Quick show of hands: who actually likes the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park? Now, who likes all the 2-1, or 3-2 scores that seem to drag on in extra bad lightning the rest of our lives?
Obviously, someone with the Giants realizes that the big park in the Bay needs amended. Currently, the Giants are moving in the fences at Oracle Park, some as much as 11 feet.
"I think we’re at least opening up the discussion on it."
The Giants are considering moving in the outfield fences at Oracle Park https://t.co/YMEylAAb0V pic.twitter.com/TSfoR07Bmq
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 16, 2019
Here’s a quote from Alex Pavlovic from NBC Sports Bay Area that details the changes, which include big triples alley.
The Giants are still figuring out some of the exact details, but they know the bullpens will be side-by-side in center and right center. The (center field) kale garden will remain, although it sounds like there will be some changes to the dimensions out there because the center-field wall is coming in about six feet, which should please hitters.
The deepest part of the park — the nemesis for Brandon Belt and other left-handed hitters — is 421 feet and will ultimately be closer to 410 feet when the construction is done, the Giants think.
Obviously, this is never going to be Coors Field. However, this could help lure in some better bats via free agency over time. It’s worth asking rhetorically how many good offensive players decided not to sign in San Francisco due to the park hampering offensive numbers. And think about it, do you ever really see a slugfest in San Francisco? Never.
“Triples Alley will still be Triples Alley, just with some refinements,” team president and CEO Larry Baer told Pavlovic.
The team’s CEO is correct in one area. Still, we’re going to see a lot of low-scoring, slow-paced games at San Francisco. Moreover, some baseball fans love a good pitching duel. Night over night, the Giants’ home environment is able to create that for anyone watching.
But it’s good to see the organization making some amended changes that could make a game at Oracle just a hair more exciting in the future.