2008 PBVCA Meetings SUMMARY

Bellagio Las Vegas December 10 – December 11, 2008

The Professional Baseball Video Coordinators Association (PBVCA) met in December at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. PBVCA members discussed various topics aimed at improving their performance and contribution to their respective clubs.

Our primary guest speaker was Frank Marcos with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau. Mr. Marcos outlined the MLBSB Clipss service and how it will benefit clubs’ ability to upload, download and distribute amateur video throughout the organization.

We also had several vendors speak to the group about the latest technological advances in the industry. Each company explained how their product would benefit video coordinators and their teams.

What follows is a chronological recap of our meetings and topics.

MLBAM

• Ordering any MLB games without fee
• Future potential of MLB games and data, compatible with BATS
• Look into PBVCA having input with tech committee

Visitors Clubhouse video feed quality

• Consistent, acceptable video quality in visitors clubhouse at each park
• Future: separate video line run directly from tv truck to vis. Clubhouse
• Wireless/Internet connection in all Visitors Clubhouse
• Make sure each clubhouse has high speed web access

PBVCA website – Adam Hermsdorfer, San Diego SEO company BigTuna Interactive

• Site content. Articles on industry news/changes in technology
• Product reviews
• Avenue for video coordinators to learn/improve their craft
• Vendors. Discounts for teams on hardware/software
• Video Coordinator profiles

2008 Carl Hamilton Award of Excellence presentation

The Carl Hamilton Award, for Video Coordinator of the Year, presented to
Mark Topping of the Kansas City Royals.

MLB Scouting Bureau: Frank Marcos

• Pan-Am Games, World Championship Games, Olympics, WBC
• Pro Scouting video/Amateur Scouting video
• CLIPS – downloading amateur and pro scouting video directly from the MLBSB ftp site.
• Phase 2 of CLIPS is the ability of each club to upload video to their own CLIPS page.
• Will allow teams to share video within the organization (or to anyone we decide to give access to). Completely secure.
• Can use CLIPS however we see fit, whether its Player Development, Scouting or Major League Video.
• Scouts or minor league coaches (for example) can shoot video, capture onto their laptops, and upload the video immediately.
• Not compatible with BATS.

Apple Computer – Xander Blakely

• MLB application – live pitch updater, video highlights, etc.
• iPhone3G
• Baseball Imaging Workflow
• Apple platform for video gives us one consistent platform for entire workflow.
• PACS servers and storage, computer clustes, Mac OSX.
• Share video to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone.
• Getting video to coaches, players, etc. on the road using Apple’s remote management technology (allows you to take over a compuer)

ProMirror – Wayne Ryder

• Touch-screen, indoor-outdoor monitor on heavy-duty tripod, camera.
• Use to record BP, bullpens, soft toss in cage, fielding, etc. with instant access available to player.
• Ability to review video while it is fresh in player’s mind
• New software update allows you to organize video into folders.

Panasonic – Frank Giunnuzzi, Bob Marvin

• Working with MLB Network on ballpark camera system deployed at
  all 30 MLB stadiums.
• P2 Card: professional plug and play. Mix HD and SD, mix any format.
• DVDProHD50/25. Gives you proxy video meta data. IT based workflow. Tapeless.
• P2 compatible – Final Cut Pro/Avid XPressPro/etc.
• Cleveland Indians using new 5 camera setup for HD coaching analysis

Sydex (BATS) – Mike Phillips

• New delivery method for roster updates (Player1 file)
• In Batter/Pitcher Breakdown: Custom locations within various zones
• Customize fastballs in specific areas
• 0-0 fastball, low, strike. “Show next pitch” function will show you the next pitch in the sequence (you can also pull up pitch type, location, etc. for next pitch).
• Useful, for example, if pitcher succeeds with 0-0 pitch and you would like to see what he throws next and where.
• “Decision Pitches Only” now available within Batter/Pitcher Brkdwn
• Pitch types are now available in the zone (not just swing/take/foul)
• Umpire Analysis. Choose umpire and extract all games he was home plate umpire, just as you would with players in Batter/Pitcher Brkdwn
• Look up how umpires call outside pitches from RHP, for instance.
• Stats Inc will provide umpire data beginning in 2009
• BATS Web
• BATS video can be uploaded from minor league stadium or even from a scout.
• For example, someone at the Dodgers offices can pick up the
  Las Vegas game the next morning. It syncs it into the Minor League version of the the MLB BATS system.
• You can use wireless to upload/download, but it depends on
  the bandwidth.
• User just has to connect to the internet and, after BATS Web
  verifies security passwords, the video and data will upload right away.

