FS Midwest was prepared to release a video that countered one from FS Wisconsin promoting Brewers C Jonathan Lucroy for the All-Star Game that "attacks" Cardinals C Yadier Molina, but the Cardinals "requested that they not," according to Langosch & McCalvy of MLB.com. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny yesterday said a rebuttal was "not something I'm interested in." Matheny: "It's an easy no." The Lucroy video takes a "jab" at St. Louis when it states that Lucroy "most importantly" is not a Cardinal. Matheny said, "You have to take it in the nature in which it was meant, and it was meant to be geared toward their fan base. It was just amazing that it was that much directed at our organization. I think that part probably caught me off guard the most." Lucroy did not help develop the video and said that "no harm was intended." Lucroy: "That commercial was meant as a joke, and obviously, that doesn't reflect my personal belief. I don't want people taking it the wrong way." He added, "Everybody got a kick out of it, I guess. It's one of those things that I really wasn't privy to prior to the development of it. I really didn't know it was going to be portrayed like that" (MLB.com, 6/18).
BEHIND THE VIDEO: FS Wisconsin Producer Brad Weimer, who came up with the idea of the Lucroy video and a similar one supporting Brewers CF Carlos Gomez, said, "We try to work with the team on some all-star initiative each year, trying to get the vote out. The team basically said they wanted to do something for Gomez and Lucroy. They are two guys right up there in the votes. I came up with the idea of doing attack ads in a parody style. ... I hadn't seen anybody else do it. So I said, you know what, let's try this out." He added, "It's an interesting concept. Teams can kind of get worried about that kind of thing. The Brewers were great. I think everyone there has a great sense of humor, understood that it was very tongue in cheek" (JSONLINE.com, 6/18). CBS Sports Network's Jim Rome said, "Hit the deck, Cards fans, the Brew Crew is coming in high and tight. Brilliant. No need to reach out to your fans, you already have their vote. Instead, appeal to the legions of Cardinals haters” (“Rome,” CBSSN, 6/18).
