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October 6, 2005
a sense of humor
The most absurd ballpark in the league clearly belongs to the Houston Astros. Minute Maid Park, formerly known as Enron Field before obvious reasons forced a name change, has a hill in center field, it's only 310 feet down the left field line (the league average is somewhere around 340 feet), and in what I'm sure is the most absurd feature of any ballpark in history, the center field foul pole, which is located 420 feet from home plate, is actually in play. So, theoretically, the hitter could hit the ball 500 feet to center field and, if it hits the pole and comes back onto the field, the ball is still in play. That don't make no sense. Thankfully, somebody has a sense of humor.
In other news, Pete's CD is in stock again. It's excellent. Get 'em while they last. It's nice to have something new to listen to.
Posted by ben at October 6, 2005 5:26 PM
Comments
Ben, guess what happened at the only game I have attended (or ever will attend) at Minute Maid Park? It was July 2003. Brewers-Astros. Richie Sexson at the plate. No outs. Sixth inning or so. He scalds the ball to deep center. It looks like it's going out of the park, but, what the hell, it hits the flagpole and careens back into play. Sexson stops at third base. The Brewers strand him there. Game ends up going into extras. Astros win.
Like the Pacers-Knicks 1999 Eastern Conference Finals, this sporting event will always be a sore spot with me.
In other news, I have purchased tickets to the Pacers-Knicks game April 7 at Madison Square Garden.... It is too bad that I will be in South America next June because I will miss the Pacers-Spurs Finals series.
Posted by: Drew at October 8, 2005 5:49 AM
Drew -- I've been watching Game Four of the Astros-Braves series. Berkman's grand slam made it into those boxes in left field by about 3 feet. Ausmus' game-tying home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth did not actually leave the field of play. It hit above the arbitrary yellow line in left-center field, which, I guess, makes it a home run. Home runs should leave the field, not make it over a line. Don't even get me started on their flag pole.
I hope you haven't deluded yourself into thinking that the Reggie Miller-Spike Lee tiffs represent a rivalry between the Pacers and the Knicks. As you know, a rivalry requires the participation of players, not old men and spectators. Now, Bulls-Knicks was a rivalry, especially in the mid-nineties. Ewing vs. Jordan. Hall of Famer vs. Hall of Famer. Not Hall of Famer (begrudgingly) vs. film director.
Posted by: ben at October 9, 2005 4:32 PM
Ok, so I am about a month behind on commenting here but... I love the Crawford Boxes. I hate the hill and the flagpole. But I find nothing wrong with left field. The other team can hit it there too. It's not like the Astros move it farther back for them. Though, hmm, that's a good idea....
I hate to hear what you think of the roof open/closed issue. ;)
Posted by: Sarah at November 7, 2005 3:57 PM