In New Jersey, Bob Klapisch noted SNY broadcaster Keith Hernandez is a "different person now" compared to his playing days, as the two-time Emmy award winner has "mellowed." Hernandez : "I remember back when (Cardinals announcer) Jack Buck was in the booth, he’d have a $100 bill propped up in front of him. People would ask why, and he’d say, 'it’s for those days when it’s 15-3 in the third inning. I look at that $100 bill and realize this is a great job that pays you well.' Remembering that helps keep your wits about you." On the subject of advanced analytics, Hernandez said, "I don’t know what half the acronyms mean." He also credits Mets TV play-by-play man Gary Cohen for the strong chemistry between him and fellow commentator Ron Darling. Hernandez said Cohen is a "maestro in the booth." He also said ownership "doesn't try to censor" the trio in the booth (Bergen RECORD, 4/3).
SILVER SCREEN: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's Joey Nolfi noted the new film "Landline," with the help of MLB Senior Manager of Presence Marketing Robin Jaffe, "became the first film with queer characters to earn licensing support from a national sports league." The film, with a budget of $250,000, stars Jim O'Heir and Tom Arnold and is about a gay man’s "undying commitment to the Chicago Cubs -- all while making history for the LGBT community in the process." The film's director and star Matthew Aaron said, "We never thought we were going to get (licensing for) the Cubs, and we never thought we’d get (to shoot at) Wrigley Field. ... Robin really wanted to support indie filmmaking, which they’ve never done before." Aaron also "cast local personalities," and Baseball HOFer Ryne Sandberg "has a small role." (EW.com, 4/3).
CROSSING RIVALRY LINES: The Boston Herald is "adding to its team of baseball writers," as Chad Jennings is joining the paper to "cover the Red Sox beat with Michael Silverman and Jason Mastrodonato." Jennings has covered the Yankees since '09 for The Journal News in Westchester County, N.Y. (BOSTONHERALD.com, 3/31).
SALT IN THE WOUND? YAHOO SPORTS' Mark Townsend noted during ESPN's promotion of the Cubs' banner-raising ceremony on April 10, the net ran an ad that features a Steve Bartman "lookalike while former Cubs favorites David Ross and Rick Sutcliffe, who are both now analysts for ESPN, stand around a bar." The Bartman lookalike has "nothing to say in the ad, but Cubs fans have had plenty to say about his inclusion since the ad first aired during ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/3).
