Questions for Nathan Baliva, Peoria Chiefs Broadcaster

[Chris]

Given your job I would expect that many days are not what would/could be defined as normal. For the benefit of those that may not understand all that is involved with being a broadcaster, would you go through your checklist of things to do on the day of a game?

 

In addition to your broadcasting responsibilities, what are the other things that you are responsible for with the Chiefs?

[Laura]

Awesome. Thanks for the Patterson report. What do you think about Luis Rivera, is he a natural third baseman? Thanks.

 

Rivera has looked great at 3rd. I think he played more shortstop in college, but he has impressed at third base moving to the line and also toward short. he has a strong arm and is improving at the plate daily as evidenced by a 4 hit game today

 

From the broadcasts, it sounds like he's making some really nice plays at 3B. (of course, the only tme I've seen him play he made an error) The Chiefs have really been plugging guys into positions of need all season long, especially after Alberto Garcia (1B) got injured and Luis Montanez (LF) was called up.

 

Nathan, what's the status on Ed Campusano? Did he wind up having to have surgery? The last update I'm aware of had him going on the DL in June with left elbow ulnar neuritis.

 

Thanks!

[UBlink]

Given your job I would expect that many days are not what would/could be defined as normal. For the benefit of those that may not understand all that is involved with being a broadcaster, would you go through your checklist of things to do on the day of a game?

 

In addition to your broadcasting responsibilities, what are the other things that you are responsible for with the Chiefs?

 

Is someone beginning to get nervous?

[Chris]

Given your job I would expect that many days are not what would/could be defined as normal. For the benefit of those that may not understand all that is involved with being a broadcaster, would you go through your checklist of things to do on the day of a game?

 

In addition to your broadcasting responsibilities, what are the other things that you are responsible for with the Chiefs?

 

Is someone beginning to get nervous?

 

:lol:

 

Fortunately Ron will be the official broadcaster and I will be his sidekick. However, Ron says I'm doing an inning of PBP and that could be an adventure. I'm really looking forward to it, both from the perspective of being a big fan and from the perspective of getting to talk about NSBB. I've had the great honor of throwing out a first pitch at a Jaxx game and Friday will be something I'll never forget.

 

Besides, Nathan's already told me what I need to know! No worries! Not yet, anyways!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

How did Alfredo Francisco look in his return to the Chiefs? How hard did he throw?

 

For a guy who was a 3rd baseman 4 months ago, I was very impressed. He was 90-92 on the QC scoreboard. Im not sure how accurate thier board is but either way 1 or 2 MPH up or down is still good. He had a good curve and good control as well. Probably helped that we were up 14-6 so no pressure which Im sure for Julio and Tom was an ideal situation to bring him into for a 1st outing. im interested to see how he performs back to back or with runners on when he comes in...

 

That leads me to ask - do you know if Alfredo throws anything besides a FB and a curve?

[CubbieGirl22]

Hi! Thank you for answering my question! I heard that all the Chiefs players are growing beards and mustaches for a contest. Is that true? Who is winning? And what does the winner get? Did Eric Patterson grow a beard? :shock: THANK YOU!!!!

[ChiefsVoice]

Given your job I would expect that many days are not what would/could be defined as normal. For the benefit of those that may not understand all that is involved with being a broadcaster, would you go through your checklist of things to do on the day of a game?

 

In addition to your broadcasting responsibilities, what are the other things that you are responsible for with the Chiefs?

 

Yeah, no work days are normal until October, and then Im just bored! Things are different home/road and I don't want to bore anyone so I'll do it as a timeline though at home, I guarantee you no two days are the same. This example is for a 7:00 home game.

 

11:00 arrive, start working on stats/game notes. Stats are easy they go to coaches just print/copy/staple, my intern Bryan Moore usually did this. Gamenotes are more complex adding in numbers, writing paragraphs on starting pitchers, oppoising team, last night's game recap etc. My game notes are 13 pages long in Microsoft Publisher. Then I also update my 6 Excel sheets.

1:00 grab a lunch either bringing something, fast food or occasionally heading out to a sit-down with co-workers.

2:00 usually by this time Julio has his lineup ready as the players show up around 2:30 or 3. So we head down to get the lineup, write it on the board, etc. I usually spend some time in the clubhouse chatting with the coaches, trainer or players as well when I go down to get the lineup.

Then we usually have some "dead time" until BP which begins at 4:30. Here we help out where needed, placing giveaways at the gates, setting up tables and chairs, moving tables, etc. and then when the visitors arrive we get their lineup and then takes full lineups to both clubhouses and the media room.

4:30 during BP I sometimes hang out on the field and chat or sometimes I shag fly balls, somtimes i catch for the fungo hitters and when it is just too hot I head up to the booth and get my book ready.

After BP i just get ready and kind of roam around the ballpark when I am done. By getting ready I mean making sure I have everything for my Video Board pre-game show and fill out my scorebook.

