Getting to it eventually
Posted by Carl on March 19, 2008
M’excuse. Which of course is French for, m’excuse. It’s been brought to my attention that I have yet to profile the last member of the competition, the Quebec Capitales. I’ll try to get to it this long weekend.
One more thing I forgot to mention in the “gearing up” post. A number of people have wondered about the possibility of changing the dimensions of the park - i.e. moving the outfield fences. Miles believes it could be done, but he wasn’t sure why it was necessary and added that it would not be accomplished without significant expense. Personally, I think this is a detail they can deal with in the future - they’ve got bigger fish to fry in ‘08.
March 19, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I assume those who say that mean moving the fences IN. I also assume it’s because they want more home runs.
I’m sure moving the fences can be done and as you say, probably at great expense. We shouldn’t worry about it this year.
The Lynx in 2007 had no power and hit something like 60 home runs the whole year. Remember they hit their first one at home I think it was in May? In 2006, they did better with 105. We had more power guys that year.
Ottawa Stadium always was considered a pitcher’s park. I guess the 328 feet fences at the lines have something to do with that.
I’m going to look into the Can-Am but some things I’ve looked at suggest power numbers to be comparable to other leagues. Walk rate I can tell you right now is on the high side.
North Shore had a team ERA under three in 2006 and led last year by far. I guess they had a pitcher’s park. I would say the whole league is pretty much pitcher friendly but it does have a few good power hitters and I do expect to see home runs hit this year. Unfortunately, I think most will be hit by the visitors.
March 19, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I agree with Miles, nothing at all wrong with a pitcher’s park. And as pleasant a setting as Rapids Field is, it’s not one of those brick and steel retro parks which really lends itself to the nooks, crannies and odd dimensioned fences. I’d settle for lots of advertising plastered on them, maybe a hot tub or b-b-q pavilion, riverboat etc. Paid for by the advertisers of course…..
March 20, 2008 at 7:29 am
If you look at the players the Rapids have signed so far, they’re almost all pitchers (all but one, if I’m not mistaken). So it could be said that management has made pitching a priority in the early days of the team. Let’s keep the fences where they are and help those boys out!
March 20, 2008 at 8:17 am
Yep, 6 players signed, 5 pitchers, 3 of them lefties. Only New Jersey has a high concentration of lefties. The Raps are definately making pitching a priority. This group of pitchers so far may not give up too many gopher balls or runs for that matter.
Another thing I notice about those six players: all but one are Canadian.
March 20, 2008 at 9:38 am
The only thing I would do is lower the fences. The fences currently take away one of the most exciting plays in baseball. Lower them by about half and let’s watch some players bring back homeruns into the park for outs.
March 20, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Cam, I think the fence height is 12 feet, not sure. I agree that home run stealing is an exciting play. But how often would that happen?
Another thing I just thought of. If the fences are moved in and/or lowered, padding should be added to protect the players, an extra expense the team could not afford. That fence out there right now is made of plywood.
I’ve run some numbers which I think you guys will find interesting.
Home runs by ballpark in 2007 (number, city, dimensions):
94 Quebec 315-385-315
86 Atlantic City 313-410-312
80 Worcester 361-417-307
74 New Jersey 308-398-308
66 North Shore
65 New Haven
63 Nashua 307-401-315
54 Brockton 340-404-320
35 Sussex 330-392-330
Total: 617 in 466 games
Average: 68.6 (keep in mind that Grays played all games on road adding five openings to each team)
Ratio: 1.95 home runs per 100 at bats (MLB last year: 2.95)
Ratio in 2005: 2.34
Ratio in 2006: 1.58
Quebec is currently the league’s powerhouse with Lantigua (third base) and Stevens (catcher) in the top five.
Worcester had 121 home runs hit in their park in 2005. Note the distance to left field. That’s not a typo. Maybe there’s a strong wind over there or most are hit by left-handers.
Sussex had only 21 dingers in their park in 2006. Not sure if this is park effect. Their hitters have little power (26 total in 2006, 9 of 21 total in their own park, 37 last year, 16 in park) and their pitchers also keep the ball in the park (less than 50 allowed in each of last two seasons).
I expect the same for the Rapids this year as happened to Sussex in 2006: low home run totals in Ottawa (given harder to hit them out here and low league power numbers), most to come from visitors (I don’t expect us to have guys able to hit them out regularly). I don’t think moving the fences in, even by 15 feet, which would make the lines at 310, is necessary, or even desirable. Our current dimensions are 325-404-325, slightly above average.
March 22, 2008 at 9:30 pm
just a thought here, some ppl say that moving the fences would be too costly while some say the team should install a water park / slides and other attractions. Some of these items will generate a bit of revenve but will probably still lose money. They should try to keep unnecessary spending down for the first season.
I’m pretty traditional though…going to a baseball game to watch a baseball game not to ride a ferris wheel, (I don’t go to a carnival to watch a baseball game) but thats just me.
March 22, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Most minor league teams add these attraction at the sponsor’s expense. I’m traditional too, but
these are an absolute necessity to attract patrons in the minors, not to mention in Canada. I really came to enjoy the picnic area last season, but I believe they should run the bar-b-q out of the concession stand at the end of the 3rd base stands (that was never open) and relocate the “Kids Fun Zone” up on the plateau so that people can WATCH THE GAME while the kids play.
The more fun for mom and kids, the better the chance baseball can succeed. I maintain that the whole “hockey mentality” of “open the gates and sell tickets” does not work for baseball. Especially when they are deemed necessary in the USA, no reason to think we can succeed with LESS excitement.