Skip to main content

11 replies

Does this sound stupid to anyone else?

OnWabanaOnWabana100+ posts
Yesterday on the MLB network they were discussing the fact that they are lowering parts of the outfield wall in the Mets' stadium. I was fairly uninterested in the topic from the beginning but then Harold Reynolds said something that I thought was kinda weird. He said when you go to a ballpark "at any level" and you see that the fence is short and easy to hit a bomb it "automatically makes you a better hitter" and vice-versa. And then either Harold or one of the other panelists said that they were convinced that the high wall had an affect on David Wright's bad season last year.

Is anyone else not buying this? It's obvious that the wall could take away a few homeruns, but is a high wall really going to get in a major-leaguer's head?

-----------------------
Character is higher than intellect... A great soul will be strong to live, as well as to think. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Mike FMike F100+ posts
I've never been paid to hit home runs at the major league level (no, really), but I can imagine that had I been, a high wall might get in my head. I might even make unconcious adjustments in my swing (swinging a little harder or finishing a little higher) to compensate.

But I would disagree to some extent with the "at any level" comment. I've seen too many younger players fail miserably trying to hit the ball "up" on fields with a short porch. Of course some others get HR's in place of fly outs, but I don't think it automatically makes you better.
Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
While Reynold's premise might hold some water psychologically, I think Wright's problems were more attributable to despite having his least AB's by far in the last five years, his strikeouts went from an average of 115 to 140. He hit only 5 HR's on the road in 277 AB's which points to his power being down across the board for some other reason. You would think the park factor would only affect him and his power numbers at home.
wraggArmwraggArm500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by OnWabana:
He said when you go to a ballpark "at any level" and you see that the fence is short and easy to hit a bomb it "automatically makes you a better hitter" and vice-versa.


I know one level it didn't help. Years ago, when the kid was 12, and we went to Cooperstown. Remember those short fences? Turned our entire team into a bunch of upper-cutting fools. Of course, that might have been the weak coaching (guilty). Seemed like the more I told them to forget about the fences, the more their little 12-year old brains were obsessed with them.
Last edited by MN-Mom

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×