Is the new yankee stadium a "launching pad?"

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Posada's home run WAS crushed. I thought it was gone off the bat. I was shocked it was a wall-scraper.

[NYYDragoon]

Posada's home run WAS crushed. I thought it was gone off the bat. I was shocked it was a wall-scraper.

Same here. It was almost like it even (dare I say this?) died a little.

[R.V.47]

Posada's home run WAS crushed. I thought it was gone off the bat. I was shocked it was a wall-scraper.

With the way balls travel in this stadium if it was crushed it wouldve been 10 rows back. You could tell from the swing it wasnt off the good part of the bat. That ball is caught at the warning track at the old stadium. Im happy it worked out for us today but Im not going to like it that everytime an opposing player hits a ball to right Im going to hold my breath that its not going out.

[NYYDragoon]

I'm just curious as to why Jorge's HR isn't on MLB.com yet, but the other two are.

EDIT: Well, at least ESPN has it up. And RV, dude, I have to disagree with you completely. Jorge got all of that. If anything it hung in the air longer than it should have, which explains how Crowe was able to get such a good read on it.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

Jorge did not get all of that. It looked like it, but no way he did, otherwise there wouldn't be any doubt. As he said, he hit it high in the air.

[NYYDragoon]

Jorge did not get all of that. It looked like it, but no way he did, otherwise there wouldn't be any doubt. As he said, he hit it high in the air.

Unless the wind/air currents slowed it down...

[JeffWeaverFan]

I thought Jorge's HR was in on his hands a bit. Anyways, I did go to the game against the Cubs last Saturday and the one thing that I noticed was in the concession area in the upper deck, it was like a freaking wind tunnel. I didn't think anything of it except it was annoying to get food/drink, but I do wonder if those kind of winds are not just in the concession areas and are affecting these flyballs.

[__starr69]

Same here. It was almost like it even (dare I say this?) died a little.

I didn't see the replay of Jorge's HR, but the wind was blowing in from right today.

[jbauer2485]

Here's an image that shows the old and new Yankee stadium dimensions:

[surge511]

From the wind currents to the camera angles to the lack of noise coming from the crowd, there is certainly a growing list of things to complain about with the new stadium.

[R.V.47]

Here's an image that shows the old and new Yankee stadium dimensions:

Really great graphic. Id like to know exactly how much in terms of feet is in those blue spots.

[Rocketbooster]

Francesca "incensed" by the way the stadium is playing........though he doesn't blame anyone - he just thinks it needs to be fixed. He thinks the pitchers may become demoralized by easy FBs turning into HRs........and I think he could be right

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Francesca "incensed" by the way the stadium is playing........though he doesn't blame anyone - he just thinks it needs to be fixed. He thinks the pitchers may become demoralized by easy FBs turning into HRs........and I think he could be right

Francessa is mad?

Good.

[NYYDragoon]

Really great graphic. Id like to know exactly how much in terms of feet is in those blue spots.

The slicing of that edge seems to be a more probable explanation than any wind currents.

[jbauer2485]

Really great graphic. Id like to know exactly how much in terms of feet is in those blue spots.

Here you go:

http://waswatching.com/2009/04/19/is...a-homer-haven/

most of right field is shorter in the new park, by as much as 9 feet, but more typically by 4-5 feet (the blue dotted lines in the corners are scale markings that are 4 feet apart.) In center field, the new park is actually a bit deeper, and in left field, the parks are very similar. From some analysis I’ve done on home runs, these differences would tend to increase home runs overall, and particularly in middle-to-lower power hitters.

The fence distances are not the only difference: in a few places, the fence is shorter (particularly the right field corner). A typical conversion factor for fence height to distance is that lowering a fence by 1 foot is roughly equal to moving it 0.84 feet closer to home plate. So, with the right field fence being a couple feet shorter in the new park, this is like moving it in a foot and a half or so. Minor, but I thought I’d mention it.

[GreenGrass]

No, because it will still create current that ultimately turns the place into a "vortex" of sorts (which is why birds either fly around the perimeter or swoop down before they go back up).

