2018 MLB Preview: ESPN Launches New Booth, Graphics on SNB; Expands Use of Front Row Cam, K-Zone 3D The network will also expand its GREMI production model to all three MLB windows this year By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 3:48 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
ESPN opens the season with a new announce team in its Sunday Night Baseball booth, as Alex Rodriguez and Matt Vasgersian join returning analyst Jessica Mendoza on the network's marquee MLB property. However, they won't be the only additions to ESPN's MLB coverage this year: fans will see a wholly redesigned graphics package. In addition, a trio of technology stars from last season - Front Row Cam, K-Zone 3D, and the GREMI (graphics-remote-integration) model - will see their roles expanded in the network's MLB coverage this season.
ESPN has revamped its overall look and graphics package for the 2018 MLB Season.
We're excited to get going on the season and are very proud to [launch] the new Sunday Night Baseball booth, says Phil Orlins, ESPN's senior coordinating producer for MLB. I'm also very bullish on our new graphics [package], both the aesthetic aspect of it and the functionality of it. We feel that it offers a contemporary look but still has strong flavors of baseball's lore and tradition, while also giving us more flexibility and keeping the fan [informed].
Inside the ESPN's MLB Graphics Package: A New Look and a New Scorebug
ESPN's new scorebug is now in the upper left corner and incorporates both teams' records (beginning on April 8), freeing more space at the bottom of the screen for full-slab graphics, according to Orlins.
ESPN has revamped its scorebug and relocated it to the upper left corner on its MLB coverage.
From a content standpoint, this is the first time in a long time I've been able to have influence on the geometric layout and where we put graphics. That played a big role in how it was designed, he says. The look is designed to be very simple, opaque, and bold, but, at the same time, there's some really intriguing aspects of player posters and history and things that are individually customized for every market.
Orlins also stresses the need for the new graphics package to accommodate the two-box split-screen approach ESPN has begun using more often (for example, showing a player round the bases after a home run in one window while showing reactions in the second).
Having like a band across the top with all the [scorebug] info is really conducive to being able to do large two-boxes, he explains. In the old look, we always had this mini board that was in the lower right corner, and it was never really [conducive] to the two-box [format]. But now it all lays out perfectly.
CLICK HERE for a deeper look at ESPN's new MLB graphics and animations package.
Front Row Cam Takes Center Stage on Sunday Night Baseball
After debuting midway through last season, ESPN's Front Row Cam became one of the production stars of Sunday Night Baseball, perfectly capturing tight shots of the pitcher's face looking in at the hitter and super-slo-mo shots of the pitches. The robotic camera brings back the beloved low-home camera angle that had gradually disappeared over the past two decades in favor of additional ballpark seating.
The Front Row Cam (shown here at Yankee Stadium for ESPN's 2017 Wild Card Game coverage) will see more action on Sunday Night Baseball this year.
Developed in conjunction with VER, the Front Row Cam system features a Sony HDC-P43 (outfitted with a Fujinon 42 13.5 lens) inside a small cylinder aimed skyward and shooting off a mirror. The camera chain comprises a Sony BPU-4000 baseband processor unit (with high-frame-rate license), HDCU-2500 CCU, and, inside the truck, RCP1500 remote-control panel. The 6X slo-mo replays are handled by an EVS XT3 replay server. The entire system runs on two fibers into a Sony HKCU-SM100 CCU extension adaptor and also features a VER pan-and-tilt controller for the robo operator and a VER 3D-printed housing.
There were a couple different incarnations out of the gate, and we've worked with VER to continue to refine it, says ESPN Remote Operations Manager Paul Horrell. By the end of last season, I think that was pretty much refined into what we want it to be. So it should be strong right out of the gate this year.
Front Row Cam has been used on half a dozen SNB games last season and on ESPN's Wild Card Game, Orlins expects to have it on the majority of ESPN's SNB telecasts this season.
It's definitely less of a science project at this point, he notes. Since we've used it several times now, it's become easier to get [team] permission. Some ballparks, especially older ballparks, have really low front-row walls, so they're a little bit tricky. But I'm very optimistic that we'll have two-thirds to three-quarters of our [SNB] games this year. I think we are definitely getting better with it, and we will continue to tweak the [system], too.
K-Zone 3D Added Across All Games
Having launched on ESPN's Wild Card Game last year, K-Zone 3D will become a standard element across all MLB telecasts this season.
ESPN's K-Zone 3D is back this season on its MLB coverage after debuting at the Wild Card Game last year (2017 graphic shown here).
Developed by ESPN's Advanced Technology Group, K-Zone 3D uses a virtual-camera system and virtual strike zone to create an immersive K-Zone experience. Set inside a virtualized 3D stadium and using MLBAM Statcast data, K-Zone 3D allows ESPN to spin the camera angle anywhere around home plate to offer greater transparency in pitch analysis.
It's a really great tool that shows you some deeper looks around pitch movement, says Orlins. We're definitely ambitious abou
