The Field Eccentricities Thread

[grayhawk]

Now that I am almost through my first season of freshman baseball in southern California, I have already been exposed to some fields with, to be generous, let's call them "eccentricities." Here are a couple of examples:

1. Outfield has the track that surrounds the football field running right through it - concrete curb and all. F8 stations himself right in the middle of the track. If a batted ball hits the curb, it's live.

2. Same field has a tattered overhead net stretched from one end of the backstop fence to the other. 2 wires further out where the net used to be attached. Coach says if it hits the wires, then it's no play and no pitch, but he has never seen it get hit. It was hit twice in my game alone.

3. Backstop with what looks like the BP cage they put over home plate before major league games, except this one is permanent. The backstop is maybe five feet from my backside when I'm in the slot (no lie). It's the first time I ever really wished I wore an HSM.

4. Same field as #3. Slope so steep down the left field line that everything foul of the line is DBT.

Whatcha got?

[HokieUmp]

Now that I am almost through my first season of freshman baseball in southern California, I have already been exposed to some fields with, to be generous, let's call them "eccentricities." Here are a couple of examples:

1. Outfield has the track that surrounds the football field running right through it - concrete curb and all. F8 stations himself right in the middle of the track. If a batted ball hits the curb, it's live.

I got one slightly better. It's for LL Juniors, but at a middle school. It doesn't have the track - it has THE FOOTBALL FIELD on it.

There is a place for a football field in the outfield. You're thinking "So?" Well, what's at the each end? Goalposts.

"Okay, we're pretty tight back here, we'll bookrule the dugout openings, pole-to-pole. There are gates out there - make sure they're closed, but we'll deal with it if needed. And make sure your outfielders don't kill themselves running into the goalposts."

That's basically a word-for-word quote when I do the ground rules there. The bolded sentence is exactly what I say.

OSHA-approved, it ain't.

(If you want to see it, Google Map or MapQuest "John Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, Va.")

[Astrosdawg07]

Now that I am almost through my first season of freshman baseball in southern California, I have already been exposed to some fields with, to be generous, let's call them "eccentricities." Here are a couple of examples:

1. Outfield has the track that surrounds the football field running right through it - concrete curb and all. F8 stations himself right in the middle of the track. If a batted ball hits the curb, it's live.

I got one slightly better. It's for LL Juniors, but at a middle school. It doesn't have the track - it has THE FOOTBALL FIELD on it.

There is a place for a football field in the outfield. You're thinking "So?" Well, what's at the each end? Goalposts.

"Okay, we're pretty tight back here, we'll bookrule the dugout openings, pole-to-pole. There are gates out there - make sure they're closed, but we'll deal with it if needed. And make sure your outfielders don't kill themselves running into the goalposts."

That's basically a word-for-word quote when I do the ground rules there. The bolded sentence is exactly what I say.

OSHA-approved, it ain't.

(If you want to see it, Google Map or MapQuest "John Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, Va.")

[MT_Blue]

One field I have officiated at a couple of times over the last couple years has a few problems...and I'm only going to say a few because obviously there are probably more I haven't seen.... first, there is a pipe/spikett for their sprinklers (mind you like a 4 inch pipe none the less) just on the playing side of the fence in center field, which most times gets covered with a carpet during play.

Second thing I see is more of a placement of said field (I know at times placement can't be helped) it is right across from the high school, but behind a pool....so everytime a ball is fouled over my right shoulder it goes INTO the pool...which in short is problematic, and on a final note the field just happens to be across the street from the local cemetary.....

[carolinablue]

One field I have officiated at a couple of times over the last couple years has a few problems...and I'm only going to say a few because obviously there are probably more I haven't seen.... first, there is a pipe/spikett for their sprinklers (mind you like a 4 inch pipe none the less) just on the playing side of the fence in center field, which most times gets covered with a carpet during play.

Second thing I see is more of a placement of said field (I know at times placement can't be helped) it is right across from the high school, but behind a pool....so everytime a ball is fouled over my right shoulder it goes INTO the pool...which in short is problematic, and on a final note the field just happens to be across the street from the local cemetary.....

