DEEPER DISCUSSIONS

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There are rumors that the Tigers are discussing alterations to Comerica Park.  It’s been an ongoing issue for years even after some fences were moved in 2003.

Players from all teams have complained over the years.  And a recent study confirmed that Comerica leads all other MLB parks in “lost HRs” – fly balls that would have been home runs in all the other ballparks.

The issue revolves around the expanse on either side of deep centerfield called the power alleys.  The measurements for those areas exceed all other ballparks.

Power alleys are where most home runs are hit but at Comerica, they often end up being fly balls.

Comerica was originally built to favor pitchers.  But in turn, it also required that outfielders be strong defensively and speedy. 

If the dimensions should be changed, it would help the team defensively as well as help boost offense.  The Tigers play half their game at Comerica and they need every little bit of help they can get.  Pitchers would still have an advantage, albeit not as much.

Should the Tigers reconfigure Comerica’s dimensions in order to modify the problematic power alleys?

Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!

For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can respond to as many other readers as you want.

TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.

Ready?

Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 6 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page.

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25 thoughts on “DEEPER DISCUSSIONS”

  1. Watched parts of a playoff game tonight, as always, sound off. Looked up and Astros scored a few. Rerun the game to see who homerd. Pleasant surprise as no balls even reach the warning track and three runs in. Yeah bring the fences in…just what we need…less action

    Liked by 3 people

    • If fans want more action and fewer strike-outs, then Comerica’s dimensions should stay put. MLB fields need more unique features: Yankee Stadium’s short right field, Oracle’s McCovey Cove, Fenway’s Green Monster, and Minnesota’s Metrodome.

      Liked by 3 people

    • Agree 100%, Brooks. I’ve often thought of how much fun it would be to play a team like the Yankees if there were no fences at all. With a speedy defense, Judge could hit some really great, long outs. That would end this “HR-or-nothing” game of baseball. There were no fences when the game was invented.

      Liked by 5 people

  3. I have not been a fan of Comerica Park’s dimensions from day 1. Baseball park dimensions cannot be the same across the board, but they should be similar for all hitters to have a shot at history, regardless of team. Don’t get me wrong, Aaron Judge totally deserves to be AL HR King, but really, how many would he have ended up with if he was a Tiger? How Mike Ilitch agreed to the original design is baffling, but it’s time to fix it.

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  4. A park’s dimensions are a factor in the equation determining who owns the strike zone. If the Tigers build a team tailor-made for the park that swallows up the most potential homerun balls, will that hurt them in road games during the playoffs? Or will it be the secret weapon like the Minnesota Twins had with the “Homer Dome” in 1987? I would favor keeping CoPa’s identity as a pitchers’ park, with a reconfiguration to make the power alleys fairer for hitters.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Bring in the fences 15 ft from the LF power alley all the way around to the RF power alley. That’ll also bring the CF fence in 15 ft as well. Raise the existing wall to 15 ft in areas where fences were moved in. Fill in the existing bullpen area with $5 grandstand seating so families can afford to go to games. Move the bullpens to the space created in LF and RF. Lastly plant corn in the extra space out in CF to create our own version of the Field of Dreams right here in Detroit

    Liked by 3 people

    • While I am against moving the fences in, I love the detail in your idea. No way they do $5 seats, but if this move was pulled off (complete with the corn), I am all ears!

      Liked by 3 people

  6. Didn’t MLB change the ball a bit to make it not travel as far? I’d only change the walls if no future changes are made to the ball. Even playing in Comerica, the Tigers have finished well in HR totals in the past: 2006, 6th in MLB; 2008, 4th; 2013, 7th; 2016, 8th. Sure, there were lost HRs those years too, but the bigger problem now is a team full of poor hitters. With this roster, moving the fences will help opponents more than the Tigers.

    Liked by 7 people

  7. I think that the configuration of the playing field should be changed if for no other reason than to conform with the other ballparks, thus making things even for all teams, and eliminating controversy about whether Comerica’s dimensions are favorable or unfavorable to the Tigers.

    Liked by 1 person

    • spartan1963 got it right. I have posted many times the statistics of where Comerica Park ranks among all MLB parks – they are in the middle of the rankings. Bringing in the power alleys to recover the Lost HR’s would put them near the top of MLB parks. I think CP is fine as it sits. Its reputation as a pitcher’s park has never changed even after the fences were brought in.

      Liked by 4 people

  8. IMO (for what that is worth), leave the fences where they are. Yes, we play half of our games at home, but every other team is hitting against that same fence we are. As others have said, the failures of the Tigers’ leadership to build the team around our advantage is really baffling. If we had done that all these years, no one would talking about moving the fences in and would say it was a genius move.

    Liked by 8 people

    • Exactly! Build the team around the ballpark as it is. I have been waiting since it was built for a team that could turn the park into an advantage, speed, defense and pitching. Let the other teams fight over the slow defensively challenged sluggers.

      Liked by 4 people

  9. The Home Run is an integral part of baseball, has been since the days of Ruth. I find it interesting the Yankees, Houston, Philadelphia and San Diego [moved fences in several years ago] all play in very hitter friendly parks and all are battling for the World Championship. Comerica Park was designed to punish good hitters and compliment even mediocre pitching. You can easily move the fences in, in the power alleys and center field, and the Park will still favor the pitcher.

    Liked by 3 people

  10. The correction they made after the whining Juan Gonzales left town are enough. One of the beautiful things about baseball is the varying dimensions of the parks. There is more action on the bases when there are deeper power alleys and a better chance to see outstanding defensive plays by the outfielders. The Tigers would still be the Tigers with Yankee Stadium dimensions and the Yankees would still be the Yankees with Comerica dimensions.

    Liked by 7 people

  11. Other teams have unique ballparks like Boston the most obvious with it’s green wall. They have an advantage of knowing how to defend or pitch in their park. The Tigers knew what they needed to do to take advantage of Comerica but failed to get speedy outfielders and hit ‘‘em where they ain’t offense and instead had slow swing for the fences players year after year. I would love to see them field a team that actually fits Comerica for a few years before changing the dimensions.

    Liked by 5 people

  12. I think the Tigers made a mistake when not coming out with a “Tiger Stadium 2.0” – but I regress… Yes, I think the team will bring in the fences – that decision is already made. But here’s a better idea – bring in players that have enough power to hit home runs!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I can’t say I have much sympathy for ball players whining about “it would have been a home run at” wherever. Life often isn’t fair – it’s full of obstacles that we must learn to maneuver through, so tell them to deal with it. Put first things first – build a team that understands how to play in the dimensions given, and worry about the distances later.

    Liked by 4 people

  14. Rather than moving In the fences, the Tigers should acquire some outfielders with just moderate power. Willy Castro (8 HR), Riley Greene (5 HR), Victor Reyes (3 HR), and Akil Baddoo (2 HR) do not have moderate power. Of those four, Greene is the only good fielder.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. If it is hard for the Tigers to hit homers then it is also hard for the visiting team. I like the deep CF, same as we had in Tiger Stadium. Moving in LF and RF years ago was fine and I get that. Don’t mask the personnel issues that we draft and develop players with no speed or power by changing a ballpark. If we make it smaller, when we go on the road in a bigger ballpark, then what?

    Liked by 2 people

  16. I voted yes but after reading 22 comments of varied valid points, I’m a bit muddled. I start at the beginning with Juan Gonzalez who pretty much orchestrated the first big move in from a ridiculous left field. I like the idea of bringing in the alleys to be a little more mainstream but agree with raising the fence heights if that is architecturally possible. Honestly, I would like to see stats of balls that are long gone in the words of Ernie and wall scrapers. As to triples, the Copa corners will still produce a lot. Unfortunately, AA really believed he had a pitchers park and that’s why our offense has reached a critical mass.

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  17. I like N482 above voted ‘yes’, and after reading all the excellent posts I have changed my mind to a ‘no’ answer. One thing I am definitely against is making all ball parks have similar dimensions, that would not only be boring but would destroy the uniqueness of several ball parks. For example, who doesn’t like the uniqueness of balls disappearing in the vines at Wrigley field? Drafting, signing, and developing players that fit the ballpark would be a good start, but keep COPA essentially the same as it is know. Baseball and its fans don’t need a bunch of cookie cutter ballparks all looking and playing alike.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Remember that the original park was even more cavernous and the bullpens were in the original playing field. I took a tour of Tiger Stadium its last year. The gal who was our guide enthusiastically told us that the new stadium was built for pitching, speed, and defense and as there was no point in giving her a hard time, I didn’t see the point in saying, “So it would be nice to have some of that.”

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