded (since We are in Hawaii and are 5 hours behind the game time) we have no way to change to the local FOX channel. We had no way to change or find the normal broadcast. It really annoys me that the commercials are full screen as as soon as the game resumes there goes my view. It’s no bigger than a computer screen. You all ruined the game. Please change it back. They are talking about coffee mugs, WHY? The local FOX channel will also not be showing any of the games this week!
Sounds like the issue lies with your local Fox affiliate. This broadcast wasnt meant to supercede the traditional one.
Move out of the sticks.
It is like having that guy sitting next to the game who isn’t watching the game and won’t ever SHUT UP! You are probably that guy.
I love the idea of a sabr-friendly broadcast. I thought many of the insights the panel provided were great.
And yet…I didn’t like this format. I want to watch the game while not having to listen to intoning about heart or TWTW or whatever, but I hate the split screen, and I honestly didn’t care for the no play-by-play either.
What I really want is for there to be play-by-play a la classic vin Scully — just a smooth, beautiful description of the action. It would be great if that was enhanced by intelligent baseball analysis. The FS1 broadcast seemed to misunderstand the reason most people — sabr nerds included — tune into playoff games.
It would have been fine without the split screen, or only split screen for demos. I don’t need play by play, I have eyeballs. That’s what radio is for.
I loved this. Just would’ve preferred no split screen.
I don’t watch any baseball during the year, I only watch post season…why? Because I hate the camera views and angles. Why don’t you provide something NOBODY else has ever provided to us baseball viewers, that would be a camera view that makes me feel like I am at the ballpark. Instead this is what we are treated to; the batters face, pitchers face, managers face, a fans face, the 1st basemans face, back to the batters face, pitchers face, NOW go they go to the center field view of the pitch being thrown, the same angle we have seen for the past 40 years and we see it over and over and over. Give me a view that allows me to see the entire FIELD. If football was covered like baseball the viewing audience would be 50% less. In football TV viewers can see the WHOLE field. In baseball I have no idea what any of the players besides the pitcher, batter and home plate umpire are doing. Can someone please think outside the BOX! Back the camera up 20 rows behind the dugout and make me feel like I am watching the game from a stadium seat; not my couch.