If there IS a problem (which I'm not convinced there is yet) it's an interesting one. I may spend some time thinking it over anyway (as if I'm not busy enough this week as it is ).

That giant center field replay screen could be affecting wind blowing toward home plate.

[ChewieTobbacca]

Here you go:

http://waswatching.com/2009/04/19/is...a-homer-haven/

Good stuff there, it certainly leads credence to the fact that a lot of balls that look like they would've been caught before are now landing in RF. The RF porch might be 314 down the line (though the wall being shorter makes it slightly closer), but good lord, look at the difference of the wall from the RF corner to center field... huge difference

[Spiker101]

Francesca "incensed" by the way the stadium is playing........though he doesn't blame anyone - he just thinks it needs to be fixed. He thinks the pitchers may become demoralized by easy FBs turning into HRs........and I think he could be right

I know it's awfully early to be thinking about this, but CC does have the opt-out clause and I wonder whether he's going to want to stick around if the stadium plays like Coors Field East.

[Pinstripedbass]

To anyone who discounts the change in winds at NYS, my questions are why and have you been to the new stadium yet?

[Rocketbooster]

I know it's awfully early to be thinking about this, but CC does have the opt-out clause and I wonder whether he's going to want to stick around if the stadium plays like Coors Field East.

It's way too early..........and I'm sure the Yankees will do something about it (either put windows up to block the wind coming in from the concourses, raising the walls, both.......)

[Billy #1]

I could see A-Rod taking advantage of the fact that the gaps are in a few feet. I couldn't find his hit chart, but thought he had a bunch of near-misses caught between the markers against the wall last year.

A-Rod doesn't need the advantage of the launching pad (AKA Coor's Field II); he has Primobolan to help his bogus totals!

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

A-Rod doesn't need the advantage of the launching pad (AKA Coor's Field II); he has Primobolan to help his bogus totals!

Nice.

[mvk112]

Finally a night game at the new place, hopefully things change a little bit with all of the HR's.

[wang+cano=future]

I think it is too early to tell......

However, I was at the dreadfull game on Saturday and it seemed like every chip shot the Indians hit carried a lot farther than I expected to grew accustomed to see at the old Stadium.

[smckdwn989]

chubs is going to town today about how the new yankees stadium is a freak show.

[wang+cano=future]

Chubs?

[b_joseph]

Still too early to tell.

When guys who shouldnt be hitting balls out start hitting balls out, then maybe. It is funny listening to Francesa blow a vessel though.

[teknetic]

A-Rod doesn't need the advantage of the launching pad (AKA Coor's Field II); he has Primobolan to help his bogus totals!

Embarrassment.

[NYYDragoon]

To anyone who discounts the change in winds at NYS, my questions are why and have you been to the new stadium yet?

No problem. Why? Because the change in latitude from OYS is not significant enough to change its weather patterns. As for the wind tunnels created by the open concourses, it's in no way clear (as in, we really can't arrive at a conclusion without actual data) why this air current that is forced to circle the perimeter of the Stadium would be drawing fly balls further outwards.

The pictures posted above are pretty striking. That distance in right field looks like the differenece between a long fly ball and a HR to me.

[Pinstripedbass]

No problem. Why? Because the change in latitude from OYS is not significant enough to change its weather patterns. As for the wind tunnels created by the open concourses, it's in no way clear (as in, we really can't arrive at a conclusion without actual data) why this air current that is forced to circle the perimeter of the Stadium would be drawing fly balls further outwards.

The pictures posted above are pretty striking. That distance in right field looks like the differenece between a long fly ball and a HR to me.

I agree that the diagrams give us something concrete to go on. But I'm not ready to discount the change in wind currents yet. Something else I noticed yesterday when standing behind bleacher section 236 before the game is that there is an opening in the back wall there as well as the grating behind the last row of the Grandstand and the open concourses. That wind blew in frequently and across to RF. I believe that could be giving a boost to fly balls.

Food for thought.

[yankeeman61]

Here's the wind up....and the pitch....it's popped up....Swisher at the wall....and it's in the 2nd deck!

