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
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
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.
rent the hill out for picnics and get beltran to sit out there while waiting to bat, it will help pay for his contract
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.
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)!
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.
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.
I don't understand the mentality that a hazard isn't a hazard, until it hurts someone. What's wrong with that picture?
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.
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.
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!
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.
