Baseball Camera View -- Do you like the straight on home plate view?

JBIIRockets · 07:18 PM

I've noticed that more and more stadiums are trying the TV view where the center field camera is directly behind home plate as opposed to the traditional TV view where the camera is slightly to the right of home plate.

Do you like the straight on view?

SwoLy-D · 07-26-2009, 07:31 PM

How can the "center field" camera be behind the home plate?

As I understand it, it has been traditionally behind center field and a bit to the right, so that the pitcher seems to be throwing a bit from left to right down to the catcher, but I haven't seen what you're talking about.

Give me an example, man, please.

rockets934life · 07-26-2009, 07:35 PM

I liked the view they played with a few years ago where the view was over home plate instead of behind the pitcher to the side. The camera was in centerfield a little elevated it was cool I think ESPN did it for Sunday nights but don't know why they let it go.

JBIIRockets · 07-26-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwoLy-D

How can the "center field" camera be behind the home plate?

I meant, in front of home plate. This is tough to explain.

Good example would be these Red Sox highlights.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290726102

JBIIRockets · 07-26-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockets934life

I liked the view they played with a few years ago where the view was over home plate instead of behind the pitcher to the side. The camera was in centerfield a little elevated it was cool I think ESPN did it for Sunday nights but don't know why they let it go.

This is the view I was talking about. You did a better job explaining it than I did.

rockets934life · 07-26-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBIIRockets

This is the view I was talking about. You did a better job explaining it than I did.

Ahhh...yea I know the Red Sox still use it and I think the Cards do it on there home telecast but I don't know if anyone else uses it. I heard, read it somewhere, that teams don't use it because its more expensive.

Cannonball · 07-26-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwoLy-D

How can the "center field" camera be behind the home plate?

It's the view that's the directly behind the pitcher (instead of being offset) and is in line home plate.

I think that with this view, you get a better feel for the side to side movement of pitches and it's easier to tell if a ball is inside or outside. The downside is that the camera has to be higher so that the pitcher isn't blocking the view of home plate. This make it harder to judge the height of the ball. So what you gain in the left/right perspective, you lose in the up/down perspective.

SwoLy-D · 07-26-2009, 08:07 PM

I can see how the camera needs to be higher and, yes, I think that would be MORE expensive.

But I would also like for the camera to be placed in the line that is drawn from the home plate to just above the pitcher's head to the center field, or just a tad higher than the highlights you showed.

HI Mana · 07-26-2009, 10:12 PM

Slate article on offset versus overhead angle

Here's a pretty good article, with side by side comparisons, of the two types of cameras.

I'm a fan of the overhead centerfield camera, since it lets you see the breaking action more clearly.

rockets934life · 07-26-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HI Mana

Slate article on offset versus overhead angle

Here's a pretty good article, with side by side comparisons, of the two types of cameras.

I'm a fan of the overhead centerfield camera, since it lets you see the breaking action more clearly.

Great article! I really think that within a few years the overhead view will be standard practice...I watch alot of Card's games since we are always battling them in the standings and noticed it mid last year and love it when the Stros play them because FSHouston will use this view too.

WhoMikeJames · 07-26-2009, 10:41 PM

I hate watching lefties pitch with the left side angle view.

I prefer the overhead.

I actually saw an ESPN highlight the other day with this angle...

WhoMikeJames · 07-26-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HI Mana

Slate article on offset versus overhead angle

Here's a pretty good article, with side by side comparisons, of the two types of cameras.

I'm a fan of the overhead centerfield camera, since it lets you see the breaking action more clearly.

Well now I know why I find myself yelling at the TV for.

Oski2005 · 07-26-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HI Mana

Slate article on offset versus overhead angle

Here's a pretty good article, with side by side comparisons, of the two types of cameras.

I'm a fan of the overhead centerfield camera, since it lets you see the breaking action more clearly.

Maybe it's just me, but the first video seems to show the opposite of what they say in the first paragraph. The offset that is supposed to show a strike looks like a ball while the dead center that is supposed to show a ball looks like a strike.

Bandwagoner · 07-27-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oski2005

Maybe it's just me, but the first video seems to show the opposite of what they say in the first paragraph. The offset that is supposed to show a strike looks like a ball while the dead center that is supposed to show a ball looks like a strike.

+1 same here for me. I had to re-read it to make sure.

Artesticles · 07-27-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMikeJames

I hate watching lefties pitch with the left side angle view.

I prefer the overhead.

I actually saw an ESPN highlight the other day with this angle...

This picture has been flipped horizontally, and the batter looks like Sammy Sosa. I've never seen the lefty angle before... weird.