At least you don't need to go far to put those dead balls to rest.:lol:

[mtnump]

One field I have officiated at a couple of times over the last couple years has a few problems...and I'm only going to say a few because obviously there are probably more I haven't seen.... first, there is a pipe/spikett for their sprinklers (mind you like a 4 inch pipe none the less) just on the playing side of the fence in center field, which most times gets covered with a carpet during play.

Second thing I see is more of a placement of said field (I know at times placement can't be helped) it is right across from the high school, but behind a pool....so everytime a ball is fouled over my right shoulder it goes INTO the pool...which in short is problematic, and on a final note the field just happens to be across the street from the local cemetary.....

At least you don't need to go far to put those dead balls to rest.

Nice!!!

[yawetag]

(If you want to see it, Google Map or MapQuest "John Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, Va.")

I'm gonna bet that no one in the history of that field has ever hit one out of the park.

[Rich Ives]

(If you want to see it, Google Map or MapQuest "John Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, Va.")

I'm gonna bet that no one in the history of that field has ever hit one out of the park.

Looks to be about 320' on the lines. Possible.

[Stan W.]

ahh, some of the cow pastures Ive umpired on.....

one place is nicknamed the beach.....

100% sand infield.... (hence the beach) backstop and grandstands just feet from home plate......left field is probably 400 feet UP HILL.....right field is no more than 250 and the corner fence is the backside of a bar......if the ball hits the bar, its in play.....over the bar is a homerun.....all tucked in a neighborhood....foul balls end up on peoples porches ...some who aint happy about it.....

[T_Thomas]

(If you want to see it, Google Map or MapQuest "John Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, Va.")

I'm gonna bet that no one in the history of that field has ever hit one out of the park.

Looks to be about 320' on the lines. Possible.

I get about 283 to RF pole and 297 to LF pole - still pretty good pokes for 13-14 year old eighth-graders

[Rich Ives]

(If you want to see it, Google Map or MapQuest "John Yeates Middle School, Suffolk, Va.")

I'm gonna bet that no one in the history of that field has ever hit one out of the park.

Looks to be about 320' on the lines. Possible.

I get about 283 to RF pole and 297 to LF pole - still pretty good pokes for 13-14 year old eighth-graders

You must have user Google Earth. I just used dividers and estimated.

[T_Thomas]

You must have used Google Earth....

Yep

[grayhawk]

You must have used Google Earth....

Yep

Here are links to the fields I referenced in the first post:

http://www.google.com/maps?q=811+W+Lincoln+Ave.+Anaheim,CA+92805&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=811+W+Lincoln+Ave,+Anaheim,+California+92805&ll=33.837231,-117.925127&spn=0.001272,0.002835&t=h&z=19

http://www.google.com/maps?q=22062+Antonio+Parkway+Rancho+Santa+Margarita,CA+92688&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=22062+Antonio+Pkwy,+Rancho+Santa+Margarita,+California+92688&ll=33.644023,-117.579641&spn=0.000451,0.000709&t=h&z=21

[Umpire in Chief]

Somebody once posted elsewhere a HS in Oklahoma where to deep center was over 600' in some alley between 2 buildings. Maybe one of our OK friends will share this again.

Here is one of Mine

Alliance Christian has a very short porch to right. Probably only 150 ft to where the RF fense becomes fair.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Alliance+Christian+Schools,+5809+Portsmouth+Boulevard,+Portsmouth,+VA+23701-1443&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.826758,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=Alliance+Christian+Schools,&hnear=5809+Portsmouth+Blvd,+Portsmouth,+Virginia+23701&ll=36.818858,-76.38328&spn=0.001697,0.002411&t=h&z=19

[Paperipper17]

One field at which I work (WOB, for Rolando and any other Jacksonville guys) has a backstop that is about three feet of brick, 15 feet of net. Nothing unusual there, but spaced about every ten feet, right at ground level, are those hollow cinderblocks used in building foundations; I guess put there for drainage purposes. About once a game, a passed ball will shoot right through one and out of play. Also, several small diamonds I work have nets that extend from the backstop almost into fair territory (At one, the net actually extends about two feet into fair territory). Lose a lot of foulouts and have to duck a lot of baseballs at those places.

