NL Ballpark review: Petco Park limits homers
I have to keep myself on task here, because typing "RFK" and "Dolphin" as I present the stadium has me looking ahead to the NFL Draft.
Let's start the National League review by division.
NL East
Atlanta: Turner Field
Dimensions: LF — 335 FT, CF — 400 FT, RF — 330 FT
Turner Field played neutral in 2007 with the Braves and opponents combining for 2.1 home runs (eighth in the National League) and 9.09 runs (12th in the National League) per game. Only two Atlanta batters produced double-digit home runs in 2007, although Mark Teixeira found the park to his liking following the deadline deal. Teixeira hit nine home runs in 29 games.
The ballpark presents no obvious obstacle to solid production. The distances down the lines are 335 and 330 feet to left and right field, respectively. The power alleys are average at 380 and 390 feet, while straightaway center field sits at 401 feet. Foul territory is limited, a feature that serves to boost batting averages.
Florida: Dolphin Stadium
Dimensions: LF — 330 FT, CF — 434 FT, RF — 345 FT
The dual-purpose stadium in South Florida presents several challenges for batters. There is a 33-foot tall wall in left field akin to the "Green Monster" in Fenway Park. The distance to straightaway center field is a monstrous 434 feet, and the angles into the power alleys turn some home runs into doubles.
Batters were able to overcome these challenges in 2007, as they combined for 2.33 home runs and 10.72 runs per game (fifth and third in the National League, respectively). This was a stark contrast to years past when the Marlins and opponents produced meager totals, particularly in the power department. I would suspect that the offensive numbers regress this season.
New York Mets: Shea Stadium
Dimensions: LF — 338 FT, CF — 410 FT, RF — 338 FT
The home of the Mets was retrofitted to become a baseball-only stadium following the departure of the Jets in the early 1980s. Through the years, the park has been tweaked to become more hitter-friendly by bringing the stands closer to the field and reducing the amount of foul territory. As such, batters have enjoyed seeing more pitches, which portends to higher batting averages. The power alleys still represent a significant challenge for batters at 396 feet in left and right-center field and 410 to straightaway center field. The slugging Mets and opposing hitters combined for two home runs per game in 2007 (83 for the home team), 10th in the National League, and 9.17 runs per game, 11th in the league. Despite the presence of sluggers David Wright and Carlos Delgado, Shea Stadium remains a difficult place to generate runs. New acquisition Johan Santana will enjoy pitching here.
Philadelphia: Citizens Bank Park
Dimensions: LF — 329 FT, CF — 401 FT, RF — 330 FT
The slight adjustments to the park's dimensions ahead of the 2006 season did nothing to stop the ridiculous run production in Philadelphia. The distance to the deepest part of the park is 409 feet, but the seats are attainable in the alleys (374 in left-center and 369 in right-center) and down the line (329 in left and 330 in right).
The Phillies and their opponents combined to hit 241 home runs (2.97 per game) in 2007, the highest total in the brief history of Citizens Bank Park and the most in all of Major League Baseball. This total represents a slight up-tick from the 2006 season, when 233 home runs flew into the seats. Fantasy owners anxiously awaited a visit by their players to Citizens Bank Park, as the scoreboard lit up like a pinball machine at a clip of 10.75 runs per game, second-most in the National League.
Washington: RFK Stadium
Dimensions: LF — 335 FT, CF — 408 FT, RF — 335 FT
Nationals Park
Dimensions: LF – 336 FT, CF – 403 FT, RF – 335 FT
The Nationals relocate from pitcher-friendly and flyball-killing RFK Stadium into their own facility for 2008, the aptly named "Nationals Stadium." For years, RFK Stadium was among the most difficult parks in which to generate runs, as its power alleys ranked among the deepest in the game. The dimensions at Nationals Park aren't markedly different with similar angles in the left-center and right-center field alleys that will serve to thwart home run drives. The distances down the lines aren't overwhelming at 335 feet, but the angles into the gaps push the distances north of 400 feet (403 in straightaway center field).
