Out of the Park: Readiness Wins
Nothing ever goes exactly according to plan. Not in life, not in baseball, and definitely not on live TV. But when you’re ready for the moment, those unexpected curveballs become easier to hit.
Take the first game of the I-70 Series in St. Louis on June 3. We weren’t doing our typical 30-minute pregame show before the Royals took on the Cardinals. Jac Caglianone, one of the biggest in-season call-ups I’ve seen in 18 years covering Royals baseball, was making his MLB debut. It was a special night, and we all knew it was going to be jam-packed.
I showed up two hours early just to get a head start on my notes and prep because I knew that once things got moving, there would be no slowing down. I spent an additional two hours collecting interviews from players, including Caglianone himself, as well as Royals manager Matt Quatraro and general manager J.J. Picollo. It was go-time, and I was ready for the moment.
By the time I finished the last interview, there was just enough time to grab my iPad and a drink from the press box before hustling back down to the field. As I jumped in front of the camera, I heard our producer John Harvey say in our ears, “No time to review anything. Follow my lead.”
My broadcast partner Jeff Montgomery and I trust ‘Harv’ to make every show flow perfectly, and that night was no exception. The ability to stay grounded is what happens when you’ve put in the reps to build trust with your co-workers, even if everything around you is moving at full speed.
Jac’s debut wasn’t the only time in June our broadcast team made massive adjustments on the fly. After a rough 4-0 loss to the last place A’s during a difficult, winless home stand, the Royals delayed opening the clubhouse to the media. There were no players, meaning there were also no interviews other than Quatraro’s postgame news conference. Our postgame show was about to end, and still, the doors remained closed.
That’s when Harv made the call to stay on the air. He trusted his instincts, and we trusted him. It felt like a players-only meeting and we walked a fine line of speculating without being irresponsible. We adapted and were ready to fill time in the hope we would capture a reaction…and that’s exactly what we did.
Just before we were set to wrap, the clubhouse finally opened. And the interviews that followed? They were raw, honest and emotional. The payoff was real.
This month’s newsletter is all about being ready for the moment. Not those we plan perfectly, but the ones we’re steady enough to deliver on anyway.
It’s what happens when you show up prepared to take on whatever comes your way, inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium dreams
Every other year, when the Royals make their way to San Diego, I’m reminded why Petco Park is a top stadium in all of baseball. Perfect weather, a downtown locale in the heart of the Gaslamp District and three straight sellouts added up to a picture-perfect baseball experience.
The first two games of the Royals-Padres series were nationally televised, so I only worked one game, but it was impossible not to soak in the sun and the setting. The old warehouse tucked into left field and the public park just beyond right field give Petco a uniquely inviting feel. Add in San Diego’s military roots that are deep enough to fill entire sections with Marines while dramatic flyovers happen above and fans get more than just a ballgame.
And maybe best of all? Seeing so many Royals fans who clearly made this trip a destination. It’s a stadium that should be on every baseball bucket list. For a team that plays infrequently in San Diego, this series felt like a reunion.
It’s the kind of venue where baseball and the moment collide. And in a ballpark like that, you don’t have to try hard to be ready for it.
Local flavor
I was lucky enough to enjoy a rare two days off on the road. My wife joined me on this trip, and because San Diego is one of those places that just get’s it right, we seized the opportunity to explore.
For starters, the food is exquisite. You could walk into any restaurant in the city confident they would serve the best fish tacos you’ve had in your life. We certainly did our part to test that theory, but the highlights went beyond the meals.
We took the ferry over to Coronado and spent hours exploring the island, soaking in the beach vibes and just appreciating the beauty of the historic Hotel del Coronado. It’s one of the great hotels in the country with its charm, and the island strikes a perfect balance of tourist-friendly without being tourist-y.
We also toured the USS Midway Museum which I’ve done before, but it never gets old. Whether I’m standing in the hangar among old fighter planes, listening to stories from the ship’s past or just taking in the view from the bridge, the experience is breathtaking every time.
