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Camden Yards is an iconic ballpark. So iconic the truth is that since its inception in 1992, barely any modifications have been made to it. Effectively, one thing not so minor is coming to the Orioles’ residence subject in 2022, because the left subject wall just isn’t solely going to be raised from 7 toes to 12 toes, but additionally pushed again as much as 30 toes in some areas.
Since 2006, the Orioles’ residence ballpark has allowed extra residence runs than common yearly apart from 2016 (when it was precisely league common in that class) and the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Since 1992, no ballpark has seen extra balls depart the yard than Camden, and that left-field fence has been an enormous cause for all the house runs. At its closest, the left-field wall sits simply 333 toes away from residence plate. That’s really about common throughout all MLB ballparks. Nevertheless, the parks’ 364-foot distance to left-center is the second-closest of any MLB ballpark, forward of solely Wrigley Subject (363). Camden Yards can also be one among simply eight ballparks with a wall decrease than eight toes in left. A 12-foot wall could be tied for the sixth-tallest wall in Main League Baseball. What’s attention-grabbing is, on this period, when the longball is king, you’ll often discover groups transferring partitions in or decreasing them. Shifting them out? Not a lot. Cleveland moved the walls out at old Municipal Stadium back in 1991 however returned to the outdated dimensions a 12 months later. And the Cardinals mentioned moving the walls back at Busch Stadium III in September, however to this point haven’t.
To place in perspective simply how hitter-friendly this ballpark has been, after left-hander John Means threw the crew’s first no-hitter since 1991 in 2021, Means said he was glad the sport occurred in Seattle and never Baltimore. If the sport had occurred in Baltimore, it’s probably that Kyle Lewis’ eighth-inning fly ball, which was caught on the left-field wall in Seattle would’ve been a house run.
“If this was Camden Yards, it was gone,” stated Means after the sport.
This man simply threw the crew’s first no-hitter in 30 years and one among his predominant post-no-n0 ideas was “I’m glad we weren’t at residence.” If that’s how your ace feels, simply think about how tough it will be to draw free-agent pitchers. Why would any of the highest free brokers play in your crew in the event that they know they’re going to be giving up dingers left and proper that they wouldn’t quit at different ballparks?
Over the last three years, there have been 655 residence runs hit at Camden Yards — 72 greater than the subsequent closest ballpark (Yankee Stadium, 583). That’s a bigger hole than the distinction between Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Subject — the Thirteenth-most homer-friendly park during the last three seasons.
How will this transfer straight have an effect on the Orioles’ 2022 season although? Effectively, provided that two of Baltimore’s high three residence run hitters: Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle have been right-handed hitters, there’s an enormous probability that Baltimore’s offensive numbers might take a dip. Nevertheless, there’s additionally an enormous probability that Baltimore’s division rivals might take an enormous hit when enjoying in Baltimore.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has hit 14 profession residence runs at Camden Yards, 4 greater than another ballpark not named Yankee Stadium.
Yankee shortstop Gleyber Torres has hit eight residence runs in Baltimore, twice as many as the subsequent closest ballpark.
Toronto first baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. hit 12 residence runs in opposition to Baltimore final season. That’s one-fourth of his season complete.
Rays catcher Mike Zunino has been enjoying within the AL East for simply the final three years of his 9 12 months profession. Already, Camden Yards has seen him hit 5 residence runs (sixth-most of any ballpark he hasn’t known as residence).
Proper-handed hitters are inclined to have their method in Baltimore, and the AL East is stuffed with highly effective right-handed bats. I didn’t even point out Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Bo Bichette, Randal Grichuk, or George Springer.
Theoretically, this transfer ought to assist the Orioles’ pitching workers. With lots of their workers nonetheless very younger and a ton of prospects nonetheless within the minor leagues, that is most likely a very good transfer. It is not going to solely assist construct confidence in most of the crew’s younger pitchers, but additionally assist persuade free agent pitchers to affix the crew.
It’s a transfer that’s lengthy wanted to occur for some time, and with the Orioles’ lease on the ballpark set to run out in 2023, this resolution will hopefully assist in talks with Maryland Stadium Authority to provide the crew an extension.
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