How Vin Scully's team works in the booth

Photo: Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

I've wondered about the details of how the booth works when Vin Scully is broadcasting Dodgers games, and now Tom Hoffarth of the Daily News has taken a peek inside. Scully's secret weapon is stage manager Boyd Robertson, who stands to Scully's right and puts notes, stats and cues in front of the 88-year-old Scully. Robertson has been with Scully since 1989, and like everyone around the Dodgers and many in the city, is keenly aware this season is the last go around. Roberston, writes Hoffarth, is information middleman, security blanket, work wife, gatekeeper and sidekick.

From Hoffarth's weekend column:

Because of his responsibilities in the booth as the liaison from the TV truck and Scully, Robertson has become part of the daily dance that takes place upon Scully’s arrival usually at about 3:30 p.m. for a 7:10 p.m. game. As visitors come by his booth to share a moment with Scully, both arranged ahead of time or by spur of the moment, Robertson can go into a natural protective mode.

“It’s really all about keeping things the way he wants it, and adjusting to him whatever he needs,” said Robertson, who drives in from Lake Forest and often carpools with his 28-year-old daughter Darcy, an Irvine resident who works as an EVS operator on the in-house DodgerVision team.

“At the same time, we all know he tries to make time for as many people as possible. It’s just a matter of knowing his schedule, review notes, knowing when we have to have him on camera for the openings, get stat packages ready, all those things that go into it.”

That’s also where Rob Menschel, the camera operator to Robertson’s right who also arranges the lighting for Scully’s on-camera appearances, statistician Brian Hagen and audio specialist Dave Wolcott come in.

Menschel, who occasionally produces Dodgers telecasts, has logged 25 seasons on Team Scully. While manning his camera, he’ll often flip open his laptop to track down a note that Scully may be interested in and hands it to Robertson. Hagen has been there another 10 years, feeding numbers to Robertson, who then slips them across the table for Scully’s consideration.

Robertson spent a dozen years as stage manager for Chick Hearn at the Lakers, and also worked on “Monday Night Football” when that booth had Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford and Don Meredith.