To top off our visit, we took a two-hour boat tour of San Diego Bay. It included glimpses of Navy ships under construction and a history of the city’s military that really gave us a feel of what this SoCal gem is all about.
There’s no shortage of things to do in San Diego, but when you add in the perfect weather, the beautiful water and the laid-back pace of life, you don’t need to overplan. You just need to be present. And sometimes, being ready for the moment simply means savoring it.
Dugout dialogue
June was a month packed with unforgettable moments, on and off the field.
That’s a big statement considering the Big Slick celebrities were here at the end of May for their annual fundraiser supporting Children’s Mercy Hospital. The half-inning I get to spend on-air with Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, Heidi Gardner, Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner is as unscripted (and hilarious) as it gets. It’s one of those situations when you have no choice but to be ready for whatever might come your way.
On June 2, my friend Sarah Nauser and her husband Lonnie joined our pregame show for ALS Awareness Day. Sarah has become like a little sister to me, and her strength continues to inspire everyone around her. That she can still give live interviews feels like nothing short of a miracle.
And then there was Jac Caglianone, who hit his first and second career home runs in the same game. I interviewed him after, but the best moment was capturing the team’s “silent treatment” celebration from my vantage point by the dugout. Jac high-fived the air and stood there awkwardly before finally getting mobbed by his teammates.
I posted the video on X and nearly 2 million people watched it. Usually I might get a few thousand views, but there was something pure and real about that moment. It reminded me that even in a world where people work to manufacture viral content, the authentic ones connect the most.
Being ready for the moment doesn’t just apply to baseball. Watch this month’s sit down with Chief of Staff KC’s Casey Wright to hear about some of the ways it shows up in business as well.
speaking engagements
My speaking availability is already filling into fall and winter, and it would be an honor to add your event to the schedule. If you or a client is interesting in winning trust and building culture, it’s time we play ball. Explore my speaker sheet below to learn more about my keynotes, event moderation or custom video content.
To inquire further, just click the link below. A member of my team will get back to you right away.
Rounding the bases rewind
When you’re ready for the moment, opportunities can be found everywhere. In one recent episode of Rounding the Bases, I was joined by a guest who has mastered the art of relationships and the network of success they build.
He’s an executive super-connector who has spent more than 40 years adding value in more ways than quarterly earnings. His name is Jeff Pelaccio, an accomplished speaker, podcast creator and mastermind behind Pelaccio & Partners. It’s a firm that focuses on helping organizations enhance their internal messaging with content that fosters connection, clarity, and culture. And by laying a foundation of real-life strategies, drives extraordinary outcomes for everyone he meets.
If you missed it earlier this month, be sure to listen now. You’ll be glad you did.
Finally, I want to extend another very warm thank you to each of this month’s incredible guests:
Our schedule is already booked into the fall, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com.
Keeping the score
I’ve spent more than 25 years with a microphone in my hand. Whether it’s watching a game unfold from the dugout well or keynoting to corporate audiences, I love sharing a behind the scenes look at the success stories that never make it to the highlight reel. And if there’s one truth that has stood the truth of time, it’s that no matter the industry, readiness wins.
Beyond baseball, I’ve learned that business has the same heartbeat as the game. You can’t control the timing of your opportunity, but you can control your preparation. And when the moment comes, the ones who are ready to win are the ones who already put in the work, even when no one was watching.
The message was driven home once again, so to speak, in a recent episode of my podcast Rounding the Bases, when I sat down with someone who doesn’t just talk about change…she’s at the forefront of disruption. And her readiness to adapt to the unexpected things that have come her way has been the key to her massive success.
Her name is Mary Lou Kayser, the Founder of Kingfisher Media Publishing, a best-selling author and AI authority who helps professionals future-proof their work. Using creativity as the edge and an attitude of possibility, she champions the notion of harnessing tech to reprogram your success…before the algorithm does it of you.
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