We all know that we're about to hear how Yankee Stadium and CBP are launching pads for home runs, and that neither stadium really does much for pitching. However, if you do a little research (a.k.a. Google it,) you'll find that Citizens Bank Park is the most balanced park in terms of home runs. ESPN.com keeps a page that ranks MLB stadiums on their "Park Factors," which are defined as such:
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.
Basically, 1.000 is the perfect balance. Yankee Stadium has a HR Park Factor of 1.261, by far the highest in all of Major League Baseball (Angel Stadium comes in second with 1.220.) Citizens Bank Park, on the other hand, is 16th out of 30 parks this season. Its HR Park Factor? 1.005, the closest to 1.000 there is (Wrigley is 1.006.)
So, next time that someone tries to convince you that the reason the Phillies hit so many home runs is because they play in a stadium that's like playing on the moon, shove the stats in their face. Sure, they won't like you very much, but you'll be right, and that's all that really matters.
Tonight's forecast:
60 to 70 percent chance of rain showers, getting worse the later it gets. Temperatures will be in the low 60s around game time, obviously getting colder as the night goes on. Here's to hoping that Bud Selig doesn't mess this one up. A special tip for him: If you're going to call the game, call it on the end of an inning. Don't wait for the road team to tie it up and call it on a half-inning, just call it at a logical point.
Prediction:
Phillies 5, Yankees 4
0 comments:
Post a Comment