I know, I keep bringing this up - but Citifield is hard to hit in, even after the fences were moved in twice.
It's all about runs - and Citifield hurts hitters.
I looked at the "ESPN Park Factors" page for this. I did not attempt to analyze the results further or look elsewhere to see what other perspectives there might be. Keeping it simple.
On that ESP page, it notes the following:
"Park Factor compares the rate of stats at home vs. the rate of stats on the road. A rate higher than 1.000 favors the hitter. Below 1.000 favors the pitcher. Teams with home games in multiple stadiums list aggregate Park Factors."
For the past 10 years, 2010-2019, the Citifield home factor has ranged from .731 to .988; never hit 1.00.
Coors Field, on the other hand, was the best home field every one of those 10 years. Way above 1.00 every season. For instance, in 2010, Coors' Park Factor was 1.364.
Actual Citifield results follow:
YEAR
|
HOMETOWN
FACTOR: RUNS
|
MLB
RANK
|
2019
|
.891
|
26
|
2018
|
.731
|
30
|
2017
|
.858
|
26
|
2016
|
.988
|
16
|
2015
|
.870
|
28
|
2014
|
.847
|
28
|
2013
|
.867
|
29
|
2012
|
.874
|
23
|
2011
|
.908
|
24
|
2010
|
.890
|
25
|
AVERAGE
|
.872
|
26
|
I don't like it.
I like offense.
I don't like it when offense gets stifled arbitrarily.
I would prefer Brodie and Co. figure out how the Mets can get that Citifield Hometown Factor up to 1.00 on average.
How they fix the park to get there is up to them.
Thoughts?
FYI - Wikipedia included this historical info on the field dimension modifications since the park was first built, as follows:
During the 2010 off-season, the bullpen area in right-center field underwent a complete renovation. When the edifice opened in time for the start of the 2009 MLB season, the Mets' bullpen was in front of the visiting bullpen, leading to an obstructed view of the field from the visiting bullpen, which the San Diego Padres complained about during the Mets' first regular-season home series.
The bullpens were turned 90°, with pitchers throwing toward the field instead of parallel to it. More Mets team colors, player banners and logos were also added throughout the ballpark, including revamping the "Let's Go Mets" slogan on the Citi Vision board so that the word "Mets" appears in its traditional script instead of the same font as the rest of the slogan.
Additionally, the height of the home run boundary line directly in front of the Home Run Apple in center field was reduced from 16 feet to 8 feet in an attempt to produce more home runs.
During its first three seasons, the large field dimensions caused Citi Field to play as an extreme "pitcher's park", and home-runs at the stadium were among the fewest in the Major Leagues. Mets' general manager Sandy Alderson changed Citi Field's dimensions in time for the 2012 MLB season in order to make it more friendly to hitters.
Changes included building an 8 feet wall in front of the high 16 feet wall in left field that many had dubbed the "Great Wall of Flushing", removing the nook in the "Mo's Zone" in right field, and reducing the distance in right center field from 415 feet from home plate to 390 feet.
The new walls are colored blue in order to address fan complaints that the old black walls with orange trims did not reflect the colors of the Mets.
The new walls are colored blue in order to address fan complaints that the old black walls with orange trims did not reflect the colors of the Mets.
The center and right-center outfield wall were brought in to 380 feet for the 2015 season.
Wait, you're expecting the Mets to do something to help them win games? What's in your coffee this morning?
ReplyDeleteWhat's killing baseball is the BB-K-HR-K tedium. Little League parks play a role in that -- not the sole cause to be sure. Leave the fences alone.
ReplyDeleteHey, why not whine about something really important? --that rotunda is too Ebbetts Field-y. It's been months since I heard that complaint.
Ol' Jackie's back in town!
ReplyDeleteKidding aside, Hobie, until the Mets figure out how to win at home consistently, like almost every other team in baseball, they won't win a thing post-season-wise. Last year, won 10 more at home than on road. That should be the minimum spread almost every year for the Mets - but more often than not, they are worse at home.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the magic returns in 2020 - that would be nice. Hopefully it does, and will continue.
Not winning at home is as much (if not more) about giving up cheap HRs as getting them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a low average thing at home, not homers.
ReplyDeleteShea was not a hitters park either. The Mets have always been considered a pitching first team so it makes sense. But Citi is ole Freddys mausoleum to his beloved Dodgers, also a pitching first team, so it makes even more sense. Which brings us to the sad point that this owner is a Dodger fan more than he is a Met fan, always has been. Sell the team to the Mets fan already, please.
ReplyDeleteToo Dodger-decorated still. But one of the jobs for them is to make sure this park gives its team a competitive advantage. Ownership should ask the players - see what they say.
ReplyDelete