Target Field factor: Minnesota Twins sluggers constantly battle stadium’s currents

Dr. Frank/Storm Field factor is more like it.

Why has Target Field been such a tough place in which to hit? The Pioneer Press studied National Weather Service data and on-field results from all the Twins’ home games in 2010 and 2011. We calculated extra-base hits, homers and where those homers landed against temperature, wind direction, wind speed and relative humidity. We talked with local meteorologists who have taken an interest in the stadium’s climate and its effect on baseball. And we asked the Twins what they’ve studied about the stadium, how they feel about it and whether they plan to make any changes to the park.

...Huttner said moving the fences 10 feet closer to home plate would lead to a noticeable uptick in home runs. But Major League Baseball requires fences to be at least 325 feet from home plate, which would prevent the Twins from doing anything but nudging in the right-field fence, which sits 328 feet from home at the foul pole. And though the team could bring fences closer to the plate in other areas of the park, Twins President Dave St. Peter said the team has no plans to alter the dimensions of the park.

They also might be able to mitigate the effect of the wind by closing off part of Target Plaza, where Huttner said the “shimmer wall” on the adjacent parking ramp helps create a wind tunnel. The shimmer wall is the stainless steel wind veil that runs along the north side of Target Plaza and reflects the direction of the wind as the breeze moves the steel panels.

But closing off Target Plaza would require major aesthetic changes to the park; Target Plaza is one of the key entry points to the stadium, and St. Peter made it clear there are plenty of considerations to the Target Field experience other than just how the park plays.