Quote:
Originally posted by spookyfish
I think it could be an advantage for any number of reasons, really. I would agree that crowd noise is a "tough shit" sort of proposition, because the Sox have occasion to play in other domes. The roof thing may be a little different situation. I would say it would depend on whether the Sox were allowed to practice on that particular field, in game conditions. In other words, I think if the Astros had left the field open for practices and then closed the roof for the games, then you are venturing into something that might conceivably be unfair.
|
I think you're reaching. While I agree that this would be wrong, (i) I can't believe that any team would do something like this during the World Series, (ii) it was an issue before the teams even got back to Houston, so I doubt they were proposing practices with the roof open and games with it closed and (iii) I don't see the ever so slight advantage they would get (from the other team losing balls) accounting for the better record they have with the roof closed.
Quote:
Originally posted by spookyfish
I think balls do, as a general rule, have a tendency to fly better in closed stadiums, then again, that should presumably benefit both teams the same -- (although I seem to recall a number of years ago in either Minnesota or Houston, there was some allegation that the home team would ramp up the blowers on the air conditioning to blow inward only when the away team was up to bat.)
|
I think balls flying better would give Chicago the advantage since they hit significantly more home runs. Although, maybe Houston has better ground ball pitchers because of the sometimes-closed roof conditions. But now I'm reaching. Whatever.
Quote:
Originally posted by spookyfish
I guess I asked the question because I just didn't know why this caused such a stink. It seemed like more a distraction to the Astros than anything. Although I do agree that MLB should not have been the one dictating whether the roof remained open or not.
|
I agree with everything in this paragraph. If MLB can give the American League a distinct advantage by allowing the DH in American League parks, why is it worrying about whether the roof is open or closed? And if it is worried about it, they should give us the reason. If it's just Houston's record with the roof closed, that's ridiculous. Hell, it could be a mental advantage in that (i) the Houston players
think they hit better when the roof is closed which gives them more confidence at the plate or (ii) the louder crowd gets them pumped up with the same results.
Either way, I can't believe Houston got shut-out in the final game of the Series. Pathetic.
TM
