New Yankee Stadium--Wind Tunnel?, Is there actually a wind tunnel being created? Is it too early to tel Options

[tick629]

As many of you know, the new Yankee Stadium was recently opened. Since its opening, an above average number of homeruns have been hit. Many of them have been hit to right field. There are speculations that something in the stadium's construction has caused a sort of wind tunnel which is pushing the ball out. Accuweather meterologist Bernie Rayno believes that there is in fact a wind tunnel of sorts being created. http://www.accuweather.com/news-weather-fe...#extremes"%5dAccuweather%20Article%5b/url%5d

A%20later%20article%20by%20a%20meterologist%20named%20Owen%20disputes%20this%20claim,%20saying%20that%20there%20has%20not%20been%20enough%20data%20to%20make%20a%20conclusion.%20%20%5burl="http://nyenviro.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-yankee-stadium-home-rules-not.html" target="_blank">Other Article

What are your thoughts on the new stadium? Could the wind be pushing the balls out? Is it to early to tell? Will it change as spring goes into summer and the air warms up?

[TJ Schulte]

It's way too early in the year to tell. I'll have more to say on this in late June

[SEMIweather]

They had something about it on Good Morning America this morning. Something about the flow of wind through the seats. I wasn't paying too much attention.

[CentralIllinois]

if this was any other team it wouldn't matter lol
i think they gotta await another month to figure that out

[jdrenken]

I think you need to look at the bigger picture here.

Here are the Stadium stats courtesy of ESPN. Yankee Stadium favored batters more than Citi Field.

Here are the team stats courtesy of MLB.com. Look at the top 4...specifically 3 and 4.

Both are sorted by HR's.

Now...back to the game in question. During the second inning, the Tribe had 3 dingers which produced 8 runs due to Cabera's grand slam. The team as a whole had 25 hits and out of those, only 6 were HR's and 7 extra base hits in the form of doubles. So, take those numbers and you'll have 12 singles! They left 9 stranded for the love of pete. It boils down to bad pitching or good luck on the Tribe side.

Something else to look at is the first two Yankee pitchers, Wang and Claggett, produced 16 earned runs in the first two innings along with 6 doubles. Only 3 of them were HR's with 5 on base.

[jdrenken]

I just went thru the Accuweather story and noted that it's wrong.

The wind on Saturday during the Yankees' 22-4 loss against the Cleveland Indians was mostly from the west at 15-20 mph. Given the layout of the stadium, the wind could have had an effect on fly balls in right field. Six home runs were hit by the Indians in the second inning alone.

There were only 3 HR's in the 2nd inning per the box score.

HR: Choo (2, 2nd inning off Wang, 2 on, 0 out), Cabrera (1, 2nd inning off Claggett, 3 on, 2 out), Sizemore (4, 2nd inning off Claggett, 0 on, 2 out), DeRosa (3, 5th inning off Ramirez, E, 2 on, 2 out), Martinez (4, 5th inning off Ramirez, E, 0 on, 2 out), Hafner (4, 8th inning off Veras, 0 on, 1 out).

and the inning summary which shows 5 doubles and 5 singles...

The Indians' 14-run second inning against the Yankees, which took 38 minutes, set the Major League record for most runs in a second inning.


Hafner Wang Single to 3B Scored (Choo)
Peralta Wang Single to LF Scored (Choo)
Choo Wang Homer to LF Scored (Choo)
Garko Wang Popout to C First out
Francisco Wang Double to LF Scored (Cabrera)
Cabrera Wang Single to CF Scored (DeRosa)
Sizemore Wang Double to RF Scored (DeRosa)
DeRosa Wang Double to RF Scored (Martinez)
Martinez Wang Single to RF Scored (Peralta)
Hafner Claggett Double to CF Scored (Peralta)
Peralta Claggett Double to CF Scored (Cabrera)
Choo Claggett Walk Scored (Cabrera)
Garko Claggett Single to CF Scored (Cabrera)
Francisco Claggett Strikeout Second out
Cabrera Claggett Homer to RF Scored (Cabrera)
Sizemore Claggett Homer to RF Scored (Sizemore)
DeRosa Claggett Strikeout Third out

[WeatherMatrix]

Here's a link to our latest story on this topic. I don't follow sports but if you think we have something wrong in the article, please PM me and I'll pass it on.

[jdrenken]

Here's a link to our latest story on this topic. I don't follow sports but if you think we have something wrong in the article, please PM me and I'll pass it on.

Here is a good analysis of the number of home runs hit so far this season.

Going on that...a check of the stadium ratios also are compelling...

2008

2009

Look at Chase Field for example. The stadium was #10 last year and is #1 this year by almost 6.5!

[jdrenken]

Another good link from ESPN.

The Yankees have hit 25 hr's with 14 at home and 11 away. The Tribe has hit 24 hr's with 7 at home and 17 away. 11 of them in the new stadium. Five of their players have 3 or more hr's already. What's more telling is they lead the league in OBP%, 5th in SLG%, and 3rd in OPS% (on base plus slugging). They get on base and have power to boot!

[tick629]

here is the correct comparison link (thanks Jesse)
http://nyenviro.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-y...-rules-not.html