Safeco Field Remodel

[legofarley]

Hey Baseball fans. Safeco Field in Seattle, home of the Mariners, is getting a remodel this offseason. The remodel includes a new restaurant from Edgar Martinez, a new big screen that beats out the Dallas Cowboys punt blocker, and a reconfiguration of the outfield fences.

The most interesting part is the new out field fences. Anyone willing to take a stab at what the new ballpark factors will be? I would like to try an OOTP experiment of taking on the Mariners Organization in 2012, and comparing the 2012 performance to the 2013 performance with the new outfield fences.

article: Mariners — even Felix — excited about shorter fences | Larry Stone | The Seattle Times

outfield wall scheme: http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/2012/10/03/2019329411.jpg

[legofarley]

I did a comparison using the ballpark factor calculation spreadsheet that has floated around here's what I found.

STADIUM LL/ LF/ LC/ CF/ RC/ RF/ RL/ LL/ LF/ LC/ CF/ RC/ RF/ RL/ turf/ 2B/ 3B/ RBA/ RHR/ LBA/ LHR/
old Safeco 331/ 341/ 390/ 409/ 385/ 326/ 326/ 16/ 16/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 101/ 106/ 99/ 97/ 102/ 103/
New Safeco 331/ 337/ 378/ 405/ 381/ 326/ 326/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 98/ 102/ 99/ 102/ 101/ 105/

It looks as though this set up will help out with HR's for all batters, and it won't really affect a Righty's batting average.

Thoughts?

[legofarley]

I did a comparison using the ballpark factor calculation spreadsheet that has floated around here's what I found.

STADIUM LL/ LF/ LC/ CF/ RC/ RF/ RL/ LL/ LF/ LC/ CF/ RC/ RF/ RL/ turf/ 2B/ 3B/ RBA/ RHR/ LBA/ LHR/
old Safeco 331/ 341/ 390/ 409/ 385/ 326/ 326/ 16/ 16/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 101/ 106/ 99/ 97/ 102/ 103/
New Safeco 331/ 337/ 378/ 405/ 381/ 326/ 326/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 98/ 102/ 99/ 102/ 101/ 105/

It looks as though this set up will help out with HR's for all batters, and it won't really affect a Righty's batting average.

Thoughts?

[PsychoBulk]

That new screen is absolutely insane.

Just look at the illustration of how wide its going to be!

[The Wolf]

People will watch that instead of the real game!

[soxfan34]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

People will watch that instead of the real game!

I know I would if I were a Mariners fan...from my couch...maybe.

[jmount78]

Originally Posted by legofarley

I did a comparison using the ballpark factor calculation spreadsheet that has floated around here's what I found.

STADIUM LL/ LF/ LC/ CF/ RC/ RF/ RL/ LL/ LF/ LC/ CF/ RC/ RF/ RL/ turf/ 2B/ 3B/ RBA/ RHR/ LBA/ LHR/
old Safeco 331/ 341/ 390/ 409/ 385/ 326/ 326/ 16/ 16/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 101/ 106/ 99/ 97/ 102/ 103/
New Safeco 331/ 337/ 378/ 405/ 381/ 326/ 326/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 98/ 102/ 99/ 102/ 101/ 105/

It looks as though this set up will help out with HR's for all batters, and it won't really affect a Righty's batting average.

Thoughts?

The Mariners had to do something to give their offense some confidence. Not a fan of the Vargas for Kendrys trade, but it will provide some HR. I guess Justin Smoak has fallen out of favor and may be traded.

[legofarley]

Originally Posted by jmount78

The Mariners had to do something to give their offense some confidence. Not a fan of the Vargas for Kendrys trade, but it will provide some HR. I guess Justin Smoak has fallen out of favor and may be traded.

I'm not a big fan of that trade either. Vargas is a good pitcher and most of his losses last year came from the bullpen costing him the game. Yes he did give up a lot of home runs, but that seems like something that can be ironed out in the offseason.

[legofarley]

The Safeco Field Experiment!

I will be using OOTP 13 to simulate what might happen in 2013 for the Mariners after the Safeco Field outfield walls are brought in. I will simulate 2012 using the rosters provided in the MLB game by OOTP. I will make improvements to the team as necessary. Because, let's face it, the M's are pretty bad. I will make the trades in the offseason that have actually happened to date (The M's acquired Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, Kendrys Morales, Mike Morse). But, no matter what moves are made, I will keep a log in this thread so that those who chose to read will be able to make their own judgements as to how the outfield wall changes are working.

Currently, it is end of April 2012. The M's are 16-7 and in first place in the AL West. No changes have been made to the opening day roster yet.

