The LF wall tracker

[Frobby]

I think there were three concerns here:

1.  Aesthetics: personally, I like the way it looks.   It’s quirky but not gimmicky IMO. It gives the park a lot of character so far as I’m concerned.

2. Safety/injuries: having looked at it, I don’t think this is going to be an issue.

3.  Effect on offense/homers: here, I do think the change may be a little too extreme.   But, ask me again when we see how it plays in the summer.   So far only 2 balls have really been affected.  Let’s see how many times it matters over a season and what the overall impact is.

 

 

[deward]

Aesthetics will be subjective for each observer, of course. I still don't like anything about how it looks. I would argue that moving the fans further away from the field (by virtue of a 13 foot wall) makes the park feel less intimate, thus removing character, not adding to it. Like I said though, a highly subjective topic. 

[byrdz]

This team has been plagued by terrible pitching for years. At he end of the day if this attracts better pitching and helps our current pitching I’m all for it. 

I’m indifferent on the way it looks but get that it takes away from the intimacy of the park. You could be in the outfield seats but still be close to the action. It does take away some good seating no doubt about it. 

[deward]

58 minutes ago, byrdz said:

This team has been plagued by terrible pitching for years. At he end of the day if this attracts better pitching and helps our current pitching I’m all for it. 

I’m indifferent on the way it looks but get that it takes away from the intimacy of the park. You could be in the outfield seats but still be close to the action. It does take away some good seating no doubt about it. 

I'll continue to stand by my position that the team will attract better pitching when they actually start making top of the market offers for good pitchers. The park never mattered in that regard, and will continue not to matter. No one turned down more money to avoid the park and no one will give a discount because of the park. 

[deward]

1 hour ago, byrdz said:

This team has been plagued by terrible pitching for years. At he end of the day if this attracts better pitching and helps our current pitching I’m all for it. 

I’m indifferent on the way it looks but get that it takes away from the intimacy of the park. You could be in the outfield seats but still be close to the action. It does take away some good seating no doubt about it. 

Also, sure, the change will probably make the stats for our pitchers look superficially better, but won't it also do the same thing for visiting pitchers? What advantage does it give the team? How does that help win more games? I don't see how it helps the current staff, other than making the numbers on the back of their cards look a little better. The W-L records aren't going to change.

[Just Regular]

Minus one Anthony Santander grand slam.

[Pickles]

Just now, Just Regular said:

Minus one Anthony Santander grand slam.

Beat me to it.  The new dimensions just cost Santandar a grand slam.

[Tony-OH]

Just now, Just Regular said:

Minus one Anthony Santander grand slam.

No, minus three runs since that would have been a grand slam. How exciting pushing that wall back has been.

[Natty]

Just now, Just Regular said:

Minus one Anthony Santander grand slam.

Yep just cost Sandander a grand slam. 

[Tony-OH]

Is anyone keeping track now? 

[Just Regular]

Hey, as long as it gets Bruce Zimmermann to the All-Star game, all good.

[Tony-OH]

On 4/30/2022 at 9:53 AM, MarCakes21 said:

I'm starting to lean the other way.  I think it gives great character and makes it more neutral, but I was even worried when Mountcastle hit that.  You shouldn't. need a 423ft, 112mph exit velo to clear.  I personally think in between what they've got now and the old wall would have been better.

It was certainly moved way too far back and then adding the height of the wall takes away all the fun of outfielders jumping into the stands to try and get balls back. I hate it.

[Pickles]

Just now, Tony-OH said:

Is anyone keeping track now? 

I think we are.  There really hasn't been a lot.  Mancini, Boegarts, and now Santandar all lost HRs.  There's been some questions about hits that fell in that wouldn't have under the old dimensions.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Just Regular said:

Hey, as long as it gets Bruce Zimmermann to the All-Star game, all good.

The O's do get the one pity representative.  Might as well be him.

[Tony-OH]

1 minute ago, Pickles said:

I think we are.  There really hasn't been a lot.  Mancini, Boegarts, and now Santandar all lost HRs.  There's been some questions about hits that fell in that wouldn't have under the old dimensions.

Yeah, but I thought someone was tracking how many it cost us and the other teams to see if they even out.