A's ballpark needs to be modified
by BlueMoon on Jul 5, 2009 7:39 AM PDT
34 comments
It's time to bring the fences in. Time to squeeze foul territory down to nothing. Overall, this ballpark makes good hitters look average. Average hitters look poor. Etc. It is not an attractive place for free agent hitters. Making the park less attractive to pitchers is fine since the plan is to grow your own pitchers and then maybe add free agent hitters when time is right. Even if a guy like Holliday liked the A's he wouldn't be very excited about being a .280/20hr hitter for years.
With limited resources we all know the A's will have a good 3 years then a real bad rebuilding 3 years . . . and on and on. At least more offense would make losing more entertaining. The Cubs at Wrigley has been a great ticket no matter how bad the team is.
On top of it all, some of the best seats in house are currently foul territory. I suppose I'm bringing this up because the A's going through one of those bad years. At least they could make it entertaining.
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Or...
a football stadium. Oh, wait…
"The only way I'm going to get a Gold Glove is with a can of spray paint." - Reggie Jackson
by the_rozeboom on Jul 5, 2009 8:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I can actually see the logic to shrinking the foul territory
A new ballpark will have less, so it’s going to affect the pitching and hitting because more popups get into the seats.
The problem is as the ballpark is now, there’s no way they can extend seats out further into the field without lowering it. They’ve already added a couple rows on the field past the dugouts and the ones behind the plate have been there for a while. If they keep bringing seats out further there’s going to be no angle to them without dropping the level of the playing field and if they do that what do you do about the dugouts? How do you angle the seats around them? What happens when football needs to be played?
I don’t think adding seats on the field is realistic for this facility, nor do I think the A’s would be all that interested in paying for any of it.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Jul 5, 2009 8:57 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
By the way
The best seats are pretty much always in foul territory and the situation with the Cubs is not one you can really compare the A’s to. They have Wrigley Field and a bunch of fans who will always go there.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Jul 5, 2009 8:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree that the Cubs is not truly an apples-to-apples comparison
Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like that.
~Nomar Garciaparra
by UncleLeo on Jul 5, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasnt aware A's had a stadium
ooo you mean Al Davis Colliseum?
HILLIS
by robbo650 on Jul 5, 2009 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually, removing Mt. Davis would help. A LOT!
Then redoing the lower level, bring the seats in over much of the foul territory.
Probably the best way to get this done is to built a new ballpark somewhere else.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
by Eastbayjim on Jul 5, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
a thousand lawn chairs and some chicken wire
alaska A residing in northern Idaho.
by ak_A on Jul 5, 2009 2:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
THINGS MY FATHER BEAT ME WITH!!!!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jul 5, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, it's, "Things my Father Beat Me With for 200, Alex.".
Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like that.
~Nomar Garciaparra
by UncleLeo on Jul 5, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No,
“What is things My Father Beat Me With.”
by JamesCaprio on Jul 5, 2009 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nico is playing $25,000 Pyramid, not Jeopardy
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 5, 2009 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you. And winning, I might add.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jul 5, 2009 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
New idea: Billy Beane playing "The Managing Game" with 3 mystery contestants...
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 5, 2009 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Hull hull -- hey boss, you spelled 'Bob' backwards!"
I’ll take what’s behind door #2. Even if it’s termites.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jul 5, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Okay, bachelor #2...
…you have an aging 1B who plays terrible defense and can’t hit above .200 any more, a slumping power hitter who reminds fans of Greg Luzinski in the field, a young RF who plays pretty good defense and might be a good big-league hitter, and a old SS who injures his legs tying his shoes and hits worse than Rajai Davis. You have 3 lineup slots for these 4 players. What do you do?"
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 5, 2009 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
/cries
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Jul 5, 2009 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hi there trading parter
If you become my trading partner, I’ll give you the most promising of the 4 guys you mentioned and only ask for some AAAA level talent in return. Later on, while I watch my ex-players go on to glorious careers, I’ll block my own AAAA players with over-the-hill veterans rather than giving them a true shot to stick in the majors. I’m a real gambler who lives to catch the lightning in the bottle. So, do we have a deal?
