Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

[bkrich83]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Actually bkrich is right, Phil Nevin's power in his prime (or roids, whatever you want to call it), was mainly to RCF and at Qualcomm, which in itself was a pitching park in its own way, the power alley was not as deep. A 411 power alley certainly hurt Nevin, who probably was still capable of hitting 35 or so home runs considered he had 13 a year before in just 1/3rd of the season played. After the 2005 season, Nevin admitted that he had tried to pull the ball more in his second season at PETCO Park, which explained the drastic downturn that season which was followed by a decent 2006 season.

Let be honest, it was 'Roids.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

The point is Nevin was still very effective, just like AGon. I have said this before but for some reason people are not listening. I agree Petco is rough on power hitting lefties, but a great power hitting lefty can still hit out 10-15 HRs in Petco while hitting 20+ on the road giving him a great HR season. You don't have to put up 30 home runs to right field in Petco.

The thing about AGon is he adjusted, majority of his home runs were opposite field. He was able to adjust and take the ball the other way. Once again this is a result of him being a great hitter. Great hitters will produce, that's all there is to it.

Actually, Adrian Gonzalez didn't adjust, that's just the type of hitter he is. He still has a fairly even spray chart, which doesn't fit Fenway as well since he's hitting balls into the Green Monster all the time. His ISO has actually dropped since he went to the Red Sox.

But anyhow, Hamilton would be a great hitter in any park. He hits a lot of line drives and his home runs go super far.

[bkrich83]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Actually, Adrian Gonzalez didn't adjust, that's just the type of hitter he is. He still has a fairly even spray chart, which doesn't fit Fenway as well since he's hitting balls into the Green Monster all the time. His ISO has actually dropped since he went to the Red Sox.

But anyhow, Hamilton would be a great hitter in any park. He hits a lot of line drives and his home runs go super far.

I've said in this thread Hamilton is the most gifted player I've ever seen, he'd hit anywhere. But the size of the park, and the atmospheric conditions would have an impact, no doubt.

Barry Bonds called the park "baseball proof"

In 2004 in a year Bonds hit 45 bombs, and who was the greatest Padre killer of all time he hit 1 HR in 45 AB's in Petco. If it can hold Bonds it can hold Hamilton.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

I've said in this thread Hamilton is the most gifted player I've ever seen, he'd hit anywhere. But the size of the park, and the atmospheric conditions would have an impact, no doubt.

Barry Bonds called the park "baseball proof"

In 2004 in a year Bonds hit 45 bombs, and who was the greatest Padre killer of all time he hit 1 HR in 45 AB's in Petco. If it can hold Bonds it can hold Hamilton.

Yeah it would hurt him a bit, but he'd still be a great baseball player.

[bkrich83]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Yeah it would hurt him a bit, but he'd still be a great baseball player.

He would still be great. Which is EXACTLY what I said, but his numbers would certainly fall off. There's really no disputing that.

If you've watched any number of games there, the impact is immediately evident, without even looking at PF's. Once you look at the actual PF numbers it just puts it in to perspective how big of an impact that yard has.

If he was playing there this year, he certainly wouldn't have hit 18 bombs to this point.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

I've said in this thread Hamilton is the most gifted player I've ever seen, he'd hit anywhere. But the size of the park, and the atmospheric conditions would have an impact, no doubt.

Barry Bonds called the park "baseball proof"

In 2004 in a year Bonds hit 45 bombs, and who was the greatest Padre killer of all time he hit 1 HR in 45 AB's in Petco. If it can hold Bonds it can hold Hamilton.

That's basically the end of this argument. If a park could hold Barry, I fear what it does for others.

[Friar Fanatic]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Which was down from the 41 he hit in his previous full season. He lost a ton of HR's to RCF. I was there I saw it.

You can not argue that Petco does not have a significant impact on hitting. I've seen too many guys square up on balls just to see it dies before it even gets to the track.

