Anyone ever see this before?

[Jackdog]

Our minor league park put in field turf this year. There is no dirt anywhere on the field. I have never seen this done to a baseball diamond before. Look at these pictures of some high school games played at the park this spring. YUCK!!!

http://www.traversecitybeachbums.com/photos/view.php?id=14

You gotta have dirt in baseball!! This is very lame.

[Brandon13]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

I agree, that sucks.

[CMH]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

Those kids will all be suffering from bad knees in college.

You can not have turf at the plate and mound. That's just horrible.

And what are these kids sliding into? I would never slide on turf. I'd just get tagged out. The risk of injury is too high.

[Happy29]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

Those kids will all be suffering from bad knees in college.

You can not have turf at the plate and mound. That's just horrible.

And what are these kids sliding into? I would never slide on turf. I'd just get tagged out. The risk of injury is too high.

Agreed, the grounds crew at this place must be the laziest bunch of people around. And this is coming from a 7 time lazy mvp

[p_rushing]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

Actually it is probably softer than dirt. That stuff has a bunch of "rubber" in it. It is stupid though not to have it on the mound and around the bases. It will get tore up with all the use. For football, the guys aren't in the same spot, for baseball, you are in the same spot almost every pitch.

Also, look at home plate and the bases. Home plate is actually sunken into the field turf, that is not right, it needs to be even. The bases are also lower than they normally are. This is going to make it harder on the players finding the base with their foot and the runners might slip over the bag.

[SPTO]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

I've seen this before and I agree it just isn't right. Whoever came up with this idea must hate baseball.

[Sandman42]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

I've seen this before and I agree it just isn't right. Whoever came up with this idea must hate baseball.

Obviously it must have been Billy Beane and his army of computers.

[Jackdog]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

Obviously it must have been Billy Beane and his army of computers.

I can't believe The Frontier League approved this field. This park looked great last year with natural turf. Man they really screwed this up.

[Jackdog]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

I guess The Frontier League likes this crap. I found another one.
http://www.chillicothepaints.com/paints_stadium.shtml

Yokohama Stadium has the same stuff but if you look closely they have small cutouts for dirt around the bases.

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

That looks ridiculous. Baseball is just not meant to be played on turf. Its probably cheaper, but man, the ball doesn't act naturally on turf.

[CMH]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

Actually it is probably softer than dirt. That stuff has a bunch of "rubber" in it.

I think that's the problem.

Imagine playing on mud instead of dirt. You sink into it and it isn't as stable. That's bad for the knees.

Also, sliding into dirt is much more natural and fluid than sliding into turf. Even if the turf is soft, you're basically rubbing against the surface. With dirt, the particles move with you making the motion easier on your body.

And if the rubber is stagnant then you increase the likelihood that the kids jam their limbs while sliding.

[sportsdude]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

I guess The Frontier League likes this crap. I found another one.
http://www.chillicothepaints.com/paints_stadium.shtml

yup, I was about to post this when I saw the original message. I've been on the field at the Paints Stadium (which by the way is sandwiched by three high security prison complexes) and it feels so weird. The players often wear regular tennis shoes when playing, which looks even weirder. Also, I was on the field for maybe 10-15 minutes and I built up enough static energy that when I went to open my car door later, it shocked me pretty good because I didn't even think to ground myself. You could probably throw lightning bolts at somebody after playing a full game on that stuff.

[Jackdog]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

yup, I was about to post this when I saw the original message. I've been on the field at the Paints Stadium (which by the way is sandwiched by three high security prison complexes) and it feels so weird. The players often wear regular tennis shoes when playing, which looks even weirder. Also, I was on the field for maybe 10-15 minutes and I built up enough static energy that when I went to open my car door later, it shocked me pretty good because I didn't even think to ground myself. You could probably throw lightning bolts at somebody after playing a full game on that stuff.

Damn,that does sound weird. I can't tell from the picture,does the Paints have the mound covered in field turf as well?

[OSUG1]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

The new Louisville stadium has field turf, hated it last year when OSU had to play a 3-game series there to see who went to the CWS. Louisville won 2-1.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Anyone ever see this before?

I'd rather this than get dirt all over my hands when sliding...I hate that feeling and I don't even play baseball.