I just caught a glimpse on Sportscenter of the Houston Astros park. What is up with Center Field?? There appears to be a little hill just past the warning track, but still inside the fence. Has anyone seen it or know what the ground rules are on that one? It's pretty weird. Doesn't that make for weird plays if it gets past the outfielder?
2007-04-04 06:06:44 · 15 answers · asked by BaseballGrrl 6 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The hill was put in as a "distinctive" feature - when it was built, there was a trend to have something funky about your park to distinguish it - thus, the hill at Minute Maid Park, the waterfall at Coors Field, and so on. The ground rules are that the hill is in play and is legally the same as any other part of the outfield (apart from being on a slope).
2007-04-04 06:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by JerH1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At the Astros stadium, Minute Maid Park, there is a small mound called "Tal's HIll". It is a 90 ft. wide 30 degree incline. If the ball is hit on the hill it is in play. It is not a home run, and the outfielder must play the ball off of the hill. Usually the opposing outfileder's, the away teams, has trouble with the awkward running up hill. The ball can take strange hops and get past them. If the ball gets past the centerfielder it is usually a triple. But yes it is one of the more unique stadiums in all of sports. I haven't been there myself, but have seen it a lot.
2007-04-04 06:20:01 · answer #2 · answered by The Man 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're exactly right. There's a hill with a flag pole in center field. The center fielder has to contend with both when fielding a shot to deep center. AND, get this - if a ball (would be home run) hits the top of the flag pole and drops in the playing field it's in play...no homer. Kinda crazy but interesting. Let's just hope other teams don't expand on the idea and build obstacle courses out there.
2007-04-04 06:47:07 · answer #3 · answered by reesrob25 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's called Tal's Hill, named after the Astros President Tal Smith... It was originally created on a whim...but actually survied the drawing board cuts... it is supposed to harken back to the embankment at Cincinnati's old Crosley Field, just as the 315' Crawford Boxes are supposed to be reminicent of the Big Green Monster in Bah-stun...
A note about the Flag pole...I'm fairly sure it has a yellow line on it... anything above the line is considered a home run... Don't quote me on that... if the yellow line is there...it was only recently added.
2007-04-04 09:35:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Minute Maid Park is certainly a hitters park. That hill with the pole can be pretty tricky for any away teams. A double is the ground rule should they miss it. As odd as it seems too, you don't often seem really remarkable plays there, other then Willy Taveras making some awesome catches when he was the Astros center.
2007-04-04 06:51:02 · answer #5 · answered by Ronny C 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the hill in center field is both strange and difficult to catch a ball on. If you watch SportsCenter this whole baseball season, you'll see at least one player trip on it during a game.
2007-04-04 06:10:26 · answer #6 · answered by Rich 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's in play and is just one of the parks obstacles. It always makes for a great play when a centerfielder can not only run all the way out there but up the hill to make a catch. I love it, and wish more parks had their own obstacles for players to play around.
2007-04-04 06:16:36 · answer #7 · answered by jake p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does have a little hill at center field and there is also a flag pole on that hill that is that is inside the fence.
2007-04-04 06:10:15 · answer #8 · answered by Don't Make Me 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
mlb stadiums are the most unique in sports and it seems like architects of the field just wanted to add some flavor and originality to the park. there are no ground rules for the hill, it is played just like normal, but just like the one person said, someone will trip on it at least once this year.
2007-04-04 06:13:06 · answer #9 · answered by pimpjuice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that hill is the best thing for the astros, the team practices on it but when other teams come to play they're not used to it, plus we have the deepest field in baseball. 436 ft its so cool.
2007-04-04 06:45:35 · answer #10 · answered by Nathan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