As the players in the starting lineup were being introduced Thursday, FSM cut to a taped introduction of the game telecast, then went to commentary from the announcers in the broadcast booth just after No. 3 hitter Albert Pujols — who has been the subject of contract haggling that has angered some fans — received loud cheers from the crowd.

Viewers were left in the dark as the rest of the lineup was introduced, later being told that Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman received big receptions. Then those wanting to see former Cardinal Jim Edmonds throw out the ceremonial first pitch got just an abbreviated shot of that — with the added aggravation of ads popping on and off the screen to obliterate much of that.

"The ceremony ran long, which made it difficult to fit everything in before first pitch," FSM general manager and senior vice president Jack Donovan said in a statement. "It was a mistake for us to cut away during the introduction of the lineup, and we apologize to Cardinals fans."

Last year, the most anticipated moment of the festivities was how the crowd would react to the introduction of new Cards hitting coach Mark McGwire, who not long before had admitted using performance-enhancing substances during his playing days. But just as he was about to be introduced, FSM went to an interview with nondescript outfielder Joe Mather, then coverage of the introductions resumed after McGwire was done. That led some fans to think there was a cover-up in case McGwire was booed. Donovan said then that wasn't the case, that FSM's timing was off because those ceremonies also ran long.

"We're covering a live event and at live events things happen,'' he said then.