I don't consider that virtually identical. Are you sure your numbers are accurate? If the average team has less than 1 HR per game (146 is the average total, and teams have played 156 games), how do they average over 4 HR/game?
Except I don't think most fans want to wait 30 years to recreate something that they already have now.
I am more a football guy than a baseball guy. The only team I hate more than the Steelers are the Titans. Colts....I look forward to playing them when they are a good team, but there is no hate. Jags, not a fan, but don't hate. Hate the Ravens too, but have no ill feelings toward the New Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati..who can hate a team that brought us the Icky Woods Shuffle.
Same here, Joe Joe (although I'm much more a baseball fan). The only "emotion" I have for the Colts is respect. I actually root for them in the playoffs. Still hate the Steelers, too. I actually even still hate the Bengals. Those were some great wars back in the day. But the Cowboys and ex-Oilers have captured the top of my NFL's-most-hated list.
Yeah the AL has all the launching pads. The Astros should avoid the AL like the plague so they don't have hit in places like Minute Made Park, Coors, Nationals Park, Great American Ballpark, Chase, etc. Of the top 10 park factor parks in baseball, 5 are in the AL, 5 are in the NL. Of the next 10, 6 are in the NL and 5 are in the AL.
MMP is #7 on the home run list this year, #11 last year, #11 in 2009, #8 in 2008, #14 in 2007, #9 in 2006, #7 in 2005, #10 in 2004. 7 years of data indicates that Minute Made is basically a top 10 park in terms of home runs.
I was talking about the AL East, not AL vs. NL. Fenway, Yankee Stadium, and Camden Yards are what I was think of.
I know I've only been an Astros fan since the early 90's, but the move in itself does not seem to be a huge issue for me if it means that there will be balanced scheduled for certain. Because with balance schedules, The Astros will actually play fewer late night games in the AL than the NL (4 MST/PST teams in NL; 3 in AL). While I think the DH is a cop out to allow old players who should have retired to "hang around", I do not think it changes the game just as many have showed here. Sure, it is more common for an AL to focus on power/slugging offense, but now that you remove one "bad bat" you actually have room for defensive specialist in CF/2nd/SS to help that defense out even with their below average bat. Having said that, I'm not sure how many of our young pitchers would transition to NOT having a "break" every time through the line up. And if Crane does truly need to be in the green every year, a quality DH often means adding money to team salary. I'm also think it is horribly wrong for Selig and MLB to force this on Crane after the fact.
it's essentially a neutral park...neither hitter nor pitcher friendly. http://www.parkfactors.com/HOU This means that in the years 2007-2010, Minute Maid Park produced 93 runs for every 100 runs produced in the average MLB park, and 109 HRs for every 100 homers, for a mean Park Factor of 101. This park plays close to neutral.
Some folks can keep saying the AL move isn't a big deal but more and more media has picked up on it... Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
So how do I find Drayton's email address? http://www.foxsportshouston.com/09/...anding_astros.html?blockID=569042&feedID=6702 September 25, 2011 McLane not hearing opposition to AL switch A casual conversation with Astros owner Drayton McLane, Jr. resulted in a surprise answer when I asked him if he had received many letters from Astros fans against the club being moved to the American League. He said only a few letters had passed his way. Then he proceeded to outline why moving to the AL had some advantages. Folks, all of you who are complaining on Twitter, letters to the editor or online sites are venting to each other. The word is not getting to the Drayton McLanes or Bud Seligs of the world. All those threats about dropping the Astros if they move or not ever buying tickets again are not doing any good because they are not being heard or read. Plus, I suspect the volume is too low to change the master plan. That master plan is having both leagues go to 15 teams with one (Houston) from the National League moving to the American League West. That is an aid to only the Texas Rangers who will have one less foe two time zones away in their division. There is no advantage to the Astros although it could be pointed out that if Arizona was moved to the AL the Astros would still have to go the NL West and the time zone problem would be worse since there would be no Texas Ranger buffer. Do TV start times really get that much better with one division foe in the same time zone? However, in the NL the Astros would be going to Colorado and the Rockies are only one time zone away. Colorado night home games started at 7:40 Houston time in 2011. THAT is no hardship at all for TV or anyone else. Is the difference between 7:05 in Arlington and 7:40 in Colorado great enough for a have century NL team change leagues? What about the 50 years of National League history and all the seasons before that when the Houston Buffs were affiliated with the Cardinals and later with the Cubs? There is no American League history here. The vast majority of fans could live being in the NL West more than in the AL West. I get emails and tweets and read the discussion forums frequently. Of course, staying in the NL Central is actually the best for the Astros for a reason that does not involve the better time zone. The NL Central is a winnable division for the Astros…and the Cards…and the Brewers… and the Reds…and the Cubs, since none of them has been an over-spender. There have been some big time high dollar contracts and budgets with those clubs. But none of the teams can afford to drop big dollar players who don't work out as at least two teams in the AL (NY and BOS) can. If and when the deal for the Astros with Jim Crane is approved there is very strong evidence he will fight hard not to switch leagues. At the same time too many far closer to the proceedings than yours truly do not think his reluctance to switch leagues is the main issue why the approval of his purchase has not gone up for a final vote. If Astros fans want to stay in the National League they must be heard much more strongly than they have been so far. Otherwise, baseball will think no one really cares. If that is your position, fine. But if you are a National Leaguer at heart and think making a state as large as Texas a "one-league" state is wrong you had better be heard loud and in volume before the Astros are forced to start looking for a Designated Hitter.
I'd like to know the best way to communicate with Drayton, Selig and Crane. I'll write them all to know just how much I don't want my team to leave.
I have not found an address for Drayton yet, but here are 2 for Bud. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner Address: 245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor City: New York, State: NY Zip Code: 10167 Phone: 212-931-7800 Fax: 212-949-5654 Office of the Commissioner 777 E Wisconsin Ave. Suite 3060 Milwaukee, WI 53202
