26 weeks, 31 analysts, one rock: How NBC 'Sunday Night Baseball' stayed on point

Preparation is the backbone of broadcasting, yet the relatively daring format for Sunday Night Baseball is forged on plunging into the unknown.

Rather than a fixed two- or three-person booth, NBC charged back into baseball by tabbing Benetti as their play-by-play man and paired him with announcers from each team, placing the glue guy in between a pair of expert voices.

Every week, there'd be no guarantee of chemistry. No chance to develop continuity. And plenty of chances for unfamiliarity to send the broadcast off track.