The new Yankee Stadium is on a ridiculous home run pace, no one denies this. But the more level-headed pundits out there have chalked it up, somewhat logically, to a lineup that hits a lot of home runs, and the complete lack of a pitching staff.
But not Peter Gammons. The grand old man of the BBWAA tore apart the stadium, calling it “one of the biggest jokes in baseball.” Jeez Peter, tell us what you really think.
Gammons was on ESPN radio with Mike and Mike when the subject of the new stadium came up. 82 home runs have been hit through the first 21 games, a pace that would double last season’s count, even though the parks have identical dimensions.
“Buster Olney has been pointing out that they’re going to pass last year’s home run total in the old [Yankee] Stadium by about July 15,” Gammons said. “I’m tired of people saying it’s too early, we don’t have enough games.
“We have enough games. We know that this was not a very well-planned ballpark. Any player that’s played there will tell you that it’s become one of the biggest jokes in baseball.”
Which is odd phrasing, because I have yet to hear a single one of the players say it’s the biggest jokes in baseball. But the pace is kind of ridiculous, and bets were being taken on the number of home runs hit during this weekend’s series with the power-hitting Phillies.
Gammons guessed 16, which would seem an absurd total.
They hit 7 last night.
7:21 pm on May 23rd, 2009
"not a very well-planned ballpark"?
what does that mean? aren't the dimensions the same as the old ballpark? what gives here?
12:30 am on May 24th, 2009
You see the real reason it was a billion dollars is that they built in thousands of tiny airholes, like an air hockey table, to help "float" balls out of the ballpark. It's being called "not…very well planned" because they didn't put in an on/off switch to deactivate for the visiting team. Bring in Billy Mays…who can get them a handy switch for just $19.99. Right Billy?
2:51 am on May 24th, 2009
The biggest joke in MLB is that Cooperstown let this jerkoff in for journalism. This dick has had such a hard-on for the Red Sox (Nazi) Nation that the blood in his inchy c*** was the result of that brain aneurysm. Too bad that is didn't give him a speech impediment. If this f*** wants to talk stadiums, he should stick his weiner in the Green Monster crevice.
10:42 am on May 24th, 2009
What really begs is why with the much improved Yankees starting pitching is allowing a record amount of round-trippers as opposed to last year inferior staff?
Let's throw more money at it and hope it get's better. Doesn't that sound all to familiar.
The dimensions are the same as radar guns at the parks are accurate. I think that is the point that is being made by HOF'er Peter Gammons.
He's been to the parks and seen and followed all the sh*t more closely(assumption)than any of us has.
And what do the Steinbrenner…….er…… luxury seats cost?