Post by Broph on May 14, 2015 21:20:11 GMT -5
A press release by the Athletics today revealed they are modifying their park this offseason. With the Raiders having moved on to LA, the Coliseum is now baseball exclusive, and as such, the Athletics will be closing off the bullpen to allow for less foul ground, and bringing in the fences down the lines, while raising wall heights to double their former height. According to sources close to the team, the A's had become fed up with the inability of the team to consistently hit for contact, and over recent years, had seen no benefit from playing in their own home park. Pitchers were struggling at home, giving up too many homers but the batters were struggling to get the ball in play. Last year appears to have been the breaking point for team ownership, missing the playoffs, and struggling to find any batter hitting over .300, despite a team full of great contact talent. By reducing the foul ground, drawing in the lines and pushing out Center field, the park should retain the ability to hit homers, while providing more in play ground in which for the ball to find a spot to drop. With the wall heights being raised fewer homers can be expected to straightaway Center, only monster hits will find their way over the wall, but the team should see an uptick in the number of doubles as well. It has been hinted at that the pitching staff, especially number 4 Andrew Albers, is disappointed with the move, as it plays against his strengths, allowing more ground for fielders to cover, and the dealing off of defensive Whiz Gregory in Left Field is more concerning given the extra ground necessary. If the Athletics dont see an increase an offense this year on the average front, we can expect to see calls for the managements head.
