The MLB postseason began on Tuesday, and for MLB Network Senior Coordinating Producer of Live Events CHRIS PFEIFFER this weekend will be primarily spent in the production truck for the net’s two ALDS games. Exclusive broadcasts kick off Friday with Game 2 of Rangers-Blue Jays and conclude Sunday with Game 3 of Royals-Astros. This week was spent in meetings and on conference calls with his production team and on-air crew discussing how they will present the information given to them by the research department. His staff on Wednesday put the finishing touches on the introductory segments and spent Thursday tying together any loose ends. Pfeiffer: “We kind of lay something out, see what happens with the games, and then we adjust.”
LET’S PLAY TWO: This weekend is obviously a little bit different because we are airing games on Friday and Sunday. We are in the truck by 6:00am ET on Friday morning and on the air at 12:30pm. We are staying in Toronto on Friday night and then flying to Houston on Saturday morning. We have a set day on Saturday and then we have our broadcast Sunday at 4:00pm. When I am on the road, I judge the cities by their ballparks. My two favorites are AT&T Park in S.F. and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. S.F. is my favorite place. We do not get out a lot to the West Coast for our showcase package -- maybe once or twice a year. The city is great and so alive. There are so many things to do. The park is beautiful and right on the water. And the fans are so passionate.
KIDS INCORPORATED: Our games during the regular season are normally Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. A lot of the time I will travel home on Saturday. My wife and I have lived in N.Y. for a long time and we have been in the same neighborhood for almost 20 years. We live right near the park and love to disappear for two or three hours with our dog and 8-month-old daughter. I like to work out and play golf, but once I found out that my wife was pregnant, I haven’t been able to get to the gym a lot. The last month or so, I have been trying to get back in shape for myself, and obviously, for my family. I am 49, on the road 80-90 days a year and not getting any younger. My wife is also in the business and we really have to plan out our schedule. For example, back in July she went with NBC to the World Swimming Championships and my oldest sister moved in with me for two weeks. It takes a village to raise a kid.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: We have two favorite restaurants in the city. One is Rosa Mexicano by Lincoln Center. They make guacamole fresh at your table. I am good friends with DAN FOUTS. When he comes in for CBS games, he is always telling me, “Take me to the place that makes the fresh guacamole.” The other spot is down a little bit further in Hell’s Kitchen over on 10th called Taboon. The food is outstanding. They have a brick oven, the bread is great and they have all of the fun dips. It is kind of a hidden gem. If we can get a babysitter in the afternoon for a couple of hours, my wife and I love going to the movies. It does not happen that much anymore since having a baby. We have done it maybe once or twice in the last eight months. I am told by everyone who has kids that it is like that for the first year or so.
