View Full Version : Blocked out centerfield sections
doctor_gogol
04-06-2009, 07:31 AM
Of course I noticed the blocked out center field section in RYS and NYS. I never gave it much thought until now, but its become a major trend in new stadiums. I'm sure the thought is to block out any distractions for the batter. But is there any data proving that knocking/blacking out the center field sections (so there is no fan seating) really improves hitting stats? And if it does improve hitting stats, isn't that negated by the fact that the opposing team's hitting stats will also improve?
These are the kinds of things I think about when I'm bored at work.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w241/fafafooey69/IMG_1382jpg.jpg
http://info.detnews.com/dn/pix/2005/07/09/sports/copa.jpg
http://www.mlbroadtrip.com/images/photos/june/week3/comiskyfront.jpg
http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/national/millerpark.jpg
Aviator_Frank
04-06-2009, 07:37 AM
Of course I noticed the blocked out center field section in RYS and NYS. I never gave it much thought until now, but its become a major trend in new stadiums.
Shea and Dodger had black hitter's backgrounds when they opened in 1964 and 1962 respectively, if that's what you mean by blocked out, so I wouldn't call it a new trend. IIRC the Astrodome had a black centerfield area when it was built too. Ditto Anaheim (below)
doctor_gogol
04-06-2009, 07:56 AM
Shea and Dodger had black hitter's backgrounds when they opened in 1964 and 1962 respectively, if that's what you mean by blocked out, so I wouldn't call it a new trend. IIRC the Astrodome had a black centerfield area when it was built too. Ditto Anaheim (below)
Well, I guess its a "new" trend, because I just noticed it. :)
There were some that had it previously, but now all new stadiums have it.
donut726
04-06-2009, 07:58 AM
http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16309&stc=1&d=1166419055
NYMets523
04-06-2009, 08:07 AM
It's called the batter's eye. Pretty sure all baseball stadiums have it; may even be a requirement.
"And if it does improve hitting stats, isn't that negated by the fact that the opposing team's hitting stats will also improve?"
Both teams should be on an equal playing ground in terms of seeing the ball. It'd be cheating if the stadium changed it's batter's eye during the opposing team's AB.
tomzpc
04-06-2009, 08:08 AM
The "batter's eye" is hardly a new trend in baseball stadiums.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batter's_eye
doctor_gogol
04-06-2009, 08:12 AM
The "batter's eye" is hardly a new trend in baseball stadiums.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batter's_eye
Hey, you learn something new everyday!
Forgive me. I was a HUGE baseball fan when I was a kid, until high school when I discovered girls and cars. I'm just recently getting back into it.
I probably never noticed it because growing up in Detroit, Tiger Stadium didn't have that.It doesn't seem like Yankee Stadium had it until the renovation.
http://jhota.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/yankee_stadium_1928-1936.jpg
Aviator_Frank
04-06-2009, 08:19 AM
I think renovated Yankee Stadium was the only stadium that took it a step further - using a dark font on dead center's distance marker.
The "batter's eye" is hardly a new trend in baseball stadiums.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batter's_eye
From that site: "Its primary purpose is the safety of the batter."
That was the first thing I thought of. You don't want someone on the DL or worse.
There were some bad incidents in the past.
Then again if Clemens has perfect control and then he throws directly at your head...
bdhact1
04-06-2009, 08:36 AM
It's called the batter's eye. Pretty sure all baseball stadiums have it; may even be a requirement.
"And if it does improve hitting stats, isn't that negated by the fact that the opposing team's hitting stats will also improve?"
Both teams should be on an equal playing ground in terms of seeing the ball. It'd be cheating if the stadium changed it's batter's eye during the opposing team's AB.
The Batters Eye enables the batter to see the baseball durring the pitch so that the ball doesn't blend into the crowd. It's for the batters protection against a ball thrown toward the head.
Macker
04-06-2009, 10:26 AM
I like it, because it helps cut down on the Wave.
RichardLillard1
04-06-2009, 12:16 PM
As the picture in post #4 shows, Yankee Stadium had a sort of curtain that served as a batter's eye. There was some discussion about this a while back over in the pre-renovation thread, including some pictures of fans sitting in the packed bleachers, BEHIND the lowered curtain. Talk about obstructed seating.
Also, you can't tell from this picture too well (only one I could find in my photobucket album), but in 1923 the Yankees had taken some precautions towards a batter's eye. As you can see in this picture, the outfield walls have ads in left and right, but the center one is black. A look over in the pre-renovation thread also shows a few pictures where the Yankee games were sold out, but there was no seating in that small center bleacher area. From just before the Stadium opened in 1923. You can purchase a printed copy of this from their site.
Richard
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/RichardLillard1/BallParkwTrackLg.jpg
EDIT: Here's one that isn't the best image of it, but definitely shows you how they blocked off seating to aid the batter. From opening day of 1934.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/RichardLillard1/Bleachersopeningday24April1934.jpg
doctor_gogol
04-06-2009, 06:12 PM
Awesome. I had no idea about batter's eye. I'm glad that I asked.
But aren't a lot of the Batter's Eyes that you guys are talking about, temporary measures? Like not selling those seats, or placing a curtain, etc...
It still seems to me that its recent where the stadiums have a permanent batter's eye built in architecturally. At least as a rule, rather than an exception.
go_leafs_go02
04-06-2009, 06:17 PM
in fenway..during dusk games...fans can sit in the centre field area, but are required to wear black or something of that matter.
during day games, the section is simply co-ordined off.
SparkyL
04-06-2009, 06:27 PM
Awesome. I had no idea about batter's eye. I'm glad that I asked.
