Toronto Star Referrer

Working the angles in the outfield

New wall could be fun for fans — and Kiermaier

GREGOR C HI S HOLM OPI NI ON

The outfield at the Rogers Centre is going to have an entirely different look this coming season, but Blue Jays officials insist the changes will have a similar impact on both pitchers and hitters.

The Jays previously announced that the field dimensions would be altered as part of this off-season’s renovations, and on Friday afternoon they provided a glimpse at what the new outfield will look like when the home schedule begins April 11 against the Detroit Tigers.

The days of symmetrical outfield dimensions and wall heights are over.

The Jays have opted to go with an entirely redesigned look that will have “variations in heights, depths and angles.” Some of the most noticeable changes include a higher wall in the corners, lower in centre and shorter distances to the alleys in left- and right-centre.

“The new outfield not only creates a dynamic and unique ballpark character, but most importantly brings Blue Jays fans closer to the action,” Jays executive vice-president of business operations Marnie Starkman said in a statement. “It was critical to understand how any modifications would impact play, so where the walls come in, heights go up to offset significant changes. Our team modelled these adjustments, and we anticipate they will create a similar neutral environment while providing a modernized experience for our fans.”

Here’s a closer look at the changes and how they might affect play for the upcoming season and beyond:

Left-field corner Distance: 328 feet (no change) Wall height: 14 feet, four inches (previously 10 feet)

Impact: Don’t bet on seeing any more highlight-reel grabs with leftfielders taking away potential home runs. That was hard enough when the wall was10 feet high, with Kevin Pillar and Rajai Davis among the few to pull it off, but the new measurements make it impossible. While the distance to the corner hasn’t changed, the wall is more than four feet taller, which should result in fewer home runs.

Left-centre field

Distance: 368 to 381 feet (previously 375 to 383 feet) Wall height: 11 feet, two inches to 12 feet, nine inches (previously10 feet) Impact: Despite some premature speculation on social media about how these changes would be a boon to power hitters, the power alley to left-centre should play a little bit bigger than before. The wall has been moved in as much as seven feet in some areas, just two in others, and the higher wall suggests it will be a little bit harder to hit a ball out of the park. Overall, though, the changes are less significant here than elsewhere.

Centre field

Distance: 400 feet (no change)

Wall height: eight feet (previously 10 feet) Impact: It just became a whole lot easier for Kevin Kiermaier to make highlight-reel plays. The height of the wall is going up everywhere but centre, where it’s dropping by two feet. That should lead to an uptick in homers to that part of the ballpark, but it will also create plenty of chances for Kiermaier to pull off some gravity-defying plays. The new design wasn’t the reason the Jays signed Kiermaier, but it should work to his benefit.

Right-centre field Distance: 359 to 372 feet (previously 375 to 383 feet) Wall height: 10 feet, nine inches to 14 feet, four inches (previously 10 feet) Impact: This is the section that will see the biggest change. The wall has been moved in as much as 16 feet in some areas, to make room for a newly designed opponents’ bullpen and an additional viewing area for fans down the right-field line. While the increased height is intended to offset the shorter distance, the dimensions in right appear to be slightly more favourable to left-handed hitters than righties. That would work for left-handed slugger Daulton Varsho. Right-field corner Distance: 328 feet (no change)

Wall height: 12 feet, seven inches (previously 10 feet) Impact: The impact here should be similar to left. The distance hasn’t changed, but the wall has been raised more than 2 1⁄2feet. That isn’t as extreme as the four-foot-plus change in left, yet should still result in fewer home runs.

The verdict

The Rogers Centre, while often underappreciated for its functionality, has always lacked personality. An outfield wall that was the same height all the way around, without unusual angles, made for a bland experience compared to some of the eccentric looks elsewhere. There’s nothing wrong with that, but a little uniqueness never hurts, even in a cookie-cutter building like the one in downtown Toronto.

Visually, the new look figures to be more appealing, and the Jays maintain the changes won’t have much of an impact one way or the other on the number of balls that leave the park.

So, while the dimensions have changed, the ballpark should reward a similar type of play as before.

PUZZLES

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2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestarepaper.pressreader.com/article/282827900282015

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