The Chicago Cubs and WGN honored 60 years of televised baseball Thursday afternoon with a throwback telecast complete with simplistic graphics and black and white coverage.
For just the first two innings, the telecast was provided nearly the same way it would have been many years ago - but probably without Southwest Airlines ads (video below) - void of multiple angles and what truly through me for a loop, a lack of instant replay. You forget how much that's a part of televised sport. I wanted to know whether that pitch caught the corner, what pitch Zambrano threw that got sent into the bleachers and whether he was really out a first base.
Nothing for the first two innings. It was simple and oddly relaxing.
As the game progressed, they added color and more camera angles and eventually had state of the art coverage except for the graphics... and home run calls.
With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Cubs trailing 2-1, Jim Edmonds got just enough and provided Len Kasper an opportunity to pay homage to one of the great announcers of the 40's-70's, Jack Brickhouse. Video above.
Cubs ended up winning on a walk-off hit batter. You'll take a run any way it comes. Cubs 3, Braves 2
*****
Wagner Completes Sweep Mets closer (using that term liberally today) Billy Wagner didn't blow just one save in a row, not two, but completed a special three game sweep with another blown save against the Diamondbacks yesterday. Wagner summed up his performance best: "I suck."That'll do it. D'Backs 5, Mets 4
A More Unlikely Sweep Miguel Cabrera was told to hit a home run and be a hero Thursday by his manager Jim Leyland. You don't want to disappoint Leyland, so Miggy went ahead and hit a walk-off home run to complete a three-game sweep against the first place White Sox. Still eight games down in the division, but at least Mo is on their side. Tigers 2, Sox 1
No Marlins Allowed on Moyer's Lawn If Jamie Moyer can guarantee at least 10 starts a season against the Florida Marlins, he could very well pitch into his 50's. For whatever reason, grandpa is at his best against the Fish, and nearly had his all-time best outing yesterday. Moyer took a no-no into the bottom of the 6th and gave up a his first hit to opposing pitch Scott Olsen just by an inch. Two hits in total through eight innings, moving his career record against Florida to 9-0. Phillies 3, Marlins 0
The two innings of black and white annoyed me, but that homage to Brickhouse was excellent, and Len's voice didn't get really squeaky as it usually does when something exciting happens.
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