Comments on: Ballparks of the future! http://umpbump.com/press/2007/10/24/ballparks-of-the-future/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:48:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/10/24/ballparks-of-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-53546 Nick Kapur Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:51:29 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ballparks-of-the-future/#comment-53546 Actually what's getting really tired is all of these new ballparks being designed by a single architectural firm - HOK of Kansas city. I mean, it would be one thing if they mixed it up a bit and tried new looks, but these guys just keep mixing and matching the same design elements. Having been to most of these new stadiums, they start to get mind-numbingly similar after a while. Sitting in Detroit's Comerica Park, which has absolutely no distinguishing characteristics, I couldn't be sure if I was sitting in Comerica or any one of the other parks these HOK guys have done. I fear that Citi Field will be much the same. Actually what’s getting really tired is all of these new ballparks being designed by a single architectural firm – HOK of Kansas city. I mean, it would be one thing if they mixed it up a bit and tried new looks, but these guys just keep mixing and matching the same design elements.

Having been to most of these new stadiums, they start to get mind-numbingly similar after a while. Sitting in Detroit’s Comerica Park, which has absolutely no distinguishing characteristics, I couldn’t be sure if I was sitting in Comerica or any one of the other parks these HOK guys have done.

I fear that Citi Field will be much the same.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2007/10/24/ballparks-of-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-53545 Paul Moro Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:35:15 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ballparks-of-the-future/#comment-53545 Nick, sadly, your last point about the irrelevance of Citi Field's "inventiveness" due to the crappiness of Shea Stadium is actually valid. Yes, the whole concept of the "retro ballpark" already seems tired (how can something retro be tired?). And yes, I will never really understand why Citi Field's main concourse will be called The Jackie Robinson Rotunda - after a player that never played for the Mets nor played in the borough of Queens nor played anywhere at any time during the franchise's existence. But I'm still looking forward to it. Nick, sadly, your last point about the irrelevance of Citi Field’s “inventiveness” due to the crappiness of Shea Stadium is actually valid. Yes, the whole concept of the “retro ballpark” already seems tired (how can something retro be tired?). And yes, I will never really understand why Citi Field’s main concourse will be called The Jackie Robinson Rotunda – after a player that never played for the Mets nor played in the borough of Queens nor played anywhere at any time during the franchise’s existence.

But I’m still looking forward to it.

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]]> By: Bill B. http://umpbump.com/press/2007/10/24/ballparks-of-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-28784 Bill B. Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:58:48 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ballparks-of-the-future/#comment-28784 I disagree that the D-Backs "deserve" to be there, assuming that "deserve" implies that they did not benefit from lots of luck. The more fine-tuned versions of the Pythagorean W-L calculation put the D-Backs at 80-82, based on their runs scored and runs allowed (712 and 732, respectively). Some will say that the D-Backs were properly managed to a great record in one-run games (32-20, .615) but teams have little to no consistency in those games, not even the great Atlanta Braves of the 1990's. They won 90 games, and by that alone, they deserve to be there, but if you dig beyond the surface, you will find that the D-Backs are flukes. I believe they have the second-worst run differential of a playoff team since 1900 or something like that. I disagree that the D-Backs “deserve” to be there, assuming that “deserve” implies that they did not benefit from lots of luck.

The more fine-tuned versions of the Pythagorean W-L calculation put the D-Backs at 80-82, based on their runs scored and runs allowed (712 and 732, respectively).

Some will say that the D-Backs were properly managed to a great record in one-run games (32-20, .615) but teams have little to no consistency in those games, not even the great Atlanta Braves of the 1990’s.

They won 90 games, and by that alone, they deserve to be there, but if you dig beyond the surface, you will find that the D-Backs are flukes. I believe they have the second-worst run differential of a playoff team since 1900 or something like that.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/10/24/ballparks-of-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-28458 Sarah Green Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:42:33 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ballparks-of-the-future/#comment-28458 1. Tim, boo loud and boo proud, my friend. Boston, Philly, and New York have fans with very high standards. If the athletes can't stand the heat, you know what they say about remaining kitchenside. No shame, brotha! (YES EDGAR. WE ARE BOOING YOU. SACK. THE HELL. UP.) 2. Sarah and her roomies all agree: Dustin Nippert was teased ruthlessly in middle school. 1. Tim, boo loud and boo proud, my friend. Boston, Philly, and New York have fans with very high standards. If the athletes can’t stand the heat, you know what they say about remaining kitchenside. No shame, brotha! (YES EDGAR. WE ARE BOOING YOU. SACK. THE HELL. UP.)

2. Sarah and her roomies all agree: Dustin Nippert was teased ruthlessly in middle school.

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]]> By: Tim B. http://umpbump.com/press/2007/10/24/ballparks-of-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-28431 Tim B. Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:09:38 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ballparks-of-the-future/#comment-28431 Hmmmm....if this was Philly, national media would tear apart the fans. But because it's "friendly" Phoenix, this will make headlines for a day and be forgotten. Philly always gets a bum rap...because we boo'd Santa Claus? Do people know that happened in the 60s? Ridiculous. I hate how the national media portrays the best city in the U.S. Hmmmm….if this was Philly, national media would tear apart the fans. But because it’s “friendly” Phoenix, this will make headlines for a day and be forgotten.

Philly always gets a bum rap…because we boo’d Santa Claus? Do people know that happened in the 60s? Ridiculous. I hate how the national media portrays the best city in the U.S.

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