Printer-friendly

Contact Author

June 12, 2007

Wait 'Til Next Year

Hostile Environments

by Bryan Smith

Since the Rockies began play in Denver in 1993, we have slowly trained our eyes and minds to grow accustomed to the statistical oddities that playing at altitude produces. Jason Jennings won a Rookie of the Year award in 2002 despite posting a 4.52 ERA--that number only told part of the story. Jennings was a better pitcher than that in 2002, just as Dante Bichette was a worse hitter than his .340/.364/.620 line from 1995 suggests. The point is, in 15 seasons, a 4.00 ERA in Coors Field doesn't seem like a 4.00 ERA; we've learned that it's better than that.

However, in professional baseball, Coors Field is just one of many drastic stadiums across America. Each Baseball Prospectus annual has provided multi-year park factors for every professional team, so I opened up my Baseball Prospectus 2007 and found the ten strangest stadiums from 2004-2006. These parks may lack the notoriety of Coors Field, so we'll use today to point out the extreme player seasons each of these stadiums might be helping to create.

Alburquerque Isotopes (Florida Marlins Triple-A affiliate)
Three-Year Park Factor: 1117.3

The Marlins have done a good job of recognizing the poor developmental value of their highest-level affiliate, so this season nary an important prospect has reached New Mexico as the organization seems to be steering their better players straight from Carolina to Miami. In case you were wondering, no, neither Chad Hermansen (.310/.378/.510) nor Reggie Abercrombie (.282/.353/.534) is suddenly coming to life. And if you need any proof that the Marlins needed to trade Josh Beckett, consider Robert Andino's hitting line in the United States' easiest offensive park: .264/.301/.373. On the mound, it's been predictably ugly. The ace of the staff, Chris George, is sporting a 5.08 ERA in 72 2/3 innings; he's inexplicably pitching better at home.