Agreed. Forget about the Astros complaining about it. Has an opposing team left here complaining about it? I mean, if the Astros are going to go on the record and laud how much they love the batters eye in Oakland... wouldn't at least one team come here and chastise the batters eye after a rough offensive series? Plenty of opponents complained about the Texans playing surface.... this would be a similarly easy complaint to file.
The largest run differential in the MLB since WW2 is 309 by the 98 Yankees. The Astros are currently sitting at 169, which would put us on pace for 346. So, yeah this group is special.
Something appears to be affecting the quality of contact on both sides. The team making the most contact is affected the most. Usually, that is the Astros.
I basically agree with you that the whole Batter's Eye thing at most is a minor factor, perhaps not one at all except for one thing. Perception. If our guys (hitters) like a larger one, why not spend a little in the off season and make it bigger? Peanut money in the grand scheme of things.
I strongly suspect if the players were complaining last season, something would have been done prior to this season.
I dont outward complain about being bit by mosquitoes, but it doesn't mean they dont irritate me. Just saying.
Players complain about a lot of things and are not always right. Doubt Astros change batter's eye before they check cheaper things like the lights. Also, Astros may like having an extreme pitcher's park.
You do realize what a terrible analogy that is - right? If that batting eye costs players many points on their statistics, that costs the team wins and the players money. You think if Altuve voices his concerns they won’t listen?
He's hitting better than Correa right now, and still has a lower OPS. Over the last 3 seasons Yuli has a .295 BA, and Correa has a .285. On top of that, the Astros aren't gonna demote their star SS behind a player that gets on base less than he does. Not only is that a potential issue in the locker room, it's also not great batting order construction. Plus, prior to the salami yesterday he had less RBI than Marwin despite hitting in a better RBI spot all season.
That wasn't my point. My point was, opinions are not always expressed. But sure, if Altuve made a direct complaint, it would be heard. You would think. Didn't Springer complain about the lights? Did we change them?
I have no idea about Springer’s complaint about the lights and what was or wasn’t done. My point is that I don’t think anything has been reported about any player complaining about the batting eye to the extent that it is noticeably affecting their ability to hit. At the very least, one would expect opposing teams to complain at some point over this season and last.
It's not a given that the Astros, coming off a World Series, would have made significant changes to a major project they undertook just the offseason before, no matter who complained...the "give it time, they'll get used to it" mindset. I would guarantee the FO has people looking into it now, though.
Hopefully my last word on the subject. As long as there is a big disparity (road/home offense), and the reason isn't nailed down indisputably, theories will abound.
The national broadcast on Saturday brought up the batters eye. They said it was a taboo subject in the locker room. What does that mean? Are the players not allowed to talk about it? I didn't hear the interview but it was tweeted that Reddick recently said on MLB radio that the players don't see the ball as well as home, but he didn't specifically say it was because of the batters eye.
the article that J.R posted? during the Tampa bay series thread also had Alex and Reddick quotes about their own theories of this x-file case that is mmp.
