Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a stadium that inspired nearly all of the new ballparks across baseball these past two decades. But at 30 years old, the stadium has been in dire need of upgrades for years.
That made the Orioles’ decision to dedicate resources into moving back the left-field wall so puzzling.
This past offseason, the Orioles leadership pushed the left-field wall back 30 feet and raised it to 13 feet tall. Aesthetically, it looked awful with an awkward corner jetting out into left-center field. And sure, the team wanted to make it more difficult for opponents to hit home runs, but by doing so, they made it more difficult on themselves.
This ballpark change is terrible pic.twitter.com/QETEK2WzBO
— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) May 8, 2022
During the fifth inning of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, Mountcastle smoked a hanging breaking ball from Zack Greinke to left field. Dead baseball aside, it should have been a home run. But because of the new wall, the baseball remained in play, and Mountcastle had to settle for a long double instead of a game-tying home run.
And just to put that 407-foot double into perspective, that hit would have been a home run at every other ballpark in baseball.
Ryan Mountcastle vs Zack Greinke#Birdland
Exit velo: 104.6 mph Launch angