Now, we』re reshaping the way that game coverage looks.
Starting July 28, we』ll launch a new format that presents the game story in a faster, more accessible and more customizable package. Instead of a traditional 600-word game story, our coverage will feature 300 words about the game and then up to five bullet points that highlight mini storylines, injuries, key plays and what's coming next for a team.
It』ll be faster to read, faster to publish and more customizable for newsrooms. Unique content will be more easily highlighted and communicated. Editors can choose to use the 300-word story, or break off the bullet points for websites.
The new format is based on customer feedback and a trial conducted during spring training this year.
The new format was discussed at the gathering of Associated Press Media Editors in New York today, and will be reviewed at the annual Associated Press Sports Editors conference later this week. Here are highlights in an advisory that went to AP member news organizations and customers today:
THE FORMAT
The basics won't change: We will continue to publish a NewsNow at game's end, a 300-word writethru shortly after, followed by a 600-word writethru and a hometown lead.
What will change is how those stories look. The top of the story will continue to look like a traditional AP game story. After 300 words, the text will break into a chunky-text presentation featuring up to five bullet points that explain team storylines, key plays, injuries and a look ahead to what's next for a team or player.
THE BENEFITS
EASY TO READ: The format allows consumers to more easily see interesting content, and it can be read faster across platforms.
SPEED: The format is naturally shorter than a traditional game story and can be published more quickly, resulting in a faster turnaround time from AP to newsrooms.
FLEXIBILITY: Customers have the option of using the 300-word traditional game story, or breaking off the bullet point items for briefs on websites, mobile or in print.
EXAMPLE OF NEW FORMAT
Slug: BC-BBA–Royals-Indians
Headline: Kipnis hits go-ahead double, Indians beat Royals
Ext. Headline: Jason Kipnis delivers tiebreaking double in 7th inning, sends Indians to 5-3 win over Royals
Eds Note: Indians 5, Royals 3
By The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — With seven games still left this month, Jason Kipnis has already surpassed his statistics from last April.
That wasn't hard to do.
「I set the bar so low,」 he said.
Kipnis drove in Nick Swisher from first base with a two-out double in the seventh inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
Kipnis, who batted just .200 with one homer and four RBIs in the season's first month in 2013, ripped his double off Kelvin Herrera (0-1) into the gap in right-center, deep enough to easily score Swisher, who reached on a two-out single.
「That was a real big hit,」 Indians manager Terry Francona said. 「Sometimes you need a big hit at a big time and we got it tonight.」
The Indians tacked on an important insurance run in the eighth on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall's bloop RBI single.
Bryan Shaw (1-0) finished the seventh and got one out in the eighth. Cody Allen retired two, and John Axford worked the ninth for his AL-leading eighth save.
Michael Bourn had three hits and two RBIs for the Indians. Bourn, Nick Swisher and Kipnis, Cleveland's 1-2-3 hitters, combined for six hits and three RBIs.
Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back homers in the second for Kansas City.
Indians starter Justin Masterson remained winless through five starts. The staff's ace, who turned down a contract extension during spring training, allowed two earned runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.
「I』ll take as many no-decisions as come as long as we』re winning,」 he said.
Down 3-2, the Indians tied it in the sixth off lefty starter Jason Vargas when Michael Brantley scored from first on two Kansas City errors.
Brantley singled with one out, and broke for second with two down and Yan Gomes batting. As Brantley slid safely into second, the throw from catcher Perez skipped into center field. Brantley hustled toward third and center fielder Jarrod Dyson took his eye off the ball, overrunning it and letting the tying run score.
「I came in too hard,」 Dyson said. 「I should have come in and played it off the hop because I probably didn't have a shot at him anyway.」
Moustakas』 RBI single after Kipnis dropped a throw for an error had given the Royals a 3-2 lead in the sixth.
TIPPING PITCHES?
One night after Cleveland's struggling right-hander Danny Salazar said he might be tipping his pitches, Indians manager Terry Francona said the 24-year-old Salazar is just leaving too many over the plate. Francona was surprised Salazar would say he was giving hitters clues.
「He's not,」 Francona said. 「There were some instances last year in spring training that we kind of addressed with him. But, no, we really keep an eye on that.」
SLUMPS
Royals: Perez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a drive over the center field wall off Masterson in the second inning for his first homer. The Royals catcher with a .295 average in three-plus seasons entered batting just .211 in 71 at-bats.
Indians: Third baseman-designated hitter Carlos Santana is in a 2-for-46 (.043) slide.
SLOPPY PLAY
The Indians came in tied for the AL lead with 20 errors. Kipnis, the second baseman, made his third of the year Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Royals: The six-game road trip continues in Baltimore with hard-throwing rookie Yordano Ventura (1-2) facing Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (0-3)
Indians: Cleveland heads west for its first interleague series. Righty Carlos Carrasco (0-2) faces San Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Hudson (2-1).