[legofarley]

May 1, 2012 - Mike Carp eligible to come of Disabled List. IF Alex Liddi was sent to AAA Tacoma.
May 2, 2012 - Franklin Gutierrez comes of Disabled List. OF Casper Wells was sent to AAA Tacoma.
May 23, 2012 - Jason Vargas & Ichiro Suzuki placed on DL. P Charlie Furbush and IF Munenori Kawasaki promoted from AAA Tacoma to Seattle.

End of May 2012 the M's are 27-26 and at 3-1/2 games back in 3rd place.

[legofarley]

June 11, 2012 - Traded Munenori Kawasaki to the Brewers for P Michael Fiers. Sent Blake Beaven to AAA Tacoma and Placed Fiers on the active roster. Demoted OF Trayvon Robinson & C John Jaso to AAA Tacoma and promoted IF Eric Campbell & C Adam Moore to Seattle.
June 17, 2012 - Jason Vargas returns from DL. P Michael Fiers to AAA Tacoma & OF Casper Wells recalled from AAA Tacoma.

At the end of June 2012, the M's are 37-43, trailing by 11-1/2 games in 3rd place.

[FightingIgs]

What I think is the craziest about moving in the fences, is that management thinks that it will help the offense (which I'm sure it will).. but maybe they were planning on putting the fence on rollers like the roof, so when the visitors come to bat -- they can roll the fence back to it's original position

Seriously - it's going to take more than moving in the fences and hiring retreads like Morse and Ibanez to turn this thing around... but here in Seattle, hope springs eternal - every Spring We're very used to disappointment as sports fans, and that helped take the sting away from the Seahawks loss..

[FightingIgs]

Originally Posted by legofarley

At the end of June 2012, the M's are 37-43, trailing by 11-1/2 games in 3rd place.

That sounds just about right

[Mecza]

Originally Posted by PsychoBulk

That new screen is absolutely insane.

Just look at the illustration of how wide its going to be!

Really? That is overkill. That thing could light up my neighborhood.

[legofarley]

Originally Posted by Mecza

Really? That is overkill. That thing could light up my neighborhood.

I think that artist concept in the pic shown is overkill, yes. But that one screen will effectively replace the multiple screens they have currently which show lineups, ads, replays, etc. They will likely use the one screen with multiple "panels" to show several things at once.

[legofarley]

Originally Posted by FightingIgs

That sounds just about right

It is interesting how well OOTP has mirrored the IRL 2012 season.

[Vatechfan]

Die hard M's fan here and i am not at all happy with Morse trade. I actually like the Morales trade and am only counting down the years when that pitching staff becomes loaded with King Felix, Hultzen, Walker & Paxton. Zunino is going to hopefully be a machine as well.

Hope to see your results with this change in the ballpark as I'm currently in year 2017 and would love to update the fences to help my team out.

[Marinersfan51]

Originally Posted by Vatechfan

Die hard M's fan here and i am not at all happy with Morse trade. I actually like the Morales trade and am only counting down the years when that pitching staff becomes loaded with King Felix, Hultzen, Walker & Paxton. Zunino is going to hopefully be a machine as well.

Thank you, I have spent the last few days arguing with everybody who loved the Morse trade. All they see is backup catcher for 30 HR hitter. They don't see our best hitter for a player worth negative WAR last year.

[Vatechfan]

Originally Posted by Marinersfan51

Thank you, I have spent the last few days arguing with everybody who loved the Morse trade. All they see is backup catcher for 30 HR hitter. They don't see our best hitter for a player worth negative WAR last year.

Amen to that!! I would have been happier with the Upton trade going through especially after seeing the consolation prize of Morse. I'll just keep biting my time for Zunino and Franklin to get called up so i can have some shred of hope. Morse reminds me of the second coming of Richie Sexson which is not good!

[legofarley]

Originally Posted by Vatechfan

Amen to that!! I would have been happier with the Upton trade going through especially after seeing the consolation prize of Morse. I'll just keep biting my time for Zunino and Franklin to get called up so i can have some shred of hope. Morse reminds me of the second coming of Richie Sexson which is not good!

I'm very glad that the Upton trade didn't go through. Arizona would have acquired Nick Franklin & Taijuan Walker among others. Justin Upton Rumors: Friday: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

I'm bummed to see Jaso go after last year, but I think Morse is one of those Mariners players who shouldn't have been traded in the first place. As a side note, in my simulation right now Jaso is .267 in AAA Tacoma and was hitting .143 in Seattle. I know it's just a sim, but food for thought.