TVTI – Mark Watson

• HD is here for 2009. 16×9 video will be the format.
• Main angle will be HD for TVTI video.
• HD files are in mp4 format – no storage size increase.
• Still 30 frames-per-second. They will essentially take the 60 frames-per-second HD video and knock it down to 30 frames-per-second.
• On the local side, at each video room, HD capture angles will be more expensive to implement (upgrade).
• Capture card upgrades are needed, for around $2,500 for HD capable card, and $1,500 for a PC that meets the specs.
• It will cost a total of approximately $5,000 to replace Capture A (cf view) with HD capture, and appr. $5,000 to replace each additional angle (1B, 3B, etc.)
• Converter box for appr. $500 could also work to convert the HD signal to standard def, allowing us to use existing Capture A hardware.
• TVTI will recommend a specific graphics card/video card.

OLYMPIC CASE – Justin Timmer

• Field trunks, wardrobe trunks, travel cases, etc.
• Furniture grade birch plywood panels, aluminum alloy.
• All-stell blind rivets, all-steel latches, handles and corners.
• Everything is under warranty for life of case, they will replace or repair all parts and deliver to us in Tampa, Phoenix or ship.
• Pelican Case dealer.

Great Lakes Multimedia – Robb Taylor

• One-stop shopping. Sells media, hardware from most manufacturers.
• Sells Apple products at competitive pricing.
• Microboards DVD publisher dealer.
• Special PBVCA pricing for all products. Will match all competitor prices.
• Call anytime for orders. Attentive customer service.

360 iCoach – Steve Montgomery/Jeff Lucas

• Browser-based video/scouting instruction and recruiting tool.
• SF Giants became a client in 2007 to get their scouting database online in preparation for the 2008 amateur draft.
• High quality video and delivery.
• Fully hosted team portal secure to club and players/coaches.
• Upload and download 4GB files securely via their browser.
• Forum, messaging and comments form players.
• Trainers can use to track medical history (x-rays, MRI’s, etc.)
• All in a bullet-proof, secure environment. Users only get to see what we want them to see. Each “client” has their video targeted specifically however we choose.
• Centrally manage and control content and activity/compliance.
• 100% browser based – rapid deployment.
• Team/Player portal – individually defined user roles and rights.
• Coach designates content by user and user groups.
• Virtual film room.
• Tracking – front office or coaches can track everything a player views.
• If you upload a QuickTime file, it will convert it to Flash.
• The system will house video in any format: AVI, QuickTime, etc.
• Subscription cost model – upfront fee, but pay as you go.

PBVCA roundtable discussion

• Discussed various ways each team records, archives, and distributes
  both scouting and minor league video within organization.
• Various cameras and video capture software are being used by teams.
• HD. Upgrading BATS and other video room equipment to HD.
• Generating scouting reports.
• General discussion on technological changes.
• Best ways to get video to players and coaches (hard drives, dvd, etc.)
• Spring Training video. Installing cameras at stadium, capturing video at Spring Training, etc.
• Travel cases and equipment setup in Visitors Clubhouse.
• Plans for 2009 meetings.

END OF MEETINGS

Nationals name new Video Coordinator
Erick Dalton has taken over as Video Coordinator of the Washington Nationals. He most recently served as Assistant-Statistical Analysis for the Nationals. Dalton replaces Tom Yost, who left in September after 3 years in Washington.

Check out all the pictures from the 2007 Meetings.

[View with PicLens]

The Professional Baseball Video Coordinators Association (PBVCA) presented the 2007 Pioneer Award to Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn at the 2007 PBVCA Meetings — held in conjunction with the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville.

Mr. Gwynn, who was the keynote speaker at this year’s PBVCA Meetings, received the award at 3 PM on Wednesday, December 5 in the Lincoln E meeting room at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. His remarks to the Video Coordinators followed the award presentation.

This is the first time PBVCA has selected a recipient for the Pioneer Award. Mr. Gwynn, Head Baseball Coach at San Diego State, was selected due to his groundbreaking use of video, for both mechanical analysis and scouting his opponents, throughout his Major League Baseball career.

“On behalf of PBVCA, this is a well-deserved honor for a man who has basically led the way in using video in baseball,” said PBVCA President and Tampa Bay Devil Rays Video Coordinator Chris Fernandez. “Because of Mr. Gwynn’s foresight years ago, we as video coordinators are in the position where we are today and are very grateful to him because of that.”

Formed in December 2004, PBVCA is comprised of Video Coordinators from throughout Major League Baseball. Our objective is to elevate standards among all Video Coordinators, facilitate the exchange of information and technical advancements in the field of video coaching, and raise awareness of the role that Video Coordinators play within professional baseball.