[yawetag]

http://www.google.co...000709&t=h&z=21

This one looks like they've either:

1. Lost a lot of balls fouled back

2. Had a lawsuit over injuries in the tennis courts

[bpate]

http://www.google.co...000709&t=h&z=21

This one looks like they've either:

1. Lost a lot of balls fouled back

2. Had a lawsuit over injuries in the tennis courts

Goin with option 2. Probably an intolerable situation to be playing tennis and having fouls balls bouncing around on the court.

[yawetag]

Goin with option 2. Probably an intolerable situation to be playing tennis and having fouls balls bouncing around on the court.

Then either build netting above the courts, higher netting above the field, or play tennis elsewhere. The cage they've built around the field is probably more dangerous than the other three options.

[SnareDrum]

From the thread on a balloon that floated over my field a few days ago. This reply not about the field, but it cracked me up.

We have a Balloonfest every September, which brings about 30-40 balloons from all over the Southwest to our city. They have a "liftoff" at 7:00 AM, which brings most of them in the vicinity of our fields (2-3 miles away) to our 8:00 AM Saturday games. We get a kick out of our Plate Meetings, where we give the "2 bases off the balloon,all you can get in the basket" Ground Rules. Never came close to actually using them.

[HokieUmp]

I'm gonna bet that no one in the history of that field has ever hit one out of the park.

Not when I've been there. Don't know if any older groups play there. Of course, if older/better players did play there, it would be a able idea, because the liability issues would be staggering. At the level I've seen there, the only time anyone would be in jeopardy is if the goal posts spontaneously fell over on someone, as opposed to the fielder running into them.

Looks to be about 320' on the lines. Possible.

I get about 283 to RF pole and 297 to LF pole - still pretty good pokes for 13-14 year old eighth-graders

Regardless of who's closer, put it this way - I've been there three times so far in the last two years - we just got their contract last year - and I don't think I've seen a ball hit anywhere near those goalposts in the air, never mind clearing a fence. It's either too far (although I don't think that's likely) or bad baseball between bad teams (the more likely choice). There aren't apparently enough players for any individual LL in the area for internal play, so this is all inter-league.

[grayhawk]

Goin with option 2. Probably an intolerable situation to be playing tennis and having fouls balls bouncing around on the court.

Then either build netting above the courts, higher netting above the field, or play tennis elsewhere. The cage they've built around the field is probably more dangerous than the other three options.

Well, it's certainly much more dangerous for the batter, catcher and myself. I could just imagine taking one off the side or back of the head on a riccochet. The other funny thing about that cage is the ball is still in play, even if it somehow gets thrown all the way behind it. There is a normal backstop there - not sure why they didn't just rig some netting over the top.

[dddunn3d]

Somebody once posted elsewhere a HS in Oklahoma where to deep center was over 600' in some alley between 2 buildings. Maybe one of our OK friends will share this again.

Here is one of Mine

Alliance Christian has a very short porch to right. Probably only 150 ft to where the RF fense becomes fair.

http://maps.google.c...002411&t=h&z=19

The ground rules should include: fair ball landing on the Sonic roof = free drinks for the umpires...

[jkumpire]

<rant>

I worked a college DH (JUCO) today on the worst field for that level of ball I have ever seen.

It is a city-owned field in a city in a Midwestern state. How bad is it? Well for $200 a day rent (what we were told it cost):

1. No lines past cut of the infield, and they don't match up with fair poles. No running lane.

2. Field has not been dragged all season. In my plate game I had a ball that was foul, hit a hole and went fair, then hit another hole and ended foul.

