Minnesota's Target Field (1 Viewer)

[Balco]

HAs anybody heard speculation on whether the Twins new stadium will be pitcher or hitter friendly?

 

[Gopher State]

Target Field Dimensions

The dimensions for Minnesota's new ballpark are 339' to Left; 377' to LF Power Alley; 404' to Center; 367' to RF Power Alley; and 328' to Right. The outfield walls are 8' from the left field foul pole to right center field and 23' from right center field to right field foul pole.

I thinking the park is going to be more pitcher friendly then the baggie, due to grass vs turf, wind vs no wind, but we will find out in 5 6 days what type of a park it is.

Looking forward to opening day

 

[hooter311]

The fact that there is almost no foul territory definitely makes it a hitter's park in my opinion. Minnesota pitcher's have always seemed to be darlings in the WHIP department, and I think all their numbers take a hit this season.

Baker might not give up as many HRs this season so it may help at least his ERA. I've always been high on Slowey but I'll probably stay away from him this season for the most part.

 

[TheHosers]

The player I'm most curious to see if the new ballpark affects his numbers is Joe Mauer. Everyone has him pegged as one of the top 3 AL-Only fantasy superstuds based on his HR breakout last year but I'm worried the new ballpark will knock that HR total back down. I'm struggling in my keeper league to figure out what to value him at since he's back in the draft pool this year.

Any ideas/predictions on his numbers?

 

[Frostillicus]

The player I'm most curious to see if the new ballpark affects his numbers is Joe Mauer. Everyone has him pegged as one of the top 3 AL-Only fantasy superstuds based on his HR breakout last year but I'm worried the new ballpark will knock that HR total back down. I'm struggling in my keeper league to figure out what to value him at since he's back in the draft pool this year.Any ideas/predictions on his numbers?

.404, 74 home runs.

 

[JJP]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

 

[the moops]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

 

[Bud Kilmer]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Hate the Dome. Good to know there will never be rain. However, worst stadium in the bigs the past few years.Can't wait for opening day even if its cold.

 

[JJP]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Not in the upper Midwest they don't. We'll see how you feel about them watching baseball on a 35 degree windy day in April. Lots of fun. Use a retractable dome. The Brewers did it right.....the Twins didn't.

 

[the moops]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Not in the upper Midwest they don't. We'll see how you feel about them watching baseball on a 35 degree windy day in April. Lots of fun. Use a retractable dome. The Brewers did it right.....the Twins didn't.

I will be there in 35 degree weather. Minneapolis is something like 2 degrees colder on average in April then Boston.

 

[RnR]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Not in the upper Midwest they don't. We'll see how you feel about them watching baseball on a 35 degree windy day in April. Lots of fun. Use a retractable dome. The Brewers did it right.....the Twins didn't.

I will be there in 35 degree weather. Minneapolis is something like 2 degrees colder on average in April then Boston.

I agree that domes suck, but what's wrong with a little retractable roof action?

 

[hooter311]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Not in the upper Midwest they don't. We'll see how you feel about them watching baseball on a 35 degree windy day in April. Lots of fun. Use a retractable dome. The Brewers did it right.....the Twins didn't.

Retractable roof is awesome, but the Twins were ready to take anything they could get to get out of the Metrodome.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

The fact that there is almost no foul territory definitely makes it a hitter's park in my opinion. Minnesota pitcher's have always seemed to be darlings in the WHIP department, and I think all their numbers take a hit this season.Baker might not give up as many HRs this season so it may help at least his ERA. I've always been high on Slowey but I'll probably stay away from him this season for the most part.

Could you explain on Slowey? What if we see the 2008 version back? I was hoping to grab him really late in drafts. I really like getting Twins pithers later in the draft. Pitching coaches seem to keep churning out solid pitchers.

 

[hooter311]

The fact that there is almost no foul territory definitely makes it a hitter's park in my opinion. Minnesota pitcher's have always seemed to be darlings in the WHIP department, and I think all their numbers take a hit this season.Baker might not give up as many HRs this season so it may help at least his ERA. I've always been high on Slowey but I'll probably stay away from him this season for the most part.

Could you explain on Slowey? What if we see the 2008 version back? I was hoping to grab him really late in drafts. I really like getting Twins pithers later in the draft. Pitching coaches seem to keep churning out solid pitchers.

Slowey is a flyball pitcher. A lot of the strength from his WHIP were pop flies caught in foul territory. The Twins have traditionally been in the top 10 in foul ball outs in the league. The new stadium is a lot like a less extreme PNC park which has been in the bottom 5 of the league in foul outs. That's about 100 outs a season or so roughly. Has there ever been a Pittsburgh pitcher with a decent WHIP in that stadium? Not that there's not a big gap in talent between the two clubs, I just see the WHIP rising on all Minnesota pitchers by at least .05, and slightly more for Slowey. (Note: I think Lirano is in for a rebound season, at least to 80% of the pitcher he was, which is pretty darn good, he was about 40% last season).Baker and Slowey have always been pitch to contact pitchers. Slowey's masterful control just won't translate as well to the new stadium in my opinion. The cold air will surely keep a few more balls in the park so the ERA's should come down a bit. Especially Baker's.That's my reasoning, take it for what its worth.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

The fact that there is almost no foul territory definitely makes it a hitter's park in my opinion. Minnesota pitcher's have always seemed to be darlings in the WHIP department, and I think all their numbers take a hit this season.Baker might not give up as many HRs this season so it may help at least his ERA. I've always been high on Slowey but I'll probably stay away from him this season for the most part.

