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Friday, July 10, 2009

Derek Jeter says Metrodome gave Minnesota Twins an edge

and then we’d show up.

The New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Twins at the Metrodome on Thursday, but the Dome still provides a home-field advantage, Derek Jeter said.

“This has always been a unique place to play,” the Yankees’ all-star shortstop said. “Talking about teams that have home-field advantage, I think this is one of them. You’ve got to get used to the roof, losing the ball, seeing the ball. And (the Twins) have always been a team based on speed and using the turf and things like that. So it will be a little bit different going to a new stadium.”

The Twins move from the Dome to Target Field next season.

“It’s going to be tough,” Jeter said. “I haven’t spent a lot of time here early in the season, but from everything I’ve heard, there might be a lot of doubleheaders here early on. But I’m sure they’ll do a great job with the new stadium regardless of whether it has a roof.”

Repoz Posted: July 10, 2009 at 05:29 AM | 24 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: twins, yankees

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1. Harry Balsagne's transparent jealousy

Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:50 AM (#3248520)

“It’s going to be tough,” Jeter said. “I haven’t spent a lot of time here early in the season, but from everything I’ve heard, there might be a lot of doubleheaders here early on. But I’m sure they’ll do a great job with the new stadium regardless of whether it has a roof.”

Speaking as someone who has lived in both New York and Minneapolis, I can safely say that the major difference in baseball season weather is mid-summer, when there is much more severe weather (heavy thunderstorms and the like) here in Minnesota. Otherwise, it isn't any colder or rainier in the beginning of the season. But of course, conventional wisdom says that it's 10 degrees and snowing here until July, so don't listen to me. Also, the new park will have a heated field and heated stands. I think it's going to be awesome, and the fans here will love it.

2. Craig in MN Posted: July 10, 2009 at 12:20 PM (#3248569)

Derek Jeter says Metrodome gave Minnesota Twins an edge

I'd really hate to see how things would have gone without the home field advantage. The Yankees won all 3 games there this year (and are 36-23 in the Jeter era).

3. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: July 10, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3248660)

Aren't the Twins 14-41 overall against the Yankees since '02, something insane like that?

Some edge.

4. Cris E Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:03 PM (#3248663)

Twins say Derek Jeter gave Yankees an edge

"I haven't seen much of the Yankees without him. They've been great since he's been around, but in the next couple of years, well, he can't play forever. But I’m sure they’ll do a great job with finding a replacement regardless of whether he's Derek Jeter."

5. Davo Malvolio Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:07 PM (#3248670)

If memory serves correct... the two most pronounced and sustained home-field advantages belonged to the late 40s/early 50s Red Sox and the 1960s Astros--and both teams played in ballparks with huge park factors. It seems odd for a team to get such a benefit playing in a neutral park like the Twins.

6. Craig in MN Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:09 PM (#3248673)

Aren't the Twins 14-41 overall against the Yankees since '02, something insane like that?

Yeah, I think there was a span of 2+ years in there where the Yankees didn't lose to the Twins at all.

It seems odd for a team to get such a benefit playing in a neutral park like the Twins.

I think the Metrodome is now considered to be an extreme pitchers park.

7. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:10 PM (#3248675)

Twins say Derek Jeter gave Yankees an edge

Well, actually, that's true.

8. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:13 PM (#3248681)

The Twins have been a very good team during this period of Yankee dominance. I wonder what it is about their team that makes for such a good match up for New York. Conversely, the Yanks start a series with another good team who have done really well against them. What is it about the Angels that give the Yanks such problems?

9. morineko Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:19 PM (#3248688)

It's been a lot rainier in NYC this year than it has been in Minneapolis. Perhaps Yankee Stadium needs a roof?

(I'd liked to have had a roof in Minneapolis as well, mostly due to summer rainouts and extreme heat, but at least there is a new stadium at all.)

10. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:22 PM (#3248693)

I wonder what it is about their team that makes for such a good match up for New York. Conversely, the Yanks start a series with another good team who have done really well against them. What is it about the Angels that give the Yanks such problems?

If memory serves, the Twins tended towards good-but-not-great offense teams that walked an average amount, but struck out a bit more than average. This played into the Yankees' strengths as a pitching staff generally, which was good control and keeping the ball out of play as much as possible.

The Angels meanwhile, put the ball in play a ton, and the Yankee defense couldn't handle that.

11. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:27 PM (#3248702)

If memory serves correct... the two most pronounced and sustained home-field advantages belonged to the late 40s/early 50s Red Sox and the 1960s Astros--and both teams played in ballparks with huge park factors.

The Rockies have had a very strong home field advantage in recent years, although I don't know if it reaches historic levels. Obviously, they play in an extreme park as well.

12. JE

Posted: July 10, 2009 at 04:20 PM (#3248825)

Well, actually, that's true.

LOL!!!

