NewsTWIB takes a look at N.Y.'s new parks
Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in focus in this week's broadcast
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
04/16/09 10:39 AM ET
Throughout this week -- as Citi Field and the new Yankee Stadium opened up to the Major League Baseball world by playing the first regular-season game at each venue -- there is no bigger story in the game than the inauguration of the two new ballparks in New York.Together, the Mets' and Yankees' new homes cost more than $2 billion to construct and seat more than 90,000 in stadiums with countless amenities, special features and new ways to enjoy a baseball game.
On Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, FOX's This Week in Baseball will bring a new perspective on the opening of those monumental new ballparks.
First, TWIB, hosted by Buzz Brainard, will air footage from when it followed around All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez as he toured the new Yankee Stadium for the first time during construction last year.
Although A-Rod wasn't available for the regular-season home opener while recovering from hip surgery, he's been excited to man the hot corner in the new ballpark ever since he first laid eyes on it.
"He was basically like, 'Wow, I can't wait to play here,'" TWIB lead producer Matt Anderton said. "It was that type of reaction."
"We did kind of a buildup to the opening of Yankee Stadium. We go through a little bit of the history of the old stadium, and why it was so important for baseball, then we go into the building of the new one."
Going into its 32nd year, TWIB -- the longest-running sports anthology show in the history of television -- is known for giving fans a glimpse of the game through the eyes of players and coaches. In keeping with that theme, TWIB will also have Yankees manager Joe Girardi mic'd up from New York's workout day at the stadium on April 2.
Count Girardi in as another one of the many impressed with the new park.
"It sure is wonderful," Girardi said. "Every day when you walk in, it's just a huge smile. It's such a great place to come to. You're excited to get to work every day."
In the next segment, TWIB rolls out a feature of the Citi Field opener on Monday, when the Mets hosted the Padres.
"It's going to be just the pageantry of Opening Day at Citi Field," Anderton said. "We have fan interviews. We go a little bit into the closing at Shea [Stadium], and transitioning into this gorgeous new stadium. We spoke a little bit to David Wright, and we're going to focus a little bit on the Jackie Robinson Day ceremony where they dedicate the rotunda."
TWIB can also be seen on video board in stadiums, as well as internationally in Australia, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Japan, Latin America, Middle East, The Netherlands, Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama and Taiwan.
Viewers can e-mail the show at twib@mlb.com, and can check out the Web site, TWIB.com, for original blogs and bonus footage. There will also be a re-airing of the show on MLB Network at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Here are some of the other segments TWIB will feature in its half-hour show this Saturday:
- Pepsi "Refreshing Baseball Moments" will take a look at the history of Opening Day moments, from former President William H. Taft throwing out the first ceremonial first pitch in 1910, to Ken Griffey Jr. tying for the lead in Opening Day home runs by hitting his eighth against the Twins on April 6.
- An extended "Call of the Week" to pay tribute to some of the best calls from recently departed Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.
- A special Gillette "Rookies of the Month" segment focusing on the 1976 season of Mark Fidrych, when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA en route to winning Rookie of the Year. Fidrych, 54, died Monday after an accident at his Massachusetts home.
- Holiday Inn "Win on the Road" will focus on the team with the longest current road winning streak -- in this case, the Mariners.
- "How 'Bout That" will show the top plays and bloopers from the previous week.
- The State Farm "Big League Blast" will focus on Kalas' final home-run call -- Matt Stairs' go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning against the Rockies on Sunday.
Alden Gonzalez is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
