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Re: [Phys-l] TV technology, the World Series and physics



Two comments from one who contributes little to this list, but gains much.

1. YouTube video has been removed due to a trademark thing with MLB. It is, however, at an MLB site:
http://tinyurl.com/64mgtt5

2. Some conversation has been thrown around here about the sizes of ball parks and how the different sizes and shapes of the parks actually influence the game. Let it be known first that I am not a baseball fan. I look at baseball quite a bit like I view golf; good thing to be on TV if I'm planning a nap. However, since my wife if a long term die-hard Phillies fan, I've been force to gain a bit of insight into the games intricacies and inequities as reported by the highly educated sports commentators. One comment I have heard repeated over and over in the past 5 or 6 years since Philly's Citizen's Bank Park opened is that the park is small and it's the "hitter's dream" and Ryan Howard "only has all those home runs because he's been playing in such a small park". Data, our friend as scientists, does not bear these statements out.

Take a look at http://www.hittrackeronline.com/stadiums.php , ESPN's database of ballpark data. Seems the Phillies park, as small as all the commentators keep saying it is, ranks 10th in the National League with 1.64 homeruns per game. 10th out of 16 parks. Compared to American League parks? Philly would also be 10th; tied with Angels Stadium that placed 10th in the American League. Overall Citizen's Bank Park in Philly, the "hitter's park" according to the commentators, is 19th in MLB. That's out of 30 teams total. I'm not that good at math, but seems like that is just south of average.

So, several list contributors who claimed that different sized parks don't matter seem to be right.

Just in case you are interested, the most homeruns this past season were hit at AmeriQuest Field; the Texas Rangers place considered a "large" park. Hmmm... Good team hitting lots-O-longballs? Just sayin'...


Daryl L Taylor, Fizzix & Astronomy Guy
Greenwich, CT

Friendly Neighborhood Curmudgeon (n. : \(ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən\. 1. Miser 2. : a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.) Take your pick.

NOTE: This email created and transmitted using 100% certified recycled electrons.

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Anthony Lapinski
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 7:19 PM
To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] TV technology, the World Series and physics

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