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Friday, April 06, 2012

Lance Berkman: Marlins Park too spacious for homers

“God mend thine ev’ry flaw”

“If they don’t move the fences in after this year, I’d be surprised,” Berkman said after the Cardinals spoiled the Marlins’ ballpark unveiling by handing them a 4-1 loss. “And I’m going two years as the over-under on that.”

Nobody on the sleep-deprived Marlins went so far as to concur with Berkman.

But after watching several well-struck balls end up in gloves for outs instead of outfield seats for home runs, the consensus was that Marlins Park is hardly any paradise for sluggers, especially when the roof is open as it was for Wednesday’s game.

Giancarlo Stanton crushed two balls Wednesday that were caught on the warning track. Hanley Ramirez hit one to left that some thought might have gone out on any other day in any other park.

“To center and right center, it’s a little ridiculous, especially with the roof open and the windows open [as it was for the opener],” left fielder Logan Morrison said. “If [Stanton] says he gets a ball and it doesn’t go out, then it’s the only park in baseball that happens at. I would recommend hitting more line drives, I guess.”

Repoz Posted: April 06, 2012 at 01:07 AM | 43 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: miami

Reader Comments and Retorts

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Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. Dale Sams Posted: April 06, 2012 at 01:28 AM (#4099163)
Al Kaline says, "Wusses."

...and I thought warm, wet air helped the ball carry.

   2. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: April 06, 2012 at 01:36 AM (#4099164)
Lance Berkman: Marlins Park too spacious for homers

A bad thing for Berkman, maybe. I like it.
   3. base ball chick Posted: April 06, 2012 at 01:40 AM (#4099165)
amusement

gee, suddenly, the fences have to keep coming in so that it will be easy to hit those 350' homers over the CF wall

   4. Sleepy supports unauthorized rambling Posted: April 06, 2012 at 03:16 AM (#4099178)
Well, if Hanley could hit 150 home runs with the roof closed and the windows open, Berkman should be able to hit 200, right?
   5. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: April 06, 2012 at 06:13 AM (#4099194)
One of the [many] thing I hate about New Yankee Stadium are the 350 ft. homers to right center. Good on the Marlins. #### these crybabies.
   6. John DiFool2 Posted: April 06, 2012 at 07:34 AM (#4099200)
Does anyone anywhere EVER complain about a hitter's park having fences which are too close and that they should move them out ASAP? Just one example? No?

If I ever become a major league owner, my park will have 400+ distant fences, just to make people's heads explode. [Plus the type of play which would result would be rather exciting.]
   7. TomH Posted: April 06, 2012 at 07:50 AM (#4099202)
And my kids thought we gave them too little spending money. Because, of course, all of their FRIENDS had more. Apparently, whichever parks are the biggest, are by definition too big. Because in any ordinal ranking, someone will be the biggest. Bring on Lake Wobegon! All parks smaller than average!!
   8. Juan V Posted: April 06, 2012 at 08:08 AM (#4099203)
I kind of agree with Berkman. They gave us a hideously awesome feature, but now they won't use it!
   9. Sean Forman Posted: April 06, 2012 at 08:33 AM (#4099205)
I kind of agree with Berkman. They gave us a hideously awesome feature, but now they won't use it!


too much familiarity would make it banal rather than awe-inspiring.
   10. villageidiom Posted: April 06, 2012 at 08:58 AM (#4099228)
They gave us a hideously awesome feature, but now they won't use it!
That's no way to talk about Heath Bell.
   11. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: April 06, 2012 at 09:11 AM (#4099236)
It is too bad that we know for certain that no one will ever hit a homer in Marlins park.
   12. nick swisher hygiene Posted: April 06, 2012 at 09:11 AM (#4099237)
no interviews with pitchers?

but yeah, "hit more ####### line drives" is the answer.

after you've seen about three live HR in your life, the triple becomes more exciting.
   13. DL from MN Posted: April 06, 2012 at 09:39 AM (#4099250)
Because we know weather in Miami will never be warmer than 75 at game time.
   14. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:14 AM (#4099273)
Does anyone anywhere EVER complain about a hitter's park having fences which are too close and that they should move them out ASAP? Just one example? No?

