Chicago Cubs: Top 3 new Marquee-tech we’d love to see

The Chicago Cubs new Marquee Sports Network has been bold in trying new tech during spring training games. Here are some ideas for new Marquee-tech that could make it fun.

Recently ESPN mic’d up Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant while bringing in new and old Cubs managers David Ross and Joe Maddon, respectively. It was terrific interplay and insight with Rizzo practically auditioning for his next gig in broadcasting-right on the field during the game. As soon as it ran on ESPN, it was a hit and another step forward in technology, bringing us ever closer to the game of baseball.

Marquee Sports Network (MSN) has picked up on this little bit of fan tech love and is trying to expand the boundaries. Recently MSN introduced a spring training camera embedded on the field dedicated to Cubs All-star shortstop Javier Baez. Who else would be more deserving of such an honor but ‘El Mago’ himself?

The ‘El Mago-Cam’ is supposed to pick-up the high-stylistics of the Cubs shortstop magician according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune who recently spoke with MSN general manager Mike McCarthy:

“It was done at the All-Star Game, and the league has allowed us to do some experimenting here,” Marquee general manager Mike McCarthy said at Sloan Park. “That’s a great thing about spring training and doing all these games — we’re able to try things… This camera speaks for itself. It’s very cool,” McCarthy said. “And the Cubs have been so open to experimenting.”

MSN is a new regional sports networking program, so they are pretty much game to try new things and to push the boundaries for good Cubs-TV. This experimentation television means better games and fun for the fans, and according to the players like Rizzo and Bryant, more fun for the players as well.

So what kinds of new tech or cameras ideas could bring the Cubs closer to their fans or the fans closer to the Cubs? What are the top three coolest tech ideas that MSN and the Cubs should consider?

This is going to be fun.

Chicago Cubs: Welcome to the number one ‘Fan-cam’

When thinking about tech that MSN could adopt, you have to believe in dimensional terms of sight and sound. Since the dimension of touch or feeling on television is something in the future, we are stuck to deal with things we can hear and see.

In audio, ESPN has just tipped the bucket in all the fun things that can be done if MLB, the Players Union, and the Umpires union can all agree to let it happen. If they did…

Imagine fun games where the Umpire is allowed to hear everything the pitcher is saying, but the pitcher can’t hear anything, or the outfielders can all hear the entire infield. Many things can be done in audio that would not constitute any cheating. But let’s get away from audio and imagine our third coolest tech idea: the Fan-Cam.

Imagine if one piece of the outfield wall, maybe where one of the Under Armour signs cuts into the ivy, were a huge video screen that had one fan on it, sitting in a seat watching, booing or cheering throughout the game? The fan would be 10 feet tall or as big as the video screen. A large piece of plastic would protect the screen from being damaged by balls or players falling into it.

If the Cubs are doing what they should be doing on the field, then the number one fan is up out of his or her seat on the screen and cheering. Imagine if Cubs outfielder Ian Happ went running for a ball and dove and caught it for a spectacular out, and when he got to his feet, the Fan-Cam was right there in the outfield, giving him the thumbs up and Happ returning the gesture. Of course, if the Cubs were stinking up the joint, the Fan-Cam would also let them know.

Fan-cam participants could be rotated, so only the most deserving fans get the chance to have their image on the Fan-Cam and the field. This is taking tech to the next level by bringing the fan onto the field for some thumbs down or thumbs up action, depending on how the Cubs are doing.

A gigantic Cubs fan projected onto a panel on the field, probably near centerfield, wouldn’t need approval from MLB or anyone. Currently, advertisements, ivy, tarp and even fencing run on outfield walls across MLB fields and stadiums.

With all the innovations in tech-baseball, the Fan-Cam is certainly one idea that TV Networks like MSN and others should consider. However, if they don’t like the Fan-Cam, then they certainly will like ‘Contreras-Cam.’

Chicago Cubs: It’s time for Contreras-Cam

If MSN is already considering an ‘El Mago-Cam’ and pitchers already have a pretty good cam on them during games, then what else could MSN do to make the game a little more fun. The number two newest Marquee-tech that’s we’d love to see is the Contreras-Cam. Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras sees it all.

Chicago Cubs

Contreras sees the pitch, the runner, the steal, the tag and is the only player that faces the opposite way from the rest of the team during a game. In that respect, Contreras has a particular vantage point that no else does during a game.

What if Marquee put a tiny camera in the face mask of Contreras? That little camera would pick up everything happening on the field, including the pitch. The camera would serve as a second set of eyes for crazy balls until MLB fully implements the electronic strike zone, but it would do so much more than that, just like Contreras.

The camera would give us a look at the throwdown first baseline to Rizzo or seeing the ball coming in from the outfield for the defensive plays at home. The camera would show us the opposing team player’s steal attempts and Contreras’ lightning-quick reflexes in throwing that runner out at second base.

The only thing you’re not going to get in the Contreras-Cam is everything that happens once he throws that mask off his head, like when he’s tracking a pop-up fly ball behind home plate. The first thing Contreras does is throw his mask off on the ground, which isn’t a must-see TV although the flip and crash might be interesting to see.

Adding a Contreras-Cam would certainly bring another vantage point to fans and add to the cool tech Marquee has for games. The best tech addition for Wrigley Field shows fans brutal pain, up close.