Flyballs went to die in the cavernous alleys of RFK Stadium, as the Nationals and opponents combined for just 1.54 home runs per game in 2007 (the third-lowest average in the National League). Batters produced a paltry 8.38 runs per game, but this played as a haven for line drive hitters last year (two doubles per game, sixth in the National League). I suspect that those numbers rise with the introduction of the new park, but Nationals fans and fantasy owners anticipating a huge offensive surge should temper their hopes.
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| Miller Park has been a good place for hitters in recent seasons, especially for Milwaukee's first baseman Prince Fielder. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images) |
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: Wrigley Field
Dimensions: LF — 355 FT, CF — 400 FT, RF — 353 FT
This Chicago institution remains one of the top tourist attractions and host raucous afternoon gatherings through the summer. It is one of the smallest parks in all of Major League Baseball and plays as one of the best power parks in the league at times and one of the worst at others. The wind blows off of Lake Michigan to knock the ball down and keep scores low early in the season, but the wind shifts and blows out in the summer, sometimes carrying routine flyballs into the bleachers. In 2007, the Cubs and their opponents combined for middling totals in home runs and runs (2.09 home runs and 9.6 runs per game, ninth and sixth in the National League, respectively).
Cincinnati: Great American Ballpark
Dimensions: LF — 328 FT, CF — 404 FT, RF — 325 FT
This park has become a favorite of home run hitters, as the power alleys sit a very achievable 370 feet from home plate. It's a great park for left-handed pull hitters (Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey, Jr. slammed a total of 36 home runs here), not to say that a right-handed hitter can't soar to great heights (Brandon Phillips hit 17). In fact, six members of the Reds amassed 10 or more home runs at home in 2007.
The Reds and their opponents hit 231 home runs (2.85 per game) and averaged 10.56 runs per game in 2007. In the past two seasons, fans have watched 472 balls fly into the seats.
Houston: Minute Maid Park
Dimensions: LF — 315 FT, CF — 436 FT, RF — 326 FT
After years of watching the home team struggle to conquer the epic dimensions of the Astrodome, the former Enron Field is one of the game's most hitter-friendly parks in the game. "The Juice Box" is short down the lines (315 feet in left and 326 feet in right) and smallish in the power alleys (362 in left-center and 373 in right-center). However, there are two distinct challenges for hitters in this park that help to keep the ball from flying out at too rapid a pace. There is a 19-foot tall wall in left field, which forces hitters to get elevation in a fashion similar to Fenway Park. The more difficult area of the park to navigate is center field. The fence in straightaway center field sits 434 feet from home plate, thereby requiring a prodigious blast. The appearance of a flagpole in the field of play, as well as a steep incline to reach it, certainly presents an interesting challenge for outfielders.
Batters combined for the fourth-most home runs in the National League in Minute Maid Park, hitting an average of 2.36 home runs per game. By way of contrast, the Astros and opponents generated the fourth-fewest runs in the NL here (8.99 runs per game).
Milwaukee: Miller Park
Dimensions: LF — 344 FT, CF — 400 FT, RF — 337 FT
Opened in 2001, the home of the Brewers is a festive place for fans (who doesn't love the Sausage Race?) and a favorite for power hitters. The dimensions of the ballpark are standard, perhaps deeper in the corners (344 feet in left and 337 feet in right) than some, but with no obvious impediment to posting huge fantasy numbers. Six Milwaukee hitters ripped double-digit home runs at Miller Park with slugger Prince Fielder leading the charge with 27 home runs.
On the whole, the Brewers and opponents combined to score 9.79 runs per game in 2007, fifth-best in the National League. Batters slammed 2.56 home runs per game, with the Brewers' total of 121 representing the most by any team in their home park.
Pittsburgh: PNC Park
Dimensions: LF — 325 FT, CF — 399 FT, RF — 320 FT
The dimensions of the ballpark don't present any obvious challenges, as the distances to the gaps and straightaway center field are fairly standard. Where this park differs from others is the existence of a 21-foot high wall in right field, which helps keep the power numbers of left-handed hitters down. Only Adam LaRoche hit double-digit home runs at PNC Park last year, recording 10 home runs in 289 at-bats. Of course, the Pirates also don't possess a lineup stocked with sluggers.
