For many viewers and fans of our country’s most beloved pastime, a baseball diamond is just a baseball diamond. However, what many people do not realize is that baseball field dimensions vary in size.
This fact prompted a large argument in the San Diego Padres clubhouse not too long ago with hitters complaining that, because of the size of the field, they weren’t able to hit as many home runs.
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Mike Adams said he thinks they need to quit worrying about the ballpark and worry about winning.
However, it isn’t only the Padres complaining about the size of the ballparks. Since 2000, five ballparks have changed the dimensions of their fields. The Philadelphia Phillies’ Citizen’s Bank Park was lengthened in some parts, the Astros’ Minute Maid Park’s walls have been raised and our own Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park dimensions were shortened.
The Miami Marlins have also had a bit of trouble with their fences in the past year. Giancarlo Stanton, who had been really stacking up the home runs, had trouble hitting any home runs at Marlins Park. In fact, he has only had six home runs this year and only one of them has been at home in Miami.
“Balls that you feel should go way out are barely scraping,” Stanton told ESPN.
It is still uncertain, however, if Marlins Park will undergo construction to change the dimensions of the ballpark even though the team is ranked at number 24 in runs scored.
As for the Padres, the fences on their field have already been revamped before. By the looks of it, the ballpark might be changed once more by shortening the fences.
Especially with the Padres trouble of getting fans to attend their games, guaranteeing a home run late in the game might not be a bad idea.
Heath Bell, who once played for the Padres, told ESPN, “Right field at Petco should be shorter. You have to crush a ball out there.”
Marlins Park and Petco Park are two fields under scrutiny right now. Stanton stands by the fact that hitters absolutely hate Marlins Park and as for Petco Park, Padres general manager Josh Byrnes says it ‘scars people.’
