So there was, J.T. Realmuto, one of the key pieces of a Philadelphia Phillies fall to remember, crashing a Home Run (a conventional one, not the unconventional inside the park version earlier in the playoffs) to help his team cap a comeback victory on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, putting them on the verge of the World Series.
And there was Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports’ ever hustling storyteller, live in the dugout, interviewing Realmuto just seconds after he rounded the bases…for almost two minutes…before he put his catchers gear back on to go back out to finish the game…while the game was going on inches away.
Now for MLB fans, this type of live in game commentary is not that new…FOX, and MLB Network…have been doing this for various games for a few years, but with a star just off the field, listening and talking about being in the moment before going back out in seconds to finish the game…was really impressive and again set a standard that MLB does NOT get enough credit for in an era when access is uber important and this type of in the moment dialogue is so special.
Now we are used to seeing the coaches in various sports get grabbed during games and with key stoppages in play, usually with not much to say. But in most sports athletes…live, on the grandest stage…are still way off limits. Heck in some sports still looking for their place, athletes and coaches swear off speaking to “media” when the game is going on.
And it’s usually offbase.
The reality is they are not talking to “The Media.” They are talking to an audience of millions for a few seconds or a minute…fans and consumers who want to experience that joy with them and get a feel for what it is to be in the moment.
Now all of this interaction comes down to professionalism, trust and understanding. Rosenthal rarely has a gotcha moment, rarely picks the athlete he doesn’t have a relationship with, FOX always abides to MLB’s guidelines, and the fan is never looking for the interaction well in advance.
It is in the moment, and when it happens, it plays out really well, just as it did last night.
Is it for every game, every sport and every coach or athlete? No. but when it does fit, and there is the right chemistry, the fan gets the look like he/she/they would not expect, and the game is better for it. Does baseball, with its expansive breaks, play to this opportunity more than maybe basketball or the NFL or even soccer? Maybe. But the windows do exist.
Score another one for FOX, and for MLB, the latest in a summer of great growth for the sport.
