The expansion of various forms of social media over the last few years really opened up opportunities for the masses to comment regularly about any subject. Of course, St. Louis Cardinals baseball in its various shapes and forms is among them.
This observation comes from a guy who blogged before blogging became cool and then common, tried MySpace early on before Facebook won that battle, but was slow to hop onto the Twitter bandwagon.
Along with non-insiders stepping up to report on their favorite organizations, the many voices in cyberspace have been joined by teams themselves. Savvy clubs are using multiple forms of social media to present their stories to the fans directly.
A poster at The Cardinal Nation message board recently noted that the Quad Cities River Bandits have established their own YouTube channel. Professionally presented highlights are being added daily during homestands. Josh Jones mentioned similar initiatives from Springfield and Palm Beach and Memphis has a channel that was used more extensively in 2010.
Needless to say, YouTube is an excellent vehicle for fans to actually get a look at the younger players written about here and elsewhere.
As a side point, MiLB.TV has been a disappointment in this area. It really should be called Triple-A TV instead as telecasts of lower level games available on the web are rare. That isn’t the fault of the MiLB folks as they pick up whatever is available and most minor league contests are not being filmed in broadcast quality.
At any rate, recent examples of the YouTube content from Palm Beach and Quad Cities follows. Clips vary from game highlights to interviews, bloopers, upcoming promotions and more. Memphis’ and Springfield’s channels aren’t updated as frequently, but are still worth monitoring.
Links are also provided below so you can subscribe to the channels and have the option of being informed when new content is posted. You can use either your YouTube or Google account.
The clubs are still in their infancy in deploying these channels, with the three lower level clubs currently having only about a dozen subscribers with Memphis at about three dozen. As more people are made aware, however, the use of these YouTube channels could skyrocket.
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It is amazing how much more we know about prospects than 10-15 years ago. Back then, if we had the stats we considered ourselves lucky. Often we knew a player had good stats but we knew nothing about him – not how old, nothing about his tools, not his race, almost nothing at all. Only baseball only publications like Baseball Digest had much real info.
I remember when internet discussion of prospects first started about 12 years ago I got myself a hold of a Cardinal Media Guide. I was GOD. I knew more stuff about most of the prospects than anyone. The info just wasn’t available. It has only been in the last 7-8 years the PD and other main stream media have started covering prospects and their coverage grows every year. Prospect info is a whole industry now.
What was known used to be age, height, weight, and birthplace. It was not easy to know amateur experience, scouting reports, or prior year minor league performance, both helpful for putting current year performance in context. Teams must call this “history.”
So is TLR on the DL? Think he’ll phone it in?
The above post wasn’t meant to be meanspirited I don’t wish injury or illness on anyone. Just trying to inject a little humor and get the discussion going as I am sure everyone will have an opinion on how this will affect the series
I don’t think it will affect the series. You know there is no way TLR is going to relinquish control to anyone. He will use every means possible to control what goes on.
It is no secret that I don’t like TLR, but I wouldn’t wish what he is going through on my worst enemy. I hope he gets better soon.
Now that I have had a taste of the minor leagues, I will check these outlets out.
I have a friend who lives in Southeast Iowa. I may be paying him a visit this summer and will check out Quad Cities.
If you go, bring your camera. Nice view of the river.
GuitarHero
Forum User
Post subject: Re: Larussa Not Managing Tonight…
Posted: 05/10/2011 03:14 PM
Tony is in the hospital in Scottsdale. He is there for a reason. He is likely sedated. This is likely a form of intervention, whose treatment will take some time.
The bunk about a physical was just for competitive reasons, both within the team structure and of course tactical responses related to the oppositions strategies.
I’m speculating that an attempt at managing this locally, within the boundaries set out by Tony’s consent to be treated, are being addressed.
What does it all mean? I could speculate. But I’m not. He will no doubt resume some control by the weekend, via phone. Doubt if he is trying this tonight.
Where is the above quoted from, exactly? Also, where does the quote end? After “strategies”? It’s tough to tell.
Regardless, I’m pretty sure that half of his face looking like it got run over by a truck is a perfectly valid reason to be seeing a doctor and doesn’t need to be a cover up.
Sounds like Therriot may be in for a hard time in Chicago. Would be a big mistake to knock him down with Carp on the mound, except we don’t have a long man if he gets tossed.
Surely, Petini won’t expect Franky to keep the ball in Wrigley.
c’mon Joe, call for a suicide squeeze.
One run out of all that is a bad oman.
Carp is going to have to miss some bats or it won’t end well.
Nick!
Cable went out so I’m listening.
First win for Carpenter. He got left in too long, however.
I’m glad Carp got the win, but he needs to start pitching better.
TLR out the rest of the week. For the sake of his health that is good. My father was miserable for months when he had Shingles.
Had a meeting last night till around 9 then on the drive home turned on th game, bottom of the 7th. We had the lead then they tied it up. Top of the 8th we had runners on and DD was up and radio started to fade. It faded back in when the announcer (Cubs radio was all I could pick up -AM) semi excitedly announced that DD had doubled to right. Saw the replay after I got home and it was sweet. Also you could see DD’s fist pump as he realized it was a hit on his way to first and then his smile when he called time after reaching second and Cards were up. That’s what it’s all about.
Lot of guys really wanted to get Carp the win. Albert went 4 for 5.
It is hard to believe Carp could give up 13 hits and a couple walks in 7 innings without letting things get out of hand or losing his focus and tossing up a fat one. Amazing. Bad time for my cable to go out.
Saturday, McClellan v Jonny Cueto.
How do you know Albert didn’t go 4 for 5 to impress his future fans?