The field actually played against power hitters overall, as the Pirates and opponents combined to hit 141 home runs (1.74 per game, tied for 11th in the National League). Batters generated 9.42 runs per game (seventh in the National League).
St. Louis: Busch Stadium
Dimensions: LF — 335 FT, CF — 400 FT, RF — 335 FT
The new incarnation of Busch Stadium has not been particularly friendly to power hitters since its opening in 2006. Granted, the Cardinals are not stacked with big sticks outside of Albert Pujols and Chris Duncan, but the 62 home runs hit in 2007 ranked 25th in Major League Baseball. Home run production by the Cardinals and opponents actually dropped 27 percent from the totals generated in 2006.
The dimensions are fairly standard, and there are no obvious impediments to offensive production. The fences in left-center and right-center field rest 375 feet from home plate, easily attainable distances. The park has less foul territory, thereby keeping more at-bats alive to generate a higher batting average (the Cardinals hit .283).
NL West
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Arizona: Chase Field
Dimensions: LF — 330 FT, CF — 407 FT, RF — 335 FT
Chase Field is one of a growing number of newly-constructed retractable roof stadiums. It sits 1,100 feet above sea level, an altitude conducive to deeper flyballs and greater run-scoring potential (just as we've seen in Colorado). As such, the power alleys have been set at a deep 413 feet to offset the effects of the altitude. The park plays neutral in terms of runs (9.38) and home runs (2.21).
Colorado: Coors Field
Dimensions: LF — 347 FT, CF — 415 FT, RF — 350 FT
What else is there to say? The combination of dry air and high altitude conspire to make Coors Field a veritable launching pad. Even the installation of a humidor in 2002 and one of the most expansive outfields in the game have failed to slow the scoring pace. These components have been able to slow the home runs pace. Batters combined to hit 185 home runs at Coors Field in 2007, sixth in the National League. Although the ball doesn't sail out of the park at the same brisk pace, batters still produced a National League-high 10.79 runs per game at Coors Field last season.
It's certainly difficult to draw pitchers to Coors Field (ask Mike Hampton about his on-field experience there), but the Rockies do have two young hurlers in Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez who will be interesting to watch.
Los Angeles: Dodger Stadium
Dimensions: LF — 330 FT, CF — 400 FT, RF — 330 FT
The longtime home of the Dodgers underwent a facelift (L.A., get it?) following the 2004 season, making the park somewhat more hitter-friendly. The new ownership group added seats and shifted the configuration of the field to reduce the amount of foul territory. Despite the changes, Dodger Stadium remains a relatively difficult place to score runs. In 2007, teams combined to score 9.26 runs (10th in the National League) and hit 1.74 home runs per game (11th). Batters hit the fewest number of doubles in the league (1.52 per game).
San Diego: PETCO Park
Dimensions: LF — 334 FT, CF — 396 FT, RF — 322 FT
Teams combined to produce the fewest number of runs per game for the second consecutive year at PETCO Park, registering a paltry 7.42 runs per game. The outfield track runs 402 feet in the alleys, leaving many flyballs to be chased down by speedy outfielders. Line drive hitters have ample space to lace balls into the gap. The distances from home plate to the foul poles fall in line with major league averages and allow pure pull hitters to succeed. With that said, owners shouldn't expect big power numbers from either side (particularly with Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Greg Maddux taking the hill). Batters averaged 1.44 home runs per game, a major league low, at PETCO Park in 2007.
San Francisco: AT&T Park
Dimensions: LF — 339 FT, CF — 399 FT, RF — 309 FT
The often-renamed stadium will no longer be home to home run champ Barry Bonds, who overcame a sizable wall in right field (24 feet high) and a deep power alley to achieve his astronomical heights. To put the difficulty of navigating that right field wall in perspective, only 60 balls have been hit into "McCovey Cover" beyond the right field bleachers. Bonds hit 35 of them. The right field foul pole sits a mere 309 feet from home plate, but it's mighty difficult to jerk a ball down the line. The distance to the gaps (421 feet in right-center) serves to keep home runs totals down.
The Giants and opponents combined to hit 1.45 home runs per game in 2007, the second-lowest average in the National League. They scored 8.6 runs per game, third-fewest in the National League.
Next: 2008 Prospecting
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