The hill is an absurd feature but it is an excellent ballpark. One of the most over-amped radar guns in the bigs........or Kyle Farnsworth really could hit 102 on the gun 3 times in a 2003 game.

Then again, I saw Billy Wagner throw a 92 mph slider in the Astrodome. (Maybe that's not an exaggeration.)

Crane ... said the Astros have submitted their redesigned uniforms to MLB for approval. He said the design includes "traditional" elements from past Astros uniforms and "incorporates them in a very modest way. They’re very classy."

I was going to snark on this, but these uniforms are pretty cool. And anyway, I like the clown suits.

If the Astros remove the hill and shorten the center-field dimensions, Minute Maid Park will probably become a hitter's park, not to mention taking away a "feature" that could someday be dangerous (there's a flagpole, in play, at the top of the hill).

I was really surprised to read this. Back in 2000 good old Enron Field had a multi-year park factor of 107. Recently it's been slinking around in the high-90s. What happened?

I think people just built smaller and smaller ballparks.

I love the hill, BTW.

Here's what the Astros will be wearing as they move to their new league next year.

a “feature” that could someday be dangerous (there’s a flagpole, in play, at the top of the hill).

Uh, the pole isn't what poses the danger any more than benches are what pose the danger in parks that have bullpens in foul territory. When someone is running and not looking where he's going, changing terrain is a hazard. Most players just stumble, but anybody unfortunate enough to reach the hill at a point in his stride that causes him to land heel-first on an extended leg risks going full Napoleon McCallum.


Back in 2000 good old Enron Field had a multi-year park factor of 107. Recently it's been slinking around in the high-90s. What happened?

Change in ground-rule regarding what constituted a home run in left field, in addition to the changing composition of the rest of the league's parks.

fans have said “they don’t see a lot of sense in having that 436(-foot fence) in center

Yeah, they want to see Bogusevic hit warning track flyballs to CF too.