Major League Baseball limits walk-up music, Shane Victorino is mad
Major League Baseball is putting an end to the sing-songing allowed at Fenway Park (and the ballparks of the other 29 teams, too.)
Not the sweet sounds of "Sweet Caroline," but a newer addition to the crowd's repertoire - Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds."
Rob Bradford of WEEI notes one of MLB's rule changes for the upcoming season is the mandate that walk-up music for hitters lasts no more than 15 seconds.
That's a big problem for certain folks who've come to rely on the introductory verse for Shane Victorino, which spans longer than the allotted time.
I just think it’s not right. It’s disappointing to hear that. I look at it this way: There was a stat of going into the box between pitch, I think mine was like six seconds, which was one of the top five fastest. So they ask me, ‘Why are you like that?’ I told them I wanted to get in the box and go.
So this little stuff they want to change with music, for a guy like me of course it sucks because it’s not necessarily for me but it’s part of everything that goes on at Fenway Park when I walk up to the plate. Now you’re going to have so many disappointed fans every night because you’re changing that part of the game.
Victorino's jam won't make it to most well-known part of the song under the new regulation. According to WEEI, "Don't worry" will make the cut, but the lyrics, "about a thing, because every little thing gonna be all right" will be slashed.
Doesn't the MLB brass know World Championships aren't won without good walk-up songs?
More from Victorino:
I just feel like it shouldn’t be a designated time, Some guys take their time. Some guys that’s their rhythm. I don’t want to do just because I want to listen to the whole song. It’s because it’s the thing that’s been picked up and the way it happened toward the end of the season. That’s the only reason I let that part of the song go. If not, I don’t pay attention to that.
Everybody has their own rhythm and way they go about an at-bat. If over the course of a season there’s a problem then Major League Baseball should tell Mr. So-and-So they’re taking way too long between pitches and this needs to stop or fines will come your way. I just don’t think everybody across the board has to [punished].
Boston fans have become so accustomed to the Victorino sing-a-long, that when he attended a Patriots game at Gilette Stadium, he had the crowd participating to the same tune.
[Courtesy geeblaun on YouTube]