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
by GoA's on Jul 6, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts... that wouldn't cost much.
First a little background… Do you know why the Coliseum’s foul territory is so large to begin with? It wasn’t designed that way.
Back when the A’s were getting ready for their first games in Oakland a tour was being given to various VIPs. Joe DiMaggio, whom was employed by Charlie Finley, took a walk to the third deck and sat in the front row and noticed you couldn’t see home plate. He pointed this out to others and that obviously had to be fixed. It was too late and too costly to really fix it and the easiest solution was to move the field out so home plate could be seen… and here we are today with 40+ years of absurdly large foul territory.
Fast forward to today… the OP’s question brought this to mind and I have an idea that I think would work until a new stadium is built…
1) Close the 3rd deck completely (again). Move the all-you-can-eat-like-a-heifer section somewhere else, if they must.
2) Move the field back toward the stands so the foul lines run next to the walls in LF and RF as they were originally supposed to. This would also cut way down on the foul territory (which I have never been a fan of to begin with). If the 3rd deck is closed there is absolutely zero reason to have the field out farther than it needs to be.
3) Move the fences in to a reasonable distance and a reasonable wall height after the field is moved back.
4) Put REAL bleachers seats behind that wall. The steps in LF and RF would be good access. You could do a see-through fence like they tried in the early 80s, but wouldn’t have to. Maybe just a 6’ to 8’ wall with bleachers behind it. Even if it’s only 10 rows deep, it’d be a cool place for “bleacher bums” and maybe help give a new vibe to the outfield area.
These 4 steps would, I think, help bring a slightly more intimate atmosphere to the park… as much as is possible, anyway… and would also help with the offense.
Those are my thoughts and I hereby copyright them. ;-)
Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like that.
~Nomar Garciaparra
by UncleLeo on Jul 5, 2009 4:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Would you remove the Diamond Club?
Because I don’t think the team would. ;-)
That area wasn’t filled in with seats back then.
Otherwise I kind of like it.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Jul 5, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only thing missing is what to do with the bullpens
But that’s easily fixed by sticking them off the field wherever you move the outfield walls in. My only problem with all this is I happen to like the foul territory and would have hoped the new stadium kept it, hitters be damned.
Also, I’ve trouble visualizing, but the 2nd deck always gives a great view of the field, especially home plate. I have a feeling the same issue with the 3rd deck would still apply here.
CuttheMullet, from "The Thread":
"Whenever I’m about to do something, I think "would an idiot do that?" and if they would, I do not do that thing."
by DMOAS on Jul 5, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Solution: Hire Billy Martin. No need for bullpens!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jul 5, 2009 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But they'd need that space for on-field bars
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 5, 2009 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Put that on third base
It’ll give our runner something to do while he waits for the inning to end.
CuttheMullet, from "The Thread":
"Whenever I’m about to do something, I think "would an idiot do that?" and if they would, I do not do that thing."
by DMOAS on Jul 5, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the background.
I like your ideas.
by BlueMoon on Jul 5, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
then you'll love this
from 2006, but still rings true.
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Jul 5, 2009 7:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
that was supposed to be a reply to DMOAS
oh well.
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Jul 5, 2009 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder what the minimum space to backstop is?
It seems to me, geometry not being my best subject, that if they moved home plate directly back toward the stands then they’d reduce the amount of foul territory down both baselines. Then they could move in the fence, too.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jul 5, 2009 8:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If they move it too far, the LF and RF lines will be 280 feet
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 5, 2009 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay.
Invite Bartman.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jul 5, 2009 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
By modifying, we do mean, moving to San Jose right?
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson
by ZacharyCF on Jul 6, 2009 6:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The only modifying the Coliseum needs
Is for Mt Davis to be smashed to bits with a wrecking ball or blown up with some dynamite. Anyone know if Al Davis’s head is available to use as the wrecking ball? God knows it’s hard enough and needs a new purpose since he’s not used it for any rational thoughts in almost 20 years.
by athletics68 on Jul 6, 2009 3:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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