Didn't they complain about Enron Field when it first opened?
   15. tshipman Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:16 AM (#4099274)
Does anyone anywhere EVER complain about a hitter's park having fences which are too close and that they should move them out ASAP? Just one example? No?


New Yankee Stadium, right? Based off that first series when a million homers were hit?
   16. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:20 AM (#4099279)
Yeah, it's a running joke at SG's Yankee blog to call it "DNYS" or Disgraceful New Yankee Stadium, because of the media firestorm.

It's really is a bandbox, though. The first series was extreme, but the run factor looks like it's settling in around 110, and the HR factor at something like fourteen kabillion.
   17. Repoz Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:27 AM (#4099288)
and the HR factor at something like fourteen kabillion.

But the dimensions are identical to the old Yankee Stadium (except by the RF auxiliary scoreboard...we lied about that quite a bit but no one will notice)!
   18. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:33 AM (#4099296)
In my day, players didn't ##### about park sizes, they would man up, take a syringe in the ass, and roid rage their way to 50 home runs.
   19. Moloka'i Three-Finger Brown (Declino DeShields) Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:37 AM (#4099301)
If I ever become a major league owner, my park will have 400+ distant fences, just to make people's heads explode. [Plus the type of play which would result would be rather exciting.]


Yes. If I had my way, outfield walls would be set so far back that a really crushed ball would roll near some cattle milling about. This would make it hard to put the ballpark downtown, but I guess you can't have everything.
   20. Brian C Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:40 AM (#4099306)
Berkman seems to be angling to be the new Curt Schilling, i.e., the insufferable jackass that the media turns to whenever they need someone to self-servingly grouse about whatever issue du jour.
   21. JE (Jason Epstein) Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:43 AM (#4099310)
As mentioned on a recent thread, I want an MLB park with NO outfield fences, featuring groundscrew scooping up early morning dog poo and right fielders calling time in order to shoo away parents pushing baby strollers.

A Coke Zero to #19.
   22. Perry Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:48 AM (#4099316)
I remember some pitcher getting his first look at the fences in Philly and asking "Do they move them back for the games?"
   23. villageidiom Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:57 AM (#4099328)
Berkman seems to be angling to be the new Curt Schilling, i.e., the insufferable jackass that the media turns to whenever they need someone to self-servingly grouse about whatever issue du jour.
Nah. Based on the headline I think he was just saying there's no room there for the YES Network.
   24. Tricky Dick Posted: April 06, 2012 at 11:23 AM (#4099346)
Does anyone anywhere EVER complain about a hitter's park having fences which are too close and that they should move them out ASAP? Just one example? No?

I think the opening of Minute Maid Park in 2000 is an example. Some of the pitchers, like Jose Lima, had that reaction from the time they first watched batting practice in the park. As the season went on, and the Astros (and their opponents) put up ridiculous HR numbers--highest in team history--the concern became a popular topic and the Astros management admitted that they would study changes to the park. And, they did adjust the ballpark to cut down on easy HRs.
   25. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 06, 2012 at 11:30 AM (#4099352)
As the season went on, and the Astros (and their opponents) put up ridiculous HR numbers--highest in team history--the concern became a popular topic and the Astros management admitted that they would study changes to the park. And, they did adjust the ballpark to cut down on easy HRs.

Richard Hidalgo, the Chuck Klein of his day ... for just one season.
   26. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: April 06, 2012 at 11:32 AM (#4099353)
No, wait. 28 of his homers in 2000 were away and only 16 were at Enron Field. I guess it was steriods after all.
   27. Nasty Nate Posted: April 06, 2012 at 11:42 AM (#4099366)
And, they did adjust the ballpark to cut down on easy HRs.


What did they do?
   28. Sweatpants Posted: April 06, 2012 at 12:02 PM (#4099391)
Traded Lima in the middle of '01.
   29. bunyon Posted: April 06, 2012 at 12:04 PM (#4099393)
What did they do?