6:15 head down to the field

6:30 pre-game show

7:00 game time

post-game. Bryan writes the recap while i do the post-game show and run box scores down to the managers and see if they have any concerns over scoring. usually i chat a little here post-game but not too long. Then i go-over Bryan's recap and post it on the website while he faxes to our media. Then we hit the bar...

 

As for my other responsibilities:

I run the website

Handle all media requests, pre and post game as well as phone interviews for players/coaches

Am responsible for player movements and other press releases

Help out with marketing ideas

Create/Compile our monthly Programs which are handed out at the gates

and in the off-season I compile/create our Media Guide, Calendar and Yearbook.

 

Hope that answers your question!

[ChiefsVoice]

Nathan, what's the status on Ed Campusano? Did he wind up having to have surgery? The last update I'm aware of had him going on the DL in June with left elbow ulnar neuritis.

 

Thanks!

 

I have no idea. All I was told was he had a left arm injury and wouldn't be coming back this season. I'll ask Matt Johnson our trainer on Wednesday.

 

And you are right about guys playing out of position. We haven't had a first baseman since mid-June, our 3rd basemen (larsen/granato) have been playing 1st or left and with Harvey out for a while our DH (flowers) has been in the outfield. Its a testament to Julio as a manager that we are still even in this race...

[ChiefsVoice]

How did Alfredo Francisco look in his return to the Chiefs? How hard did he throw?

 

For a guy who was a 3rd baseman 4 months ago, I was very impressed. He was 90-92 on the QC scoreboard. Im not sure how accurate thier board is but either way 1 or 2 MPH up or down is still good. He had a good curve and good control as well. Probably helped that we were up 14-6 so no pressure which Im sure for Julio and Tom was an ideal situation to bring him into for a 1st outing. im interested to see how he performs back to back or with runners on when he comes in...

 

That leads me to ask - do you know if Alfredo throws anything besides a FB and a curve?

 

 

He did also throw a change a couple of times the other night. No sign of a slider yet though or anything fancy like a split or sinker. Ill check Wednesday, just didn't have time to ask TP (Tom Pratt) over the weekend.

[ChiefsVoice]

Hi! Thank you for answering my question! I heard that all the Chiefs players are growing beards and mustaches for a contest. Is that true? Who is winning? And what does the winner get? Did Eric Patterson grow a beard? :shock: THANK YOU!!!!

 

Thanks for the question! That "contest" lasted about two days. It was only a mustache to start with. It was a lot more talk than action. Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it. Smith and Larsen did it earlier in the year for a road trip but that was it. I think they all knew they couldn't compete with my goatee!!

 

And no, Patterson was not involved...

[treebird]

Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it.

 

see serena? theyre trying their best to make me think theyre both the same person?

[Laura]

Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it.

 

see serena? theyre trying their best to make me think theyre both the same person?

 

Simokaitis must be imitating Smith! It's the only logical explanation.

[Laura]

Nathan, what's the status on Ed Campusano? Did he wind up having to have surgery? The last update I'm aware of had him going on the DL in June with left elbow ulnar neuritis.

 

Thanks!

 

I have no idea. All I was told was he had a left arm injury and wouldn't be coming back this season. I'll ask Matt Johnson our trainer on Wednesday.

 

And you are right about guys playing out of position. We haven't had a first baseman since mid-June, our 3rd basemen (larsen/granato) have been playing 1st or left and with Harvey out for a while our DH (flowers) has been in the outfield. Its a testament to Julio as a manager that we are still even in this race...

 

Thanks for checking! It's been interesting to see the players get shifted around defensively.

[CubbieGirl22]

Hi! Thank you for answering my question! I heard that all the Chiefs players are growing beards and mustaches for a contest. Is that true? Who is winning? And what does the winner get? Did Eric Patterson grow a beard? :shock: THANK YOU!!!!

 

Thanks for the question! That "contest" lasted about two days. It was only a mustache to start with. It was a lot more talk than action. Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it. Smith and Larsen did it earlier in the year for a road trip but that was it. I think they all knew they couldn't compete with my goatee!!

 

And no, Patterson was not involved...

 

THanks for answering my question and I'm glad he wasn't involved!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hi! Thank you for answering my question! I heard that all the Chiefs players are growing beards and mustaches for a contest. Is that true? Who is winning? And what does the winner get? Did Eric Patterson grow a beard? :shock: THANK YOU!!!!

 

Thanks for the question! That "contest" lasted about two days. It was only a mustache to start with. It was a lot more talk than action. Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it. Smith and Larsen did it earlier in the year for a road trip but that was it. I think they all knew they couldn't compete with my goatee!!

 

And no, Patterson was not involved...

 

THanks for answering my question and I'm glad he wasn't involved!

 

I think Eric would look hot with a beard, but what do I know?

[Jon]

Hi! Thank you for answering my question! I heard that all the Chiefs players are growing beards and mustaches for a contest. Is that true? Who is winning? And what does the winner get? Did Eric Patterson grow a beard? :shock: THANK YOU!!!!

 

Thanks for the question! That "contest" lasted about two days. It was only a mustache to start with. It was a lot more talk than action. Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it. Smith and Larsen did it earlier in the year for a road trip but that was it. I think they all knew they couldn't compete with my goatee!!

