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re: Why aren't baseball fields symmetrical?
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:10 am to Zach
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:10 am to Zach
quote:
The better question would be "why should baseball fields be symmetrical?" Are all golf courses the same?
I think baseball fields should definitely all be the same length. How can you have records when the playing field isn't even? How tiny was right field in Yankee Stadium for the Babe?
1
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:12 am to reddman
Am I the only one confused as to what the CF dimension has to do with symmetry? It could be 330' or 500' and still be perfectly symmetrical.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:19 am to LSUBoo
Symmetrical is probably the wrong word to us. But basically I am asking why the fence distance isn't the same from right field to the left field.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:25 am to alajones
quote:
Symmetrical is probably the wrong word to us.
It's mostly correct... most fields aren't symmetrical these days either. But there is just some natural reasons related to the swing as to why CF is deeper than the corners.
Now... maybe all fields should be the same dimensions? In my opinion, no. Historically they were built to fit the site, so you had weird dimensions like the green monster in Boston and a huge CF at the Polo Grounds (if I remember right) and the Dodgers even used to play at the LA Colosseum with a 250' or so LF and close to 500' to RF. (Again... just remember the dimensions off the top of my head...)
So... maybe they could build them all the same these days, but why? Baseball, unlike football and basketball and tennis, etc... doesn't have two ends of the court/field that are supposed to be the same. Both teams play on the same diamond, playing the same direction. So regardless of the irregularities, both teams are seeing them the same way. That's the real reason why baseball fields CAN be different.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:29 am to LSUBoo
There have been numerous stadiums built for baseball in the last 20 years. Is the only reason that these stadiums have chosen to have different dimensions in the outfield fence is because that is the way it has always been?
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:35 am to alajones
quote:No, because that's really not the way it has always been. In the 60s and 70s they were mostly built the same way... symmetrical, full seating all around, multi-purpose. I bet over half the stadiums used in the 1980s were symmetrical and all had pretty similar dimensions.
Is the only reason that these stadiums have chosen to have different dimensions in the outfield fence is because that is the way it has always been?
But then parks like Camden Yards and Jacobs Field came around that were different, with irregularities, and fans loved them. So... other teams followed the mold when building their new stadiums.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 12:47 am to LSUBoo
quote:
But then parks like Camden Yards and Jacobs Field came around that were different, with irregularities, and fans loved them. So... other teams followed the mold when building their new stadiums.
This to me sounds most logical. Part of the "experience" of baseball games is that each ballpark is uniquely it's own, and stadiums these days are being built with it's own unique attributes (whether it be as a hitters park, short right porch, or like minute maid with that wacky CF). Stadiums are as much part of the game as the game/players are.
This post was edited on 6/10/09 at 12:48 am
Posted on 6/10/09 at 1:10 am to ATL_Tiger
Pensky's pole >or< 300 feet?
Posted on 6/10/09 at 1:22 am to alajones
quote:
Are there really that many 360 ft. fly outs to centerfield?
That made me lol.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 8:00 am to alajones
I guess what ala is suggesting is a standard field dimension (not like LL where its 220 all around; something like 330-375-405-375-330. Even if you did that, some parks would still be launching pads compared to others due to geographical location, wind patterns, layout, size of stadium structure, etc.
I like it the way it is, it would be pretty boring if all parks were the same.
I like it the way it is, it would be pretty boring if all parks were the same.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 8:03 am to double d
quote:
I like it the way it is, it would be pretty boring if all parks were the same.
because basketball and football are so boring?
Posted on 6/10/09 at 8:04 am to alajones
quote:
I realize that in older ballparks like Fenway and Wrigley they had to make do with a certain area. But why are they like this now?
Could it be done? Certainly. Will you ever find a hardcore baseball fan that advocates it... absolutely not.
quote:
Are there really that many 360 ft. fly outs to centerfield?
Klassic.Posted on 6/10/09 at 9:27 am to Stagg8
The Pesky Pole is listed at 302, but estimated to be closer.
You want to see a park that was f-up like polio, check out the old polo grounds layout. 280 to the LF wall, 258 to the RF wall, 414 & 395 to the power alleys, and 483 to the clubhouse balcony that overhang CF (505 to the fence beneath the balcony).
You want to see a park that was f-up like polio, check out the old polo grounds layout. 280 to the LF wall, 258 to the RF wall, 414 & 395 to the power alleys, and 483 to the clubhouse balcony that overhang CF (505 to the fence beneath the balcony).
Posted on 6/10/09 at 9:31 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:If Arlington's left and right fields were 330, they'd hit 200 HR's a year there. Same with Coors field
I like it the way it is, it would be pretty boring if all parks were the same.
because basketball and football are so boring?
Posted on 6/10/09 at 9:32 am to JJ27
quote:
I think baseball fields should definitely all be the same length. How can you have records when the playing field isn't even? How tiny was right field in Yankee Stadium for the Babe?
Sabermetricians make adjustments to their numbers when discussing GOAT, and those adjustments include park, era, rules, etc.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 9:39 am to double d
I'm really not advocating that all parks look the same, or have the same dimensions. I'm just wondering why for instance, the new Yankee stadium didn't just have a 400 Ft fence all around? Is that just considered boring and every ballpark has to be unique and different? I remmeber when Minute Maid first came out sports goobs scoffed at how hard they tried to be "unique".
Posted on 6/10/09 at 9:55 am to alajones
quote:Big fan of triples?
I'm just wondering why for instance, the new Yankee stadium didn't just have a 400 Ft fence all around?
Posted on 6/10/09 at 10:13 am to alajones
quote:
400 Ft fence all around
Leadoff hitters might lead the league in homeruns simply off of inside the parkers.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 10:15 am to The Darrow Kid
quote:
it's tradition but some are just ridiculous.
I agree.
I think a lot of this contrived quirkiness has gotten out of hand.
Posted on 6/10/09 at 10:22 am to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
think a lot of this contrived quirkiness has gotten out of hand.
the only one that I can think of that is out of hand is the stupid hill and flag pole in play in Houston. Which is only stupid because it could lead to injury. I'm not sure that any other field has any contrived quirkiness
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