3. Grass was so high in the infield you could not get balls to go through it.

4. Grass was so high the F6 for one team dropped the Baseball behind the mound, and it took the BU and the other team's F1 30 seconds between innings to find it. The new ball had been in play for 5 pitches.

5. The batter's boxes were barely 18" wide, and not long enough.

6. The mound looked like a FPSB mound, no slope, no height.

7. Huge hole in front of the rubber.

8. HC tells us he was 'almost arrested' fro raking grass on the infield after the unionized city workers cut the field the other day, leaving grass so high it looked like a hayfield had been cut. Nobody but the city is allowed to work on the field.

9. Scoreboard did not work.

10. Dugouts were too small and one team had no room for all the players in it when they were hitting.

11. There was nothing but a chain link fence in the outfield, and the fair poles were only 6 to 7 feet high.

12. No place for fans to sit unless they brought their own chairs.

13. Bases were buried in the infield dirt, the top of the bases were even with the dirt part of the infield.

14. Closest rest rooms were 1/2 a mile from the field. Not even a 'porta potty' for this field.

As I left the complex I looked in on a 13 year old or 14 year old game going on in the same city park, on a fully lined field, with a working scoreboard, short cut grass on the infield, bleachers to sit on. I felt bad for the home team that had to play on it. In the same town they have a privately-owned and volunteer-maintained field with room for 1000+ spectators, a totally turfed field, huge scoreboard, high wooden fences. big locker rooms and clubhouse and umpire's room, with great showers and care for umps and players. They have games all the time there in several sports, a college summer team, tons of HS and college games, and they a host a D1 league post-season tournament.

The difference between the private field and publicly owned and taken care of field cannot be more stark.

Now that's not to say a city run and cared for complex can't be well taken care of. i grew up playing in public parks, and they were well taken care of. This one wasn't.</rant>

[grayhawk]

<rant>

I worked a college DH (JUCO) today on the worst field for that level of ball I have ever seen.

It is a city-owned field in a city in a Midwestern state. How bad is it? Well for $200 a day rent (what we were told it cost):

1. No lines past cut of the infield, and they don't match up with fair poles. No running lane.

2. Field has not been dragged all season. In my plate game I had a ball that was foul, hit a hole and went fair, then hit another hole and ended foul.

3. Grass was so high in the infield you could not get balls to go through it.

4. Grass was so high the F6 for one team dropped the Baseball behind the mound, and it took the BU and the other team's F1 30 seconds between innings to find it. The new ball had been in play for 5 pitches.

5. The batter's boxes were barely 18" wide, and not long enough.

6. The mound looked like a FPSB mound, no slope, no height.

7. Huge hole in front of the rubber.

8. HC tells us he was 'almost arrested' fro raking grass on the infield after the unionized city workers cut the field the other day, leaving grass so high it looked like a hayfield had been cut. Nobody but the city is allowed to work on the field.

9. Scoreboard did not work.

10. Dugouts were too small and one team had no room for all the players in it when they were hitting.

11. There was nothing but a chain link fence in the outfield, and the fair poles were only 6 to 7 feet high.

12. No place for fans to sit unless they brought their own chairs.

13. Bases were buried in the infield dirt, the top of the bases were even with the dirt part of the infield.

14. Closest rest rooms were 1/2 a mile from the field. Not even a 'porta potty' for this field.

As I left the complex I looked in on a 13 year old or 14 year old game going on in the same city park, on a fully lined field, with a working scoreboard, short cut grass on the infield, bleachers to sit on. I felt bad for the home team that had to play on it. In the same town they have a privately-owned and volunteer-maintained field with room for 1000+ spectators, a totally turfed field, huge scoreboard, high wooden fences. big locker rooms and clubhouse and umpire's room, with great showers and care for umps and players. They have games all the time there in several sports, a college summer team, tons of HS and college games, and they a host a D1 league post-season tournament.

The difference between the private field and publicly owned and taken care of field cannot be more stark.

Now that's not to say a city run and cared for complex can't be well taken care of. i grew up playing in public parks, and they were well taken care of. This one wasn't.</rant>

Wow, I think you win!