My Plea to Larry Lucchino about the New Video Boards

Made sure I took this on my last trip to Yankee Stadium just to prove it happens.

What are the chances that Larry Lucchino spends any amount of time on the computer Googling his name?  This entire entry is being written in the hopes that he, or someone who works for him, does just that.

See, Larry Lucchino, I keep reading about the fantastic video boards the Red Sox will have at Fenway Park this year and I’m tickled pink about it.  For years we’ve been watching the board at Fenway go blank for no discernible reason, show fuzzy photos and videos that we can barely see.  Going to just about any other park in baseball and seeing the video boards they have just reinforces how terrible the one at Fenway is…so I’m delighted that this is part of the renovations.

I’m also worried that these new video boards are going to encourage you, Larry Lucchino, and the rest of the Red Sox organization to do terrible things like put “Make Some Noise” signs on them.  Animated clapping hands encouraging fans to cheer at various times during the game when they should already know to be cheering.  At Yankee Stadium, the NEW Yankee Stadium as well as the old, the “Make Some Noise” signs are shown throughout the game.   They also have encouragements to “CHARGE” as well.  They make me want to kick someone.  In Major League Baseball, there is no need for this.  None at all.  I get that they think this appeals to kids at the park but I also think kids at the park deserve better.

There are so many other things you could do with a video board.  Show us more of the players!  In Baltimore (and, I imagine, other cities) they have fun and interesting pieces like asking the players their favorite things (tv shows, movies, songs, etc)…showing behind the scenes video of the park…one of my favorite things in Baltimore is the profiles they show of the people who work at Fenway there and don’t happen to be baseball players.  Profiles on the beer vendors and folks who make pizza, this stuff is fun and a good use of the boards.  Asking us to make some noise, Larry Lucchino, or creating animated characters to race so the attention of the fans is on the board between innings…these things are Minor League moves (and, admittedly, fun at a Minor League game) and the Red Sox will be cheapened if this goes on at Fenway Park.  The place isn’t the most beloved ball park in America because the team caves in to what the rest of the league is doing.

I know this sounds like I’m just an old crank, but I’m not.  I went to more Minor League games last year than I did MLB games and I love them.  I think the atmosphere at a Minor League game is tremendous and I enjoy most every moment of it.  But that atmosphere is purposely different from that at the Major League level and I see no reason to make Major League Baseball  more like Minor League Baseball.  Heck, if anything, I appreciate that if you go to a Triple-A game in Pawtucket the atmosphere is more like MLB than MiLB.  At some point, as it is with the players and the teams they play against, there should be a marked difference as you make your way up through baseball.

So, Larry Lucchino, I want to thank you for all you’ve done for the fans, for the team and  with Fenway Park.  Your contributions have been historic and your name will forever be remembered with Red Sox fans.  I also implore you to not turn Fenway Park into the Cartoon Network with these new video boards.

I don’t usually ask for comments, but I’m interested to hear what other folks think about the video boards and how they would like to see or would NOT like to see them used.   Plus if I write Larry Lucchino enough times maybe he’ll actually see this entry and your suggestions as well!

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