Is it just me ...

[Frayed Knot]

or does it look like the foul lines are going to run into the stands about 75 feet behind each base?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah!

It does look like there will be a ton of cheap home runs.

From that picture, I'd say that home plate should be moved about thirty feet in the direction of center field.

[Guest Iubitul]

no - it's not just you.

It looks like they put home plate too close to the stands, which screwed everything up.

Why does this not surprise me?

[Benjamin Grimm]

A pull hitter like Delgado could hit 80 homers playing on that field.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The fooul fly behind third base is the new power alley. Mets re-sign Edgardo Alfonzo, who hits 97 home runs.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Looks fine to me. Focus on where it appears that home plate would be. If you run the two (imaginary) foul lines from that point, the layout makes sense. There's hardly any foul territory to speak of, though, approaching the outfield corners.

Edited November 10, 2008 by Guest

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It does look like there will be a ton of cheap home runs. .

I hope it's not so , like many one of the fears I have about the new place is that it will a hitters ballpark.


BTW , I can't see the picture but that's my work screwing me.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Certainly on the first base side.

I also wonder if the angle of the field-level outfield seats --- whose lack of angling toward the infield was a chief indictment of Shea --- will be much of an improvement over that of Shea.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I used a transparent ruler device with many brightly colored straight lines as an overlay on the aerial view of the stadium. The foul lines run all the way to the farthest outfield corners.

[Frayed Knot]

]... one of the fears I have about the new place is that it will a hitters ballpark.

They claim they designed it to be, like Shea, a fair to somewhat pitcher-friendly park -- but you never really know until you play there for a while.
Both Philly & Cincy supposedly failed to account for how the winds would affect things and got a lot more HRs than they anticipated.

[Centerfield]

In any case, there is almost no foul territory along the lines in the outfield. I don't like that. Guys can't go full tilt after balls hit along the lines. Plus you can get hurt more easily going into the wall.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I have the 1964 Daily News reporting on Shea's inaugural game. Many players raved about Shea's excellent visibility and predicted that Shea would turn out to be a great hitter's park, which it never was as we all know, not even in 1964, not even by 1964's standards, and not even adjusting for the fact that it was the inept 1964 Mets that accounted for almost half of all Shea at-bats in 1964.

[HahnSolo]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I used a transparent ruler device with many brightly colored straight lines as an overlay on the aerial view of the stadium. The foul lines run all the way to the farthest outfield corners.

That may be true, but it almost looks like the foul line would run on the warning track (assuming that is the warning track).

[batmagadanleadoff]

HahnSolo wrote: ="batmagadanleadoff"]I used a transparent ruler device with many brightly colored straight lines as an overlay on the aerial view of the stadium. The foul lines run all the way to the farthest outfield corners. That may be true, but it almost looks like the foul line would run on the warning track (assuming that is the warning track).

So what's wrong with that?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I used a transparent ruler device with many brightly colored straight lines as an overlay on the aerial view of the stadium. The foul lines run all the way to the farthest outfield corners.

Who has one of these lying around on their desk?

It's plain to me when following the dirt cut-outs for the baselines that they run right into the third or fourth row in shallow left and right.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: ="batmagadanleadoff"]I used a transparent ruler device with many brightly colored straight lines as an overlay on the aerial view of the stadium. The foul lines run all the way to the farthest outfield corners. Who has one of these lying around on their desk?

I do. I purchased it specifically in anticipation of this thread and that aerial photo. And I've gotten my money's worth!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Well can I borrow it then?

[Methead]

It looks weird in the aerial shot, but it works.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hmmm. I see you also posses a transparent ruler device. How many colors?

[metirish]

Also in center field there seems to be something that could be quite dangerous , I hope they move it.


Looks like a shitty field to me.

[Willets Point]

It's an optical delusion.

Which line is longest:

[A Boy Named Seo]

I think they're all the same, but I haven't been drinkin' yet today.

[batmagadanleadoff]

="Methead"]It looks weird in the aerial shot, but it works.

I used a blue line.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Well can I borrow it then?

What for?

[Guest attgig]

metirish wrote: Also in center field there seems to be something that could be quite dangerous , I hope they move it. Looks like a shitty field to me.

that's beltran's chair. after realizing that beltran is so freakin awesome as a defender, they figured he could use a little extra rest in the OF to keep his legs healthy.

[Guest Edgy DC]

="Methead"]It looks weird in the aerial shot, but it works.

Well, it looks like you're right. I'll say though that there seems to be more brown above the line at home plate then at third, suggesting your line is angling toward fair territory, but it may be further illusions.

I'd really like to get on about my distaste for walls running parallel to the foul line two feet beyond it. (1) It puts me in mind of Yankee stadium. (2) An outfielder should not have to risk himself catching a fair popup. Foul territory is for outfielders too. (3) Less foul territory means advantage offense.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree. I'd like to see at least ten feet between the foul line and the stands. Fifteen would be better.

[Willets Point]

On the other hand, more souvenirs for the fans!

[Guest Edgy DC]

That alcove in right seems to be the exact opposite of the porch in Petco that helped make Julio Franco the world's oldest homerun hitter.

The upper deck hanging over that alcove is gimmicky and will lead to much grumbling.

[MFS62]

metirish wrote: Also in center field there seems to be something that could be quite dangerous , I hope they move it.

I had the same thought - a mental image of some outfielder running into that projection and getting really hurt.
As for short foul lines, reminds me of the Polo Grounds.....

Later