 

And no, Patterson was not involved...

 

THanks for answering my question and I'm glad he wasn't involved!

 

I think Eric would look hot with a beard, but what do I know?

Not that nor Daytona's starter tonight (originally).

[CubbieGirl22]

Hi! Thank you for answering my question! I heard that all the Chiefs players are growing beards and mustaches for a contest. Is that true? Who is winning? And what does the winner get? Did Eric Patterson grow a beard? :shock: THANK YOU!!!!

 

Thanks for the question! That "contest" lasted about two days. It was only a mustache to start with. It was a lot more talk than action. Aaron Smith and Joe Simokaitis started and when no-one else joined them they bailed on it. Smith and Larsen did it earlier in the year for a road trip but that was it. I think they all knew they couldn't compete with my goatee!!

 

And no, Patterson was not involved...

 

THanks for answering my question and I'm glad he wasn't involved!

 

I think Eric would look hot with a beard, but what do I know?

 

:lol: :lol: Maybe he would but I like him with the cleanshaved look! And as long as he plays good which he does.

[Joe_Cub]

I have a question thats not all about Eric Patterson. :lol:

 

The Miami Herlad articles are interesting. When you interned for the Chiefs before they hired you on fulltime did you get to do any broadcasting then? What were your main jobs then?

 

Did you always know you wanted to do baseball broadcasting because it seems like your internships were both baseball? Or did you think about basketball or football broadcasting too?

 

Thanks for all the other answers, too.

[coldsteel]

Thanks Nathan for your helpful tips on the Peoria post-game scene. OK, for some of us pre-game too. That's going to come in very handy. Your discussion and elucidation in this thread is very good, interesting stuff, so thanks for that too. Go Chiefs!

[Laura]

Nathan, since tomorrow (Thurs) night is a home game, does that mean that Granato will be the pre-game interview?

[ChiefsVoice]

Nathan, since tomorrow (Thurs) night is a home game, does that mean that Granato will be the pre-game interview?

 

Yes, he already agreed to it. You coming to any games this weekend? Or next?

[ChiefsVoice]

I have a question thats not all about Eric Patterson. :lol:

 

The Miami Herlad articles are interesting. When you interned for the Chiefs before they hired you on fulltime did you get to do any broadcasting then? What were your main jobs then?

 

Did you always know you wanted to do baseball broadcasting because it seems like your internships were both baseball? Or did you think about basketball or football broadcasting too?

 

Thanks for all the other answers, too.

 

Well my internship was a lot different than the way it is set up now. it had nothing to do with radio. In 2002 when I interned, the Chiefs didnt control the radio broadcasts so I really didnt get to do anything there. I put together media stats, game notes, rosters, wrote press releases, handled media requests/interviews and then did all the intern crap: move tables, put up inflatible games, all the work everyone hates.

 

I always knew i wanted to do baseball, but I love basketball too, just not as much though I may be better at basketball. i did high school basketball in HS and football. At Marquette i had a call-in radio show, wrote for the paper was a TV anchor and did MU basketball to see what i liked the best and it was play by play. I had internships in college with TV stations, 1 in Milwaukee at a CBS and a summer one in Connecticut at ABC 8 and i learned quickly i did not want to weekend anchor, one man band or do nightly sports casts. Therefore i went back to school (grad school at Florida which I did finish in Dec 2003) and got the internship at the Chiefs and when they brought radio in-house in 2003, I was their guy!

 

I do some high school basketball in the off-season and hope to do more this year than the fill-in handful of games i did last year.

[Laura]

Nathan, since tomorrow (Thurs) night is a home game, does that mean that Granato will be the pre-game interview?

 

Yes, he already agreed to it. You coming to any games this weekend? Or next?

 

Next weekend! There will be plans made.

[Laura]

Nathan, could you show us some time-based hitting splits on Sam Fuld? Maybe by month or whatever seems reasonable? Thanks!

[ChiefsVoice]

Nathan, could you show us some time-based hitting splits on Sam Fuld? Maybe by month or whatever seems reasonable? Thanks!

 

April: .172 11-64, 5 runs, 4 rbi, 1 steal

May .279 19-68, 13 runs, 7 rbi, 8 steals

June: .321 27-84, 17 runs, 5 rbi, 9 doubles, 2 steals

July .340 34-100, 25 runs, 9 rbi, 9 doubles, 3 steals

Aug: .337 30-89, 16 runs, 10 rbi, 6 doubles, 4 steals

 

.285 on road with 33 runs, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 22 rbi, 4 hr, 3 steals

.312 at home, 43 runs, 18 doubles, 3 triples, 0 hr, 13 rbi, 15 steals

 

since the All-Star break he is 75-216 which is a .347 average

 

the other interesting split is that same is batting .328 in the leadoff spot in 61 games with 24 rbi, 18 doubles, 46 runs...

 

and he is hitting .344 when leading off an inning, 323 with runners on, .302 with RISP and 2 outs...