[wang+cano=future]

River Ave Blues has an article explaining a theory of the wind and the differences in the seats between the new and old stadium......

http://riveraveblues.com/2009/04/mor...e-seats-10517/

[grizy]

River Ave Blues has an article explaining a theory of the wind and the differences in the seats between the new and old stadium......

http://riveraveblues.com/2009/04/mor...e-seats-10517/

My favorite line:

"David Ortiz hits two homers off a long reliever? He’s healthy and back in ‘03-’07 form.You know how it goes."

[ny]

I dont hear anything about Citi being a launching pad even though its averaging more HR's so far than the stadium.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/...or&season=2009

[jbauer2485]

I dont hear anything about Citi being a launching pad even though its averaging more HR's so far than the stadium.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/...or&season=2009

I don't understand what you mean. Unless I'm reading this wrong, it looks like Citi is more of a pitchers park than Shea (as reported), and New Yankee Stadium is a major hitter's park compared to old Yankee stadium (as reported).

[StatenIslandYankee]

So far from what I've seen ... YES

[ny]

Unless I'm reading this wrong

Not sure I thought it was the other way

[BxBomber44]

why are the old parks on that espn list, and why is the new yankee stadium not in the bronx? is it just to now a difference?

[jbauer2485]

Not sure I thought it was the other way

I think its my way because everyone knows Petco is an extreme pitchers park and its at the bottom of the list.

[ThePinStripes]

yes i think it is

however:

LMFAO at the "reports." some back up weather woman is talking about the aerodynamics of the new stadium? Perhaps you need to be an engineer to find the comedy in this crap. Hopefully, you have common sense and are laughing as hard as I am.

[NYYDragoon]

yes i think it is

however:

LMFAO at the "reports." some back up weather woman is talking about the aerodynamics of the new stadium? Perhaps you need to be an engineer to find the comedy in this crap. Hopefully, you have common sense and are laughing as hard as I am.

I don't understand what's so funny.

EDIT: Oh, I see. Yup, everyone's an aerodynamicist now, heh.

[DaSh 1s]

Maybe our second baseman can win a MVP award since he will be hitting in a bandbox =)

[grizy]

Maybe our second baseman can win a MVP award since he will be hitting in a bandbox =)

Soften up the dirt too so he could get his uniform all dirty and Dusty.

[jbauer2485]

yes i think it is

however:

LMFAO at the "reports." some back up weather woman is talking about the aerodynamics of the new stadium? Perhaps you need to be an engineer to find the comedy in this crap. Hopefully, you have common sense and are laughing as hard as I am.

What do engineers think about the aerodynamics?

[Spiker101]

Yup, everyone's an aerodynamicist now, heh.

That's just their parttime job. Their day job is economist. America is now blessed with 313 million unlicensed practicising economists, none of them very good, unfortunately.

[Bub]

If time proves it to be a launching pad, it'll need an official nickname. If so, we can devote a thread to sorting out proposals, and voting on them using the "Survivor" method.

[SacFly]

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bandbox ... and I'm not totally convinced it will. We've seen quite a lot of bad pitching in this new park already, which has certainly been a big factor in the amount of home runs.

I will admit, though, the smaller foul territory, the (slightly) more snug dimensions, and the (slightly) shorter fence are all hitter friendly.
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This is my first post ... take it easy on me!

[BxBomber44]

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bandbox ... and I'm not totally convinced it will. We've seen quite a lot of bad pitching in this new park already, which has certainly been a big factor in the amount of home runs.

I will admit, though, the smaller foul territory, the (slightly) more snug dimensions, and the (slightly) shorter fence are all hitter friendly.
*
This is my first post ... take it easy on me!

Take it easy on you? I agree with all your points. Nice first post, welcome.

[Hellsing]

Obviously a knee-jerk reaction here, but....

The new stadium sucks.

(Post-Suzuki HR)

[LazyEyeLou]

Suzyn Waldman is not happy with the lack of separation between the fans and the right-field wall.