Could you explain on Slowey? What if we see the 2008 version back? I was hoping to grab him really late in drafts. I really like getting Twins pithers later in the draft. Pitching coaches seem to keep churning out solid pitchers.

Slowey is a flyball pitcher. A lot of the strength from his WHIP were pop flies caught in foul territory. The Twins have traditionally been in the top 10 in foul ball outs in the league. The new stadium is a lot like a less extreme PNC park which has been in the bottom 5 of the league in foul outs. That's about 100 outs a season or so roughly. Has there ever been a Pittsburgh pitcher with a decent WHIP in that stadium? Not that there's not a big gap in talent between the two clubs, I just see the WHIP rising on all Minnesota pitchers by at least .05, and slightly more for Slowey. (Note: I think Lirano is in for a rebound season, at least to 80% of the pitcher he was, which is pretty darn good, he was about 40% last season).Baker and Slowey have always been pitch to contact pitchers. Slowey's masterful control just won't translate as well to the new stadium in my opinion. The cold air will surely keep a few more balls in the park so the ERA's should come down a bit. Especially Baker's.That's my reasoning, take it for what its worth.

Great stuff. I appreciate you taking the time to explain. It makes sense.So you'd say the Minny pitchers to take in drafts are Baker, Liriano, Slowey in that order correct? And Slowey would be a bottom of the draft flier?

 

[hooter311]

The fact that there is almost no foul territory definitely makes it a hitter's park in my opinion. Minnesota pitcher's have always seemed to be darlings in the WHIP department, and I think all their numbers take a hit this season.Baker might not give up as many HRs this season so it may help at least his ERA. I've always been high on Slowey but I'll probably stay away from him this season for the most part.

Could you explain on Slowey? What if we see the 2008 version back? I was hoping to grab him really late in drafts. I really like getting Twins pithers later in the draft. Pitching coaches seem to keep churning out solid pitchers.

Slowey is a flyball pitcher. A lot of the strength from his WHIP were pop flies caught in foul territory. The Twins have traditionally been in the top 10 in foul ball outs in the league. The new stadium is a lot like a less extreme PNC park which has been in the bottom 5 of the league in foul outs. That's about 100 outs a season or so roughly. Has there ever been a Pittsburgh pitcher with a decent WHIP in that stadium? Not that there's not a big gap in talent between the two clubs, I just see the WHIP rising on all Minnesota pitchers by at least .05, and slightly more for Slowey. (Note: I think Lirano is in for a rebound season, at least to 80% of the pitcher he was, which is pretty darn good, he was about 40% last season).Baker and Slowey have always been pitch to contact pitchers. Slowey's masterful control just won't translate as well to the new stadium in my opinion. The cold air will surely keep a few more balls in the park so the ERA's should come down a bit. Especially Baker's.That's my reasoning, take it for what its worth.

Great stuff. I appreciate you taking the time to explain. It makes sense.So you'd say the Minny pitchers to take in drafts are Baker, Liriano, Slowey in that order correct? And Slowey would be a bottom of the draft flier?

I would still draft them Baker, Slowey, Liriano. Liriano has the best chance of far outperforming his draft spot and I'll be looking to add him earlier than his ADP to my roster. He had arguably the best winter league ball of anyone in baseball and seems to have lost the fear of throwing his slider again. I still wouldn't be surprised if Slowey outpreformed his draft spot and wouldn't be scared to take him around his ADP. I just think his ceiling is a lot lower than in the Metrodome. He is still has top 3 control of anyone in MLB. Maybe he can make the adjustments he needs to succeed in the new park, I just think that he comes with a lot more variance. If he puts up a 1.35 WHIP or gets absolutely lit up a few games, he is not going to be as useful as he has been in the past.People have always discounted Slowey, but its not like his K rate is terrible. I've had him in my main league the last three years and have always been glad to have him around. He was great last year until the injuries got to him.

 

[meeka]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Hate the Dome. Good to know there will never be rain. However, worst stadium in the bigs the past few years.Can't wait for opening day even if its cold.

Not worse than Tampa, but still the suck!

 

[Billy Bats]

We won't know for a couple months. Its so damned cold up there that hitters will struggle until Memorial Day. Why on earth would they NOT build a dome up there? They had a great home field advantage with the turf and the crowd noise.

Because domes suck.

Not in the upper Midwest they don't. We'll see how you feel about them watching baseball on a 35 degree windy day in April. Lots of fun. Use a retractable dome. The Brewers did it right.....the Twins didn't.

I will be there in 35 degree weather. Minneapolis is something like 2 degrees colder on average in April then Boston.

I agree that domes suck, but what's wrong with a little retractable roof action?

Probably around 300 more million dollars.