HOU to remove Tal's Hill next season

[soxhop411]

 
 
[Astros owner] Jim Crane said the center field fence, which currently sits 436 feet from home plate, would be brought in to about 409 or 410 feet. The extra space beyond the wall would be used for additional concessions and fan-friendly areas where spectators can watch the game.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25205116
 
 

 
https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/606513096333639680

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

I always liked the concept of the hill, but thought it was too deep to really come into play very often. The renderings of the new configuration look promising.

 

[Bosoxen]

About damn time. I've always hated that thing.
 
That looks like it will be a massive improvement.

 

[the1andonly3003]

bringing the fences in to get more offense? don't like the sound of that

 

[DanoooME]

Amazingly (as far as I can tell with a quick Google search) no one got seriously injured chasing a ball up that hill.

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

Amazingly (as far as I can tell with a quick Google search) no one got seriously injured chasing a ball up that hill.

 
How many balls were actually played up that thing?

 

[JohntheBaptist]

I never got why people had such a bug up their ass about it. I thought it was cool. 
 
Also its "amazing" a pro athlete never got hurt scaling that little bump? Seriously?

 

[OzSox]

MLB.com has a video compilation up showing some of the plays on Tal's Hill over the years.

 

[Bosoxen]

I never got why people had such a bug up their ass about it. I thought it was cool. 
 
Also its "amazing" a pro athlete never got hurt scaling that little bump? Seriously?

 
Little bump? Fucking thing looks like a 30 degree incline.

 

[jayhoz]

I never got why people had such a bug up their ass about it. I thought it was cool. 
 
Also its "amazing" a pro athlete never got hurt scaling that little bump? Seriously?

 
You don't think that running at full bore with your eyes to the sky and having the terrain under your feet change is an injury risk?  Did you see how almost every one of those plays resulted in the player falling to the ground?
 
I think Houston should replace that abomination with water cannons.  Auction off the right to shoot at players to the highest bidder.  This game needs more man-made obstacles.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

To say nothing of the flagpole that was in play.

 

[bankshot1]

it was a stupid gimmick that looked like an blown-ACL minefield 
 
good riddance

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

I took a tour of that stadium a few years back and there was a visible white scuff halfway up the flagpole from a ball that Richie Sexson had hit a year earlier.  Standing underneath that flag pole and looking back at home plate was probably the clearest feeling I've ever had that MLB players are simply a different species than I am.
 
I'll miss it, if for no other reason than future people who take that tour won't get that same sense of awe that I experienced.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

 
Little bump? Fucking thing looks like a 30 degree incline.

You're good. It is a 30 degree incline.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

MLB.com has a video compilation up showing some of the plays on Tal's Hill over the years.

I had completely forgotten that Berkman played CF for a while when he was young. Did anyone ever hit one out to straightaway center? 

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

I had completely forgotten that Berkman played CF for a while when he was young. Did anyone ever hit one out to straightaway center? 

 
It's rare, but it happens.  Here's an article from a couple of years ago after the immortal Jesus Montero did it.
 
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/houstons-center-field-finally-beaten-in-2013/
 
It mentions the Sexson blast that I brought up earlier too.

 

[Bosoxen]

You're good. It is a 30 degree incline.

 
Nice. If only I could apply that to pool shots off the rail.

 

[mauidano]

bringing the fences in to get more offense MONEY? don't like the sound of that

FTFY.  Concession stands and more fan friendly area.