Remove Tal's Hill for Beltran

[bottlerocket]

If the Astros do resign Beltran it would be more of an incentive to remove that hill in center field?

You invest the franchise in Beltran then have risk of him getting (god forbid) hurt chasing down a fly ball dead center.

[redgoose]

I agree with you in a way. al's hill is a potential hazard. However, so far nobody has been injured on it.

The Astros have to learn how to use it as an advantage. Beltran is lightening fast and could make it up to Tal's hill to save homeruns, whereas most center fielders aren't fast enough and don't play here enough to have the coordination to know when the hill is coming up.

I can just picture Beltran running up to the top of the hill and taking away a 435 foot homerun! :D

[Nick]

The only reason I'd remove it for Beltran is because of the fact that he's probably HIT the ball up that hill 3 or 4 times (and that's more than anybody on the team, in his short tenure)... and they would have been homeruns anywhere else.

Actually, for a guy with his abilities, having the hill out there would technically be an ADVANTAGE, given that he plays a deep CF, and has the athleticism to make catches on it... whereas others would stumble.

Of course, I'm still of the mindset that it really doesn't come into play often enough to warrant the criticism that its received.

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by Nick
The only reason I'd remove it for Beltran is because of the fact that he's probably HIT the ball up that hill 3 or 4 times (and that's more than anybody on the team, in his short tenure)... and they would have been homeruns anywhere else.



If they take the hill away, they aren't going to move the fence in.

I agree that the hill needs to go.

[DaDakota]

I like the hill, it is unique and adds some spice to long fly balls to center.

DD

[MadMax]

Originally posted by Nick


Of course, I'm still of the mindset that it really doesn't come into play often enough to warrant the criticism that its received.

yeah..i hear ya. this is my feeling as well. people bitch about the flagpole and the hill. i can count on one hand the number of times in the last 5 seasons that either has been a factor. the richie sexson shot being the most prominent of those.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

I like it. Each stadium needs some character.

[Uprising]

Originally posted by MadMax
yeah..i hear ya. this is my feeling as well. people bitch about the flagpole and the hill. i can count on one hand the number of times in the last 5 seasons that either has been a factor. the richie sexson shot being the most prominent of those.

Is that the one where his shot to deep hit the pole? I remember seeing someone hit the pole and dent it.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by Uprising
Is that the one where his shot to deep hit the pole? I remember seeing someone hit the pole and dent it.

yeah...i think without the flagpole, it would have been the longest HR in the stadium's history. but it hit the flagpole and ended up being a double or triple.

[Rocket Fan]

if it hits the flag pole.. it seems like it should be a home run.. why don't I just put up a 100 foot wall behind 2nd base to block some balls :) I don't think there should be something in play that can block a ball.. if it hits above a certain point on the flag pole.. seems like it should be hr

[MadMax]

Originally posted by Rocket Fan
if it hits the flag pole.. it seems like it should be a home run.. why don't I just put up a 100 foot wall behind 2nd base to block some balls :) I don't think there should be something in play that can block a ball.. if it hits above a certain point on the flag pole.. seems like it should be hr

fenway has a ladder in play...the green monster itself seems unnatural, though accepted because it's been there so long

wrigley has the ivy in play, which in my mind is the worst/funniest/quirkiest of all of these..every ball that is hit to the wall, the OF goes back and puts his hands up like he can't find it so he can absolutely limit it to a double.

detroit's old stadium used to have a flagpole in play

the astrodome had speakers and roof in play

crosley field in cincy used to have a hill in center similar to ours, but it extended out further into the outfield than ours does

[adeelsiddiqui]

lets add a pit in left field...

[redgoose]

Originally posted by Uprising
Is that the one where his shot to deep hit the pole? I remember seeing someone hit the pole and dent it.

That was Richie Sexson. I was watching the game and then went in shock when that happened. That ball was smoked high and dead center. I believe he still got a homerun for it.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by redgoose
. I believe he still got a homerun for it.

no..he didn't.

[redgoose]

Originally posted by adeelsiddiqui
lets add a pit in left field...

I'd rather see a sand trap. Then the center fielder would have to run over to left field to pull him out. If he doesn't hurry fast enough the guy dies.

[MykTek]

didn't beltran say he liked the hill, it gave him a challenge????

[Ender120]

Originally posted by MykTek
didn't beltran say he liked the hill, it gave him a challenge????

No, he said he hated it and wanted it removed before he would consider playing for us again.

Personally, I like it.

Practically, as has been said, it's not an issue often enough for people to be making such a big deal about it.

SAVE TAL'S HILL!

[MadMax]

Originally posted by Ender120
No, he said he hated it and wanted it removed before he would consider playing for us again.


did he really????

[Miguel]

Two words.


Outfield.
Moat.

[Ender120]

Originally posted by MadMax
did he really????

Yup.

[Rocket Fan]

madmax.. Other stadiums have some stuff.. and I don't think that should be there either.. I think the ivy is ridiculous.. having plants in play that balls can get stuck in

[Rocket Fan]

it looks cool.. yes but in general don't like having things in play like that.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

I'd like a hill in front of the crawford boxes so you could go up and rob a hr.