Started signing shittier players.
   30. Nasty Nate Posted: April 06, 2012 at 12:14 PM (#4099401)
Judges? They say we will accept either answer. Sweatpants, choose a category.
   31. trtaylor6886 Posted: April 06, 2012 at 12:18 PM (#4099407)
"Traded Lima in the middle of '01" Hilarious
   32. Tricky Dick Posted: April 06, 2012 at 01:25 PM (#4099469)
What did they do?


My recollection is that the changes affected the LF wall height and adjusting the HR line higher next to the crawford boxes.
   33. Balkroth Posted: April 06, 2012 at 01:39 PM (#4099483)
They didn't even take the good part of the comments by Berkman, he was complaining about the stadium and a few of his comments about the size were taken from his rant about how he didn't like the stadium and the opening festivities and what not.

Video link of Berkman's Comments

   34. Gotham Dave Posted: April 06, 2012 at 04:56 PM (#4099681)
I didn't know that Stanton had pulled a Joey Belle. I wonder if it was his choice alone or if the Marlins wanted him to highlight his Puerto Rican heritage for marketing purposes.
   35. Lassus Posted: April 06, 2012 at 05:05 PM (#4099687)
I didn't know that Stanton had pulled a Joey Belle. I wonder if it was his choice alone or if the Marlins wanted him to highlight his Puerto Rican heritage for marketing purposes.

Howie Kendrick switched to Howard Kendrick because he simply liked it more. I think this is probably the most likely reason for Stanton's reason, with perhaps some personal maturity mixed in.

You seriously think Stanton accepted an order from his employer to change what he was called on a daily basis? That sounds kind of ridiculous.
   36. Shock Posted: April 06, 2012 at 05:12 PM (#4099692)
Does anyone anywhere EVER complain about a hitter's park having fences which are too close and that they should move them out ASAP? Just one example? No?


I can't believe you've already forgotten like 2 seasons ago when the new Yankee ballpark opened and everyone was whining about how easy it was to hit homers. I believe the word used was "disgraceful."
   37. Sweatpants Posted: April 06, 2012 at 05:17 PM (#4099695)
You seriously think Stanton accepted an order from his employer to change what he was called on a daily basis? That sounds kind of ridiculous.
It worked with Catfish Hunter.
   38. Lassus Posted: April 06, 2012 at 05:30 PM (#4099706)
I can't believe you've already forgotten like 2 seasons ago when the new Yankee ballpark opened and everyone was whining about how easy it was to hit homers. I believe the word used was "disgraceful."

They definitely said that but I don't think anyone said they should move the fences, though, did they? I do recall that suggestion for the Phillies park, I thought.
   39. Gotham Dave Posted: April 06, 2012 at 05:41 PM (#4099712)
You seriously think Stanton accepted an order from his employer to change what he was called on a daily basis? That sounds kind of ridiculous.
It does sound kind of ridiculous, but I read an article about it and it seems he just doesn't care very much what he's called. (Mom calls him Cruz, father calls him Mikey, &c.)

I think it's far more likely that he just preferred Giancarlo to Mike (who wouldn't? It's an awesome name), but the thought crossed my mind, anyway. Really because of how image-conscious the Marlins have been for the whole offseason.
   40. Swedish Chef Posted: April 06, 2012 at 05:52 PM (#4099717)
Maybe he is afraid that his checks would go to the other Mike Stanton?
   41. Lassus Posted: April 06, 2012 at 06:03 PM (#4099722)
39 - Fair enough, hadn't seen much about it prior, as you seem to have read, thanks.
   42. donlock Posted: April 06, 2012 at 07:08 PM (#4099745)
Small sample size. Could we wait until the end of April to move the fences?
   43. LTV100 Posted: April 06, 2012 at 10:22 PM (#4099793)
Does anyone anywhere EVER complain about a hitter's park having fences which are too close and that they should move them out ASAP? Just one example? No?


The Phillies moved the wall in left field at CBP. Following the 2005 season, the left field wall was moved back 5 feet.

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