SJMN: Ballpark will be an adventure
Steven Chan, quoting Mark Gonzales of The San Jose Mercury News
Ballpark will be an adventure
-----------------------------
BY MARK GONZALES
Mercury News Staff Writer
San Jose Mercury News
Friday April 3, 1998
HOUSTON -- Manager Dusty Baker's scouting report on Bank One Ballpark
sounds more formidable than the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I talked to somebody in the umpire's office, and they said they saw
(Colorado's) Larry Walker catch flyballs off the wall," said Baker,
whose Giants make their first appearance tonight at the Phoenix
ballpark. "There are a ton of obstructions. Fans can reach over (the
fence). It looks like it's supposed to hit this way and goes that way.
"He said it's a very pretty park, but it's an outfielder's and
umpire's nightmare."
The Giants read daily stories about the Diamondbacks during spring
training but never visited the stadium.
Unlike most ballparks, Bank One has a thin strip of grass between the
outfield wall and the warning track, and a dirt path from home plate
to the pitcher's mound. A retractable roof makes it possible to play
inside or outside within five minutes, but a lack of sunlight in some
parts has caused the grounds crew to paint some grass patches green.
"I'll get there early and watch them hit, then walk the grounds and
practice hitting balls off the wall and down the corner," Baker said.
"We'll try to be as prepared as possible."
The park has standard dimensions -- 330 feet to left, 334 to right,
407 to center and 374 to the alleys -- but the fence points back four
feet near the left-field pole, then runs straight for about 40 feet
before bending in.
"It's shaped like a triangle," quipped announcer Jon Miller, who
worked Tuesday's opener at Bank One for ESPN.
The fence rises from 7½ feet in left and right field to 25 feet in
center, where pillars are on the field.
"The outfield wall is the most bizarre shape I've ever seen," Miller
said.
Right fielder Stan Javier wasn't worried about the conditions but
conceded, "The first time you're not as comfortable."
Giants bench coach Sonny Jackson said the elements can't be as
difficult as those when he began playing at the Astrodome in 1965.
"It was the first time artificial turf was installed, and the roof
wasn't even painted," Jackson said. "You couldn't take your eye off
any popup."
ETC.: Pitcher Mark Gardner was ecstatic that Rod Beck earned his 200th
career save Thursday with the Chicago Cubs. Beck, who earned 199 saves
in seven seasons with the Giants, plans to give the game ball to
Gardner's wife, Lori, who underwent a liver transplant two months ago.
.... Despite the Giants' first National League West title in eight
seasons, they have yet to sell all tickets for Tuesday's home opener.
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This article has been posted, independent of the San Jose Mercury
News, © Copyright 1998. All rights reserved.
Online: http://www.sjmercury.com
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Jeff Chung
On Thu, 02 Apr 1998 22:09:56 GMT, swc...@nospam.com (Steven Chan,
quoting Mark Gonzales of The San Jose Mercury News) scrawled...
> Ballpark will be an adventure
>
> "I talked to somebody in the umpire's office, and they said they saw
> (Colorado's) Larry Walker catch flyballs off the wall," said Baker,
> whose Giants make their first appearance tonight at the Phoenix
> ballpark. "There are a ton of obstructions. Fans can reach over (the
> fence). It looks like it's supposed to hit this way and goes that way.
>
> "He said it's a very pretty park, but it's an outfielder's and
> umpire's nightmare."
It seems Larry made quite a few comments as they even quoted him
during that Opening Night game on ESPN. He was particularly concerned
with the mesh (padded chicken wire) fence in right field where there
is a special seating area for wheelchairs. He said he could easily
get his hand stuck in that fence.
> Unlike most ballparks, Bank One has a thin strip of grass between the
> outfield wall and the warning track, and a dirt path from home plate
> to the pitcher's mound.
Both of these are really odd. The dirt patch from the mound to
the plate reminds me of a little league infield. That strip of grass
in the outfield between the track the fence is something I'm sure some
outfielders can do without. I imagine it's going to confuse more than
one guy if he's tracking a fly ball while trotting toward the fence.
More than likely, he'll either jump way too early or not at all.
BOOM!
> The fence rises from 7½ feet in left and right field to 25 feet in
> center, where pillars are on the field.
Without a doubt, those pillars are the weirdest thing I think I've
seen. I can imagine quite a few inside-the-park homeruns or, at the
very least, a lot of triples because of those things.
jeff
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Jeff Chung
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Greg Lentz
On Fri, 3 Apr 1998 01:16:57 -0800, kir...@netgate.net (Jeff Chung) wrote:
> It seems Larry made quite a few comments as they even quoted him
>during that Opening Night game on ESPN. He was particularly concerned
>with the mesh (padded chicken wire) fence in right field where there
>is a special seating area for wheelchairs. He said he could easily
>get his hand stuck in that fence.
Puss.
Greg Lentz
(Apologies in advance to any offended females. The spirit of Krukow temporarily
invaded my body).