[Rocket Fan]

eh one last thing.. its not that I really even have a problem with the pole being there.. I just think that above the height of the wall on the pole should be a hr

[gunn]

Originally posted by MadMax

wrigley has the ivy in play, which in my mind is the worst/funniest/quirkiest of all of these..every ball that is hit to the wall, the OF goes back and puts his hands up like he can't find it so he can absolutely limit it to a double.

It doesn't prevent clear homeruns, or questionable homeruns for that matter, from being homeruns. The hill and the pole are both ridiculously bad ideas, and though they don't factor too much into a game, due to players pulling the ball to the short porches, it still doesn't take away from the notion that they are still dumb ideas.

[SmeggySmeg]

rent the hill out for picnics and get beltran to sit out there while waiting to bat, it will help pay for his contract

[Groogrux]

Originally posted by Ender120
Yup.

Link?

[BMoney]

If Beltran would stay here and the only issue was the hill. ..goodbye hill.

[Ender120]

Originally posted by Rocketman95
Link?

I looked half-heartedly for one earlier, and I looked quite desperately for one about an hour ago. I tried to find it, lest my credibility be damaged, but no go.

I'll have more time later to look.

In the meantime, you can't tell me I'm the only one who remembers Beltran saying that Tal's Hill's existence in Houston next year would be a big factor in Beltran's existence in Houston next year. C'mon guys, back me up.

[Mack]

I just checked Beltran's splits. His numbers at home are far worse than away. Numbers from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6132

Home
AVG: .228
OBP: .321
SLG: .470
OPS: .791

Away
AVG: .305
OBP: .412
SLG: .629
OPS: 1.041

The above numbers seem to combine his AL and NL at bats, so here are the numbers just for MMP:

Minute Maid Park
AVG: .211
OBP: .322
SLG: .445
OPS: .767

For some reason, he doesn't hit well at MMP, and if he doesn't like playing defense there... I think it's a long shot to resign him.

Oh well! Let's try to enjoy the rest of the season (and playoffs)! :)

[bottlerocket]

I don't mind seeing other teams center fielder running up the hill and falling down and rolling around like a idiot. I just would hate to see Beltran (if resigned) our franchise getting hurt on a play like that.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by Ender120
I looked half-heartedly for one earlier, and I looked quite desperately for one about an hour ago. I tried to find it, lest my credibility be damaged, but no go.

I'll have more time later to look.

In the meantime, you can't tell me I'm the only one who remembers Beltran saying that Tal's Hill's existence in Houston next year would be a big factor in Beltran's existence in Houston next year. C'mon guys, back me up.

Ender -- i never heard that. not at all. and i follow the astros very closely every day in the media. i heard him say it's important to him that berkman and oswalt get signed...and i heard him say he likes playing before the big crowds he plays before every night...but i never heard him say anything one way or the other about the hill.

[TECH]

I don't understand the mentality that a hazard isn't a hazard, until it hurts someone.

What's wrong with that picture? :rolleyes:

[NIKEstrad]

I looked for any Beltran comments on Tal's Hill and also came up with nothing; I'm fairly sure I've never heard him say that he didn't like the hill.

Beltran runs so ridiculously smooth anyway. He probably finds the hill fun. ;)

If removing the Hill made or broke Beltran in an Astros uni, I'd remove it, but I don't think it will sway him at all either way.

[JPM0016]

Originally posted by Ender120
In the meantime, you can't tell me I'm the only one who remembers Beltran saying that Tal's Hill's existence in Houston next year would be a big factor in Beltran's existence in Houston next year. C'mon guys, back me up.

No, with 100 percent certainty i can say he has never said that publicly.

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by Ender120
I looked half-heartedly for one earlier, and I looked quite desperately for one about an hour ago. I tried to find it, lest my credibility be damaged, but no go.

I'll have more time later to look.

In the meantime, you can't tell me I'm the only one who remembers Beltran saying that Tal's Hill's existence in Houston next year would be a big factor in Beltran's existence in Houston next year. C'mon guys, back me up.

yes you are the only one

[RocketsPimp]

Originally posted by DaDakota
I like the hill, it is unique and adds some spice to long fly balls to center.

DD

You want spice? Go buy some paprika. That hill is an eyesore, a lame gimmick and just plain stupid. Unfortunately it will probably take a key Astro player getting hurt for it to be removed because of our gimmicky owner.

[MadMax]

actually, the hill is the idea of a pretty good baseball mind, in Tal Smith.

no...Tal's Hill is not just a clever name! :)

[dskillz]

Actually, Beltran said on 610AM that the hill didn't bother him at all. He said he had no problem with it. Not sure where this rumor got started that he hated it. I have seen opposing centerfielders run up the hill and make plays. I have seen some butcher the ball. It isn't like it gives anyone an advantage. If you have a good Centerfielder, there should be no problem with the hill.

I think it is cool and adds something unique to the stadium. I would hate to see it removed and Drayton said there are no plans to remove it. I am not sure where all this hate for the hill is coming from. I think people just want to complain about something different. No one has gotten injured on the hill, why would anyone think that someone will. It is a sloping hill, not a sudden elevation like a pitching mound. Pitching mounds in the foul territory injure players several times a year, but I see them still in foul territory.

[steddinotayto]

Originally posted by SmeggySmeg
rent the hill out for picnics and get beltran to sit out there while waiting to bat, it will help pay for his contract

Naked Gun anyone?