Coors Field no longer a hitter's paradise?

[Hobbes]

What is the deal with Coors Field this year? It used to be known as the biggest hitters park in the game, and this year something seems to have changed.

Based on ESPN's park factor stats it seems to be a different park this year. Here is where Coors Field ranked in various categories in 2005 and where it ranks so far this year:

Code: Select all

Year   R   HR  H   2B  3B  BB
2005   1   8   1   4   4   9
2006   17  24  11  20  12  12

It certainly doesn't seem like Coors currently deserves a reputation as a lopsided hitters park. Anybody know what is different this year?

[Mugrila]

GLOBAL WARMING!!!

[KolbSaves]

They keep upping the humidor settings. The homerun totals have gone down each of the last 3 or 4 years. It seems like they're determined to make it below league average. I'm not sure why MLB allows the Rockies to doctor the baseball, though.

[PlayingWithFire]

1)Small sample size
2)Colorado SPs seems to be pitching very well.

[mikhayl]

2)Colorado SPs seems to be pitching very well.

I think we have a winner. Also, as good as the SP has been, the bullpen has been even better. Who woulda thunk it?

[stevethumb]

if they would release jose mesa the numbers would be even better

[stumpak]

I think that Kolb is on the right track. The offensive downswing coincides with the humidor. I also am a little confused on why they are allowed to do this. It would seem to me a small ball team with a stinky offense (say Minnesota) may benefit from doing the same thing.

[mikegp]

I haven't really watched any rockie games so I'm not sure, but is it possible that the pitchers aren't throwing as many breaking balls and relying more on changing speeds? Anyone who has watched some games at coors might be able to vouch for this theory.

[Hobbes]

I think that Kolb is on the right track. The offensive downswing coincides with the humidor. I also am a little confused on why they are allowed to do this. It would seem to me a small ball team with a stinky offense (say Minnesota) may benefit from doing the same thing.

Just speculating here, but I would think that MLB finds it acceptable in Colorado because the location of the stadium is an unavoidable natural impediment to fielding a competitive team. The humidor isn't allowed to offset the team's deficiencies, but rather the physical properties of the stadium. In Minnesota's case, there isn't such a measureable physical issue with the park that needs to be addressed.

Coors Field was so bad as a hitter's park that pitchers simply didn't want to pitch there, and stats backed up the fact that pitchers did suffer in the park. That puts the Rockies at a competitive disadvantage that I presume MLB was willing to allow them to address.

[Nerfherders]

Its also an extremely small sample size to this point of the season. Could just be random variation at this point. Its been relatively cool here the last couple weeks as well - could be a factor.

But there is at least one difference to this point between the Rockies of this year and year's past - the bullpen has been excellent. Finding a lock-down closer in Fuentes, who is absolutely unhittible when on, really sets the bullpen. And the rookie Rodriguez has been fantastic.