Wouldn't folks acknowledge that the crowd noise "advantage" might have been most apparent during the '87 and '91 World Series? The Twins went 8-0 at home.

13. Nasty Nate Posted: July 10, 2009 at 04:24 PM (#3248830)

jesus what would the Twins record against the Yankees be WITHOUT this edge? negative ten and fifty? Jesus, Minnesota throw the Sox a bone and beat them every once in a while

14. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: July 10, 2009 at 04:24 PM (#3248831)

Wouldn't folks acknowledge that the crowd noise "advantage" might have been most apparent during the '87 and '91 World Series? The Twins went 8-0 at home.

I was wondering when someone would make note of that. IIRC that caused Thomas Boswell nearly to check himself into St. Elizabeth's, he was so outraged. I think that his solution was to give the World Series home field advantage to the team with the better regular season record, like the NBA.

15. phredbird

Posted: July 10, 2009 at 05:15 PM (#3248889)

twins went 8-0 in 87 and 91 because they cheated. they'd turn on the a/c blowers when the visitors were at bat and you couldn't hit a ball out. everybody knows that. ask ozzie smith.

/grump

16. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: July 10, 2009 at 05:25 PM (#3248906)

I think that his solution was to give the World Series home field advantage to the team with the better regular season record, like the NBA.

Except that, in the days before interleague play, that doesn't make any sense. Why should a team who beats up on a weaker league get an advantage over a team that might be better, but plays in a stronger league?

I seem to recall that, some years ago, they did a study that showed some ridiculous advantage the Twins had in the first games of home series (they were something like .700 in those games). This was before they put in the modern turf, and visiting teams needed a full game to figure out how the old astroturf affected grounders.

17. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:11 PM (#3248955)

twins went 8-0 in 87 and 91 because they cheated. they'd turn on the a/c blowers when the visitors were at bat and you couldn't hit a ball out. everybody knows that. ask ozzie smith.

DETROIT TIGERS, TRUE 87 AL CHAMPS

I think every single Tigers fan wants to personally push the button that blows up the Homerdome. It's like Death Valley for the Bengals.

18. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:25 PM (#3248974)

I think every single Tigers fan wants to personally push the button that blows up the Homerdome. It's like Death Valley for the Bengals.

White Sox fans feel the same way.

Unfortunately, it will remain standing, as the home of the Golden Gophers football team, as well as whatever Monster Truck rallies or whatever it is that people in Minneapolis do.

19. flournoy Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:34 PM (#3248983)

Braves fans want in on this button-pushing action. Leave Hrbek inside the stadium while you're at it.

20. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:42 PM (#3248998)

I remember being vaugely terrified before the 2003 ALDS that the Yankees would be swallowed up and swept out of the playoffs by the Twins and their Metrodome advantage. And then they promptly went 4-0 vs. the Twins in Minny and 2-2 at Yankee Stadium in two ALDS. So much for that.

In fact, after that huge home field advantage in '87 and '91, the Twins went 2-8 in the playoffs at the Triple H thereafter, including 0-6 since 2003.

21. Craig in MN Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:43 PM (#3249001)

Unfortunately, it will remain standing, as the home of the Golden Gophers football team, as well as whatever Monster Truck rallies or whatever it is that people in Minneapolis do.

The Gophers are putting the finishing touches on their new outdoor stadium as well. The Vikings, however, will still be playing there, between Monster Truck rallies.

22. DL from MN Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:47 PM (#3249007)

it will remain standing, as the home of the Golden Gophers football team, as well as whatever Monster Truck rallies or whatever it is that people in Minneapolis do

The Gophers are actually getting their own open air on-campus football stadium. The Vikings will continue to play at Metrodome and I'm sure it will continue to host monster truck events. Maybe the Final 4 will come back again too. It's a good football stadium but only "multipurpose" at everything else.

Dammit, I refreshed and everything....

23. JE

Posted: July 10, 2009 at 06:53 PM (#3249013)

Why should a team who beats up on a weaker league get an advantage over a team that might be better, but plays in a stronger league?

I seem to recall that the alternating 2-3-2 World Series format was based primarily on scheduling issues. Today, the only venues that offer both baseball and football are Miami, Minneapolis, and Toronto. However, prior to the proliferation of single-sport ballparks, it was important to ensure that there would be no conflicts with football co-tenants in places like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, etc.

24. JMPH Posted: July 10, 2009 at 07:33 PM (#3249077)

But of course, conventional wisdom says that it's 10 degrees and snowing here until July, so don't listen to me. Also, the new park will have a heated field and heated stands. I think it's going to be awesome, and the fans here will love it.

It's a funny thing. Growing up in Minnesota, I got used to people acting tough in the face of cold weather, being "true Minnesotans" and all that. But suddenly, when someone wants them to watch a baseball game outside on a 50-degree day, they're whining. It's bizarre.

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Derek Jeter says Metrodome gave Minnesota Twins an edge

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