But aren't a lot of the Batter's Eyes that you guys are talking about, temporary measures? Like not selling those seats, or placing a curtain, etc...
It still seems to me that its recent where the stadiums have a permanent batter's eye built in architecturally. At least as a rule, rather than an exception.
I guess if you define recent as 30-40 years ago - when the circular stadiums started being built.
The Old Ballpark
04-06-2009, 09:24 PM
Awesome. I had no idea about batter's eye. I'm glad that I asked.
But aren't a lot of the Batter's Eyes that you guys are talking about, temporary measures? Like not selling those seats, or placing a curtain, etc...
It still seems to me that its recent where the stadiums have a permanent batter's eye built in architecturally. At least as a rule, rather than an exception.
Look, your just wrong.
The Major league ballparks that opened in the 50's, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Kansas City all had the permanent batters eye(in Milw. and Balt. with a grove of trees originally).
All of the new baseball only stadiums of the early-mid 60's, Dodger, Anaheim, The Stick, The Met, plus of course multi-purpose Shea also had them.
RoastedPeanut
04-06-2009, 09:49 PM
It's called the batter's eye. Pretty sure all baseball stadiums have it; may even be a requirement.
"And if it does improve hitting stats, isn't that negated by the fact that the opposing team's hitting stats will also improve?"
Both teams should be on an equal playing ground in terms of seeing the ball. It'd be cheating if the stadium changed it's batter's eye during the opposing team's AB.
I think we should start a thread for ballparks that have home plates..
Just kidding.. When was it until that the Yankees would let spectators watch the game at night from the batter's eye bleachers?
efin98
04-07-2009, 01:56 AM
[/B]
Look, your just wrong.
The Major league ballparks that opened in the 50's, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Kansas City all had the permanent batters eye(in Milw. and Balt. with a grove of trees originally).
All of the new baseball only stadiums of the early-mid 60's, Dodger, Anaheim, The Stick, The Met, plus of course multi-purpose Shea also had them.
RFK, Riverfront, Three Rivers, Veterans, and Exhibition Stadiums all had them.
Kingdome, and Astrodome had them and Rogers Centre has one.
The only permanent facility built or rebuilt in the last 50 years without the batter's eye either indoor, outdoor, domed or open air is the Metrodome and even then the retracted seats makes a good backdrop.
efin98
04-07-2009, 03:01 AM
in fenway..during dusk games...fans can sit in the centre field area, but are required to wear black or something of that matter.
during day games, the section is simply co-ordined off.
I think what you are remembering are the times when the have gave free dark green t-shirts to fans who had tickets to a rained out night game who are going to sit there during the make up day game.
They haven't made fans wear black to sit there any other time, although if you get enough fans wearing navy blue jerseys and t-shirts sitting there it might appear that way...but there isn't any requirement to wear black.
NIght game shot...lots of red, white and very little black: http://snaggingbaseballs.mlblogs.com/view_during_game_08_01_08_b.jpg
Anthony
04-07-2009, 04:13 AM
At the new Yankee Stadium, the batters eye is a restaurant. It was wierd watching a game from center field.
They had a sign there "No Flash Photography".
doctor_gogol
04-07-2009, 06:35 AM
[/B]
Look, your just wrong.
The Major league ballparks that opened in the 50's, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Kansas City all had the permanent batters eye(in Milw. and Balt. with a grove of trees originally).
All of the new baseball only stadiums of the early-mid 60's, Dodger, Anaheim, The Stick, The Met, plus of course multi-purpose Shea also had them.
Yeah, I'm glaringly wrong. But I'm learning a lot from you guys. At least this is a topic that hasn't been covered over and over.
McDodger
04-07-2009, 10:56 AM
What was the last ballpark to allow seating directly in the batters' eye area?
Hint: It's not Fenway because technically the high 17 ft CF wall IS the batters' eye. I mean sitting directly in dead center behind a wall under 10 ft high.
McDodger
04-07-2009, 11:08 AM
Tiger Stadium?
http://elzerstudio.com/Stadiums/Tiger%20Stadium.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1224/684326250_fbc75cc507.jpg
Captain Cold Nose
04-07-2009, 11:35 AM
Did I win a prize?
You can view this thread any time you want to relive your glory.
efin98
04-07-2009, 11:50 AM
What was the last ballpark to allow seating directly in the batters' eye area?
Hint: It's not Fenway because technically the high 17 ft CF wall IS the batters' eye. I mean sitting directly in dead center behind a wall under 10 ft high.
Batter's eye is sections 34 and 35 of the bleachers.
http://www.carmelproducts.com/images/fenway%20park.jpg
Milwaukee County Stadium
04-07-2009, 01:08 PM
Turner Field
http://refrigeratorlogic.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/turner.jpg
Camden Yards
http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/american/oriolepark.jpg
Ballpark In Arlington
http://www.writersradio.net/images/rangersballpark.jpg
Chris Jones
04-17-2009, 12:33 PM
Milwaukee County Stadium:
You have a "private message."
Chevy114
04-17-2009, 01:29 PM
Even my high school had a batters eye, it must be important if they build them even at a young age.
natron20
04-17-2009, 02:20 PM
Someone else here who is an expert would need to correct me because I could very well be wrong but isn't there a provision in the CBA which requires all stadiums to have a batters eye? Seems like I recall this being an issue many years ago because the owners would be the ones losing revenue from the empty seats. I'm sure that much money adds up rather fast when multipied 81 times.
But yeah I believe it was an issue fought over between the owners and players association many moons ago.