The Professional Baseball Video Coordinators Association, PBVCA, concluded its third annual meetings at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando. This year’s conference included eighteen Video Coordinators, eight video technology vendors, and four guest speakers from throughout Major League Baseball.

PBVCA members held workshops on integrating the latest technology into the daily video room workflow. This was highlighted by a Video iPod tutorial presented by the Colorado Rockies. The tutorial showed Video Coordinators effective ways to copy player highlight videos to their iPods and options for sharing Major League, Minor League and Scouting video with front office staff via their iPods.

[View with PicLens]

Guest speakers included Dr. Charles Maher, Cleveland Indians Team Psychologist and Director of Psychological Services; Tim Belcher, Former Major League Pitcher and current Cleveland Indians Special Assistant to the General Manager; Dan Feinstein, Tampa Bay Devil Rays Director of Baseball Operations; and Joe Inzerillo, MLB Advanced Media Senior VP of Multimedia and Distribution.

Dr. Maher lectured on the Psychological Foundations for using video for performance development and enhancement in professional baseball. He covered the learning styles of professional baseball players and watching video with a purpose.

Tim Belcher expressed what players require, need and want with regard to video and how Video Coordinators can best deliver their services. As a former major leaguer who used video as a primary preparation tool, he went on to explain that “video analysis is a player’s greatest asset when attempting to find and fix flaws in his game… seeing is believing!”

Dan Feinstein, a former Video Coordinator with the Oakland Athletics, gave us a front-office perspective on video usage. He explained how the front-office uses video and specific ways this can be effectively delivered to them.

Joe Inzerillo, also a former Video Coordinator with both the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, gave us a report on the status of MLB Advanced Media. He helps decide how MLB video content will be shared between the league and each team. Mr. Inzerillo also discussed the latest technology in video coaching and how MLB Advanced Media will increase it’s coverage of Minor League Baseball and various international leagues.

PBVCA presented the Carl Hamilton Award of Excellence to the 2006 Co-Video Coordinators of the Year, Mike Hamilton and Brian Jones of the Colorado Rockies. In addition, members decided to continue meeting at the site of the Baseball Winter Meetings. The 2007 conference will be in Nashville.

The Professional Baseball Video Coordinators Association (PBVCA) presented the 2006 Carl Hamilton Award of Excellence to Mike Hamilton and Brian Jones, Video Coordinators for the Colorado Rockies. The ceremony was held Thursday, December 7, 2006 at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando.

The award is given annually to the Video Coordinators who have demonstrated superior work in the field of video coaching. Hamilton and Jones developed an exceptional process for sharing video with players, coaches and front office staff using the iPod Video. The award is named in honor of Mike Hamilton’s father, Carl Hamilton, the Seattle Mariners Video Coordinator for the past seventeen years.

“I am very honored to receive this award,” said Mike Hamilton, “To have been voted for by your peers makes it special, and that the award has been named after my father makes it something I will cherish forever.” The 2006 season was Hamilton’s seventh season as Rockies Video Coordinator.

Jones added, “Being recognized by others in your profession is the most meaningful honor one could receive. I am excited about the advances of the PBVCA as a way of sharing new ideas and technologies throughout baseball.” Jones recently completed his fifth season as Rockies Assistant Video Coordinator.

Formed in December 2004, PBVCA is comprised of Video Coordinators from throughout Major League Baseball. Our objective is to elevate standards among all Video Coordinators, facilitate the exchange of information and technical advancements in the field of video coaching, and raise awareness of the role that Video Coordinators play within professional baseball.

PBVCA President Bob Chester, who is the manager of baseball video operations for the
Cleveland Indians, said that Hamilton was an easy choice to receive this honor because of “his commitment, years of service, and most importantly, his positive contributions to the role of video coordinator in Major League Baseball.” Chester says Hamilton first suggested that video coordinators should form an association to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technological advancements in the industry.

The association was formed in 2004 at the MLB Winter Meetings in Anaheim.  The association’s goals are to elevate professional standards among professional baseball video coordinators; facilitate the exchange of information and technological innovations; advance ethical procedures and quality techniques.

Hamilton joined the Seattle Mariners in 1990 as the team’s video coordinator.  He also served for 10 years as the video coordinator for the Texas Rangers.  Hamilton records all Mariners games and many other Major League games, and videotapes players during Spring Training and the regular season for scouting and training purposes.  He also produces instructional, motivational, training and highlight videos for all levels of the Mariners organization.

Prior to his 27-year career in baseball, Hamilton was a police officer, private security officer and a Marine Corps veteran.  He resides in Kent, WA, with his wife Betty Lou.  They have four adult children and seven grandchildren.  Hamilton’s son Mike is the video coordinator for the Colorado Rockies.