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San Diego Catching Up : Diamond Vision to Make Its Debut

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Over the past few seasons, the Padres have made successful their attempt to compete with other major league teams on the field.

Now, with the construction of a $6.5-million scoreboard, it appears the Padres will be competing with those teams off the field as well.

The scoreboard, which will make its debut at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium at tonight’s home opener against the Giants, will include a Diamond Vision screen that will show action in color.

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“It was probably the fact that they were becoming so common around the league that we felt this was something this stadium needed,” said Dick Freeman, Padre vice president. “Anyone who’s ever seen one before knows how much it enhances a fan’s enjoyment of the game.”

Diamond Vision scoreboards already are in use at Dodger Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadiums, the Meadowlands Sports Arena in New Jersey, Three Rivers Stadium, Arlington Stadium, the Astrodome and the Kingdome.

The scoreboard at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium is twice as big as the one it will replace in right-center field and will include:

--The Diamond Vision screen that measures 26-feet 3-inches by 35-feet 5-inches. It can show instant replays and closeups, and will include pre-produced video pieces, animation, special effects and graphic information.

--Two black and white areas on either side of the screen which will keep fans posted on the scores of other games. Each board consists of 7,040 light bulbs.

--One area above the screen consisting of 10,800 bulbs that will include the Padre game information such as the linescore and balls and strikes.

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The entire scoreboard will measure 66 feet high by 100 feet wide and will weigh approximately 150 tons.

“I think the people who have never seen one like it before will be amazed,” scoreboard supervisor Mark Guglielmo said. “Its capabilities are endless.”

According to Guglielmo, 13 people will be used to run the scoreboard including three cameramen (one high behind home plate, and one down each foul line), a director, technical director and soundman.

“If you walk into our booth, it will seem like a television station,” Guglielmo said.

Of course, the instant replay capabilities could cause problems on close decisions by umpires and Guglielmo’s staff has been sent a list of guidelines from National League President Chub Feeney.

“Basically, we just have to use common sense and not show anything controversial,” Guglielmo said.

They also can’t show ball-and-strike calls, fights and disputes, close plays where there is no argument and replays while a batter is in the batter’s box.

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However, it is what they can show that has the Padres excited. Along with its other capabilities, the scoreboard will come complete with a satellite dish that can pick up action from other ballgames.

“If Atlanta and the Dodgers are playing a game that has a bearing on the divisional race, we can cut to action during a break in the play,” Guglielmo said. “We can also show other newsmaking events such as when Pete Rose breaks Ty Cobb’s all-time hit record.”

Said Freeman: “There were so many people involved with it. I think the fans will really be pleased.”

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