SafeCo splits home/away from 2000-2021: A Story of Road Woes?

[Donn Beach]

There was the complaints about the batters eye, and they addressed that, and then it was the complaints about the fences, and they addressed that. I have never heard anything about the turf playing in an unusual way. If it was killing their doubles wouldn't they complain about it?

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I doubt the players would go public with something like that, there may have been some internal grumblings though. Who knows? I agree it seems odd that they would want the grass to slow balls down and reduce extra base hits, but perhaps it is the "hardness" of the ground and blade "density" (as Desbcoach brought up) that is the issue rather than the length of the grass, and those may be determined by environmental factors unique to local climate and weather patterns and not easily manipulated. But, assuming the park dimensions, batters eye, and grass "action" have all been rendered neutral in their impact on hitting, what is causing the dearth of doubles and triples? Is air density here any different than in the other dozen coastal cities that play at sea level (albeit warmer temperatures) and, if it is, wouldn't that reduce home runs more than anything?

[bpj]

There was the complaints about the batters eye, and they addressed that, and then it was the complaints about the fences, and they addressed that. I have never heard anything about the turf playing in an unusual way. If it was killing their doubles wouldn't they complain about it?

If anybody had thought to look for a correlation between the grass and the results, they may have mentioned it.

As far as I know I'm the only one who has pointed out the difference.

You act like hitters don't know something is wrong in Seattle. They do. It's obviously not easy to perceive the difference or it would be talked about, but we have 4 years of data now.

It could be as simple as the "marine layer" keeping this type of grass and soil with a higher saturation, in effect slowing the rolling balls compared to hard ground in drier climates.

Nobody says the Mariners have done it on purpose. But something is leading to a much lower rate of balls finding holes and becoming hits in Seattle.

[Donn Beach]

You feel you have deduced it from home and away splits, I just think it be obvious with how the field played, again if Safeco turf played so slow it was the antithesis of artificial turf it would be obvious to the players that played it. Its not about players complaining, but it would seem something they would have an opinion about. It would have a reputation of being an extreme playing surface. Bring it to Divish's attention, it would seem worthy of an article of true

[bpj]

Home:
HR: 94
1B: 351
2B: 100
3B: 7

Away:
HR: 105
1B: 415
2B: 133
3B: 4

Difference ((Away-Home)/Home)
HR: -11.7%
1B: -18.2%
2B: -33%
3B: +47%

Triples are higher at home. The lack of data seems pretty situational, but does not back my theory on the surface in 2021.

However,
18% fewer singles at home.
33% fewer doubles at home.

Compared to 11% fewer homeruns at home. Seems to be kind of a big deal.

[bpj]

You feel you have deduced it from home and away splits, I just think it be obvious with how the field played, again if Safeco turf played so slow it was the antithesis of artificial turf it would be obvious to the players that played it. Its not about players complaining, but it would seem something they would have an opinion about. It would have a reputation of being an extreme playing surface. Bring it to Divish's attention, it would seem worthy of an article of true

How many players have you asked?

They all know Seattle kills offense. They just haven't put together exactly why. It's not (just) the homeruns.

[Donn Beach]

okay, I just think the thing to do would be for someone to ask Mitch Haniger if the outfield at Safeco played a lot slower than other ML parks, that would solve it, email Divish with your data. Its interesting, why not follow through on it

[Sibelius Hindemith]

You feel you have deduced it from home and away splits, I just think it be obvious with how the field played, again if Safeco turf played so slow it was the antithesis of artificial turf it would be obvious to the players that played it. Its not about players complaining, but it would seem something they would have an opinion about. It would have a reputation of being an extreme playing surface. Bring it to Divish's attention, it would seem worthy of an article of true

It wouldn't necessarily be obvious. Just a slight increase in the rate of deceleration of balls on the turf here vs elsewhere might result in cut-off rates by outfielders on batted balls that are greater enough to reduce doubles by 33% or so. That would mean that for every 4 balls that would make it to the wall at a ballpark with normal grass, 3 would make it to the wall here (assuming all doubles make it to the wall and all singles get cut off).

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Indeed, the moisture saturation qotient and it's impact on the topsoil's coefficients of fluidity and restitution as well as bladular density of grass may well be at the crux of the matter, in my distinguished opinion.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

okay, I just think the thing to do would be for someone to ask Mitch Haniger if the outfield at Safeco played a lot slower than other ML parks, that would solve it, email Divish with your data. Its interesting, why not follow through on it

Good idea. What's his email address?