Some interesting quotes.



http://www.friarhood.com/voice-of-th...-it-takes.html

His 2004 home run were not down from 41 from the previous year. He hit 41 is 2001.

Again, it seems what I have said has been getting confused. Petco Park, the actual stadium has impacts, but playing on the Padres not as much.

Great power hitters will adapt like AGon did and will be bale to take the ball the other way. I would not expect an average home run guy to put up great numbers in Petco.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Josh Hamilton would still have good numbers, but if you think he'd have 18 hr playing at, say, Petco, you're insane. If you combine his career numbers at the top 10 pitchers parks from 2011, Josh Hamilton has a line of .621/.313/.454 with 18hr and 56rbi in 472 pa. Still good numbers, certainly, but not elite. Just for kicks, here's Kemp's numbers at those top 10 parks (excluding Dodger Stadium, since he has a home field advantage there): .307/.360/.467 in 628 pa. Those are very good numbers, but not quite to his standard either. Players suffer a dropoff in more pitching oriented parks.

Look at Adrian Beltre. His last season in LA, he hit for a 1.017 ops and 48 hr, was 2nd in MVP voting, and won a Silver Slugger. Then he went to the black hole for right handed power hitters, Seattle, and for 5 years, had a .759 OPS, averaged 21 hr, won zero Silver Sluggers, and never got MVP consideration. He leaves Seattle, and in his first two years, averages 30 hr, wins 2 Silver Sluggers, and has a OPS of .907, and finished 9th and 15th in MVP voting. And he's having another great year this year.

[jth1331]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Man, don't you guys wonder what some of these great hitters would do in old Coors Field pre-humidor?

[Friar Fanatic]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Man, don't you guys wonder what some of these great hitters would do in old Coors Field pre-humidor?

Would be insane. Just trying to imagine what Bonds would have done in Coors if that was his home field, good lord.

[bkrich83]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

Man, don't you guys wonder what some of these great hitters would do in old Coors Field pre-humidor?

Just look at what a good but not great hitter like Andres Galaraga did there, or an average hitter like Dante Bichette or Vinny Castilla.

I saw a few games at Mile High stadium in the Rockies two years before Coors opened, and I saw Mike Piazza and Barry Bonds hit some of the longest home runs I've ever seen. I can't imagine if those guys played there full time.

Longest HR I've ever seen I think was Bonds at Qualcomm where he hit the ball to the scoreboard in RF, or a bomb Kevin Mitchell hit off of Rob Dibble in Candlestick in his MVP year. That ball may not have landed yet.

[Coug00]

Man, don't you guys wonder what some of these great hitters would do in old Coors Field pre-humidor?

We've got a great comparison now, its basically any left hander at new Yankee Stadium.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

His 2004 home run were not down from 41 from the previous year. He hit 41 is 2001.

Again, it seems what I have said has been getting confused. Petco Park, the actual stadium has impacts, but playing on the Padres not as much.

Great power hitters will adapt like AGon did and will be bale to take the ball the other way. I would not expect an average home run guy to put up great numbers in Petco.

BKrich said in his "previous full season" not previous season.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Josh Hamilton vs. Matt Kemp

His 2004 home run were not down from 41 from the previous year. He hit 41 is 2001.

Again, it seems what I have said has been getting confused. Petco Park, the actual stadium has impacts, but playing on the Padres not as much.

Great power hitters will adapt like AGon did and will be bale to take the ball the other way. I would not expect an average home run guy to put up great numbers in Petco.

Did you ignore my last post? It's not easy to change your batted ball profile and it usually ends in disaster.

[JBH3]

Stealing bases is less important than just being a good base runner. A guy that consistently gets to home from 2nd on a single is more valuable on the base paths than a guy that has a 75% success rate with steals. Hamilton is a fine base runner; he's about as good as or better than Kemp in that department.

Kemp has been caught stealing quite a lot thus far in his career.