POV
by Jerry Guarino
“That’s
incredible! This could change the game. How did
you ever come up with this?”
Tony paused a moment. “Actually it came to
me in a dream, and in December, months from the
world series. He turned to his friend Kelly.
“Do you really think it’s a game
changer?”
“I do. I’ve never seen that camera
angle before.”
“The difficulty is not the video, or the
technology. It’s the positioning of the
video camera. How could you place a high-resolution
video camera above the batter’s box?”
Kelly stroked her hair. “Maybe we need AI.
Did you think about asking Claude?”
Tony smiled. “No, I didn’t but it’s
worth a shot.” Tony opened his AI server.
How could you get an overhead video shot of a
baseball batter without disturbing his
concentration?
As usual, Claude thought for a moment, then
replied.
With high-resolution technology advanced
since the last war, you could use a satellite
feed, if you could get permission from the
government.
Tony didn’t think this was practical. 162
games times for each team! We couldn’t
possibly arrange use of a satellite. Sometimes
Claude doesn’t take into account major
factors like cost or government restrictions.
Tony smiled. “We need a practical,
inexpensive solution.”
How about a drone 100 feet above the batter?
A league tech could control it from the press box.
“Yes, I think that might work. Kelly, what
do you think?” Kelly was an engineer,
working in a television studio.
“Drones could work. Let me make a few calls.”
***
So Tony and Kelly met with
hitting coaches from the Dodgers, Mets and
Yankees.
“As you can see from the AI simulation, a
camera angle above the batter allows you to
analyze the swing, position and point of impact
on the ball. You’ll see whether the batter
is early, late or balanced with the swing.
Moreover, we ran simulation statistics to see
what the optimum swing was.”
“And what was that?”
“The best position for a base hit is an even
swing, impacting the ball when it is over the
plate. The best for a home run is an early swing.
A late swing is more likely to be a ground out.”
“Yes, but we know that. We tell players to
balance their body and swing to maximize contact.
How does this technology help?”
“Well, obviously, you could only use ground-level
video for instruction. With this above batter
view, the coach and player can see the exact
point of impact, early, late or centered.”
“Could you give us a few minutes?” The
hitting coaches all pulled out their phones and
spoke with management. After thirty minutes, they
brought the two back into the room.
“We decided to buy your technology. But we
need to estimate costs and expenses as well as
get permission from the league to use it during
games.”
Kelly smiled. “We have the cost estimates
here. It would cost each team $100,000 for the
drone camera and approximately $1000/game to
implement it. “Of course, our patented
research will cost you one million dollars and $50,000
each year.” Kelly handed the details to the
coaches.
“We’ll get back to you. We’re very
interested.”
Kelly and Tony left feeling like they hit a home
run. “Tony, your idea is a winner. The
coaches will certainly want to test this in
Spring training. By opening day, we could be
wealthy.”
Tony decided it wasn’t too early to
celebrate. “Kelly, how do you feel about
dinner and dancing?”
Kelly’s smile was all the answer he needed.
Tony and Kelly spent a romantic night together in
the city, their first time being intimate.
***
The league lawyers brought
Tony and Kelly in for a meeting. The pair was
optimistic, but not cocky.
“We like your proposal, but our contacts in
Japan said they could do provide the same
technology for much less. We’re prepared to
pay you $100,000 for your patent and $1000/year
for consulting.”
Tony and Kelly were crestfallen. “Can we
have a minute to confer?”
“Of course, we can continue in thirty
minutes.”
Tony and Kelly met in an adjoining room. “How
can a Japanese company undercut us like that. Isn’t
our patent worldwide protection?” They
called their attorney.
“Our lawyer says our patent is worldwide,
but to fight it in court against a Japanese
company could cost thousands of dollars in legal
fees, with no guarantees.”
Tony shed a tear, then Kelly did as well. “So
what do we do?”
They returned to the meeting.
“We decided to take your counter offer, with
one condition.”
“and that is?”
“Two season tickets behind home plate at
Dodger’s stadium, including playoff games.”
The lawyer from the Dodgers leaned over to the
others.
“Deal. We can even upgrade that to a
mezzanine suite with food and beverages if you
prefer.”
Tony smiled at Kelly and squeezed her hand. They
stood up. “Please write up the agreement.”
***
After signing the contract
and getting their suite at Dodger’s stadium,
Tony and Kelly attended opening day. The
organization had invited famous celebrities from
the music and film industry. This made their deal
with MLB worth much more than their original deal.
After musing with the stars from Hollywood, Tony
took Kelly aside. “Kelly, I think this is a
sign that we’re supposed to be together.”
He got down on one knee and proposed. All the
celebs gathered round to hug them. Tony and Kelly
found love and fame that day.
It was just a matter of your point of view.
POV
by Jerry Guarino
Copyright December, 2025 – All Rights
Reserved
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