The Five Best Hitters’ Parks in Baseball
Every season it seems that certain players have an unexpected spike to their statistics. Maybe they lifted some extra weights in the offseason, or gained some other physical advantages. More likely, however, is that they were traded to a hitters’ park. What is a hitters’ park? This is a park where the ball seems to fly a little farther, and the dimensions are such that they favor the hitters. These parks can also have the same effect on a pitcher’s ERA. A good pitcher can literally look bad in a hitters’ park.
Here are the top five hitters’ parks in Major League Baseball:
1. Rangers Ballpark – The Texas Rangers are absolutely a talented offensive team and the runs they put up are not entirely due to this ballpark. You can rest assured, however, that they are attributed at least in part to it. Rangers Ballpark has given up the highest slugging percentage and number of runs of all the parks in baseball over the last year. That figures to only increase with the Rangers current murderers row of sluggers.
2. Great American Ballpark – This place is set up perfectly for the hitters. The Cincinnati Reds are sure to put up some pretty big numbers at home in 2009 with the additions they are making in the offseason. Jerry Hairston Jr. should be able to team well with Willy Taveras to dust every corner of this stadium. That speed will do them well.
3. US Cellular Field – The White Sox are a team that would score runs anywhere, and often do when on the road. They still love to be at home in Cellular Field though. Who would not? Cellular Field gave up the most home runs of any ballpark in the Major Leagues. That is reason enough to enjoy being at home as a White Sox hitter.
4. Comerica Park – Comerica Park is more a reflection of the Tigers than the ballpark’s dimensions. The Tigers are incredibly good on offense and stink on the mound. That is sure to inflate the numbers a bit. Comerica Park should only get more runs with this years Tiger edition.
5. Coors Field – No list of hitters’ parks would be complete without the elevation of Coors field. The Rockies have long been thought to carry the baseball longer and farther than anywhere, and the numbers bear that out. Every ballplayers looks forward to hitting in Coors Field. Someday, Ryan Howard may actually hit the ball over the dang mountain.
Hitters ballparks are getting to be a dime a dozen and this list seems to change annually. Certainly the home club’s hitting and pitching plays a part, but the list above shows teams that are consistently in the front of the pack for runs and hits. What team will take the crown this season?
