Dimensions

Most keen observers realize that you can’t put much stock in the numbers painted on the outfield walls, as “330” in one park can be radically different in another park. The problem is that there really isn’t much uniformity in terms of how the measurements are made, and I’m willing to be that there’s zero enforcement of the outfield wall distances Major League Baseball claims to require.

Against this backdrop is an interesting interview of Hit Tracker’s Greg Rybarczyk over at Amazin’ Avenue. Rybarczyk — who, like some other brilliant guys, has a piece in this year’s Hardball Times Annual — expands on a point he made in the Annual about how he thinks the Mets’ new park is going to kill home runs. It’s not just speculation based on published distances on his part. He uses satellite images and everything, so it’s like science and stuff.

I hope he’s right, because I kind of like pitchers’ parks. The fact is, however, that one really never knows how a park is going to play until someone plays in the park.

(link via BTF)


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Jeff (akaTucsonRoyal)
15 years ago

Using park dimensions from other parks, I have run a regression on estimating park factors.  It looks like Citi, do to its dimensions and foul territory, score ~10 runs less during a season.

http://jeffsqanda.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-factors-have-effect-on-runs-scored.html

Max
15 years ago

Count me in for the pro-pitchers’-park camp.

I’m sure these type of extreme parks have a pretty strong effect on arbitration hearings.  I can’t imagine park factors are a big part of the conversation, right?

I wonder how Cole Hamels feels about that.

Ron
15 years ago

This is a dangerous trend. This means teams will actually have to score runs without hitting homeruns. Oh, the humanity of it all.

In a side note, Mike Scoscia is petitioning for the Angels to move to the National League.

The Common Man
15 years ago

Quick, someone find out if Whitey Herzog is still alive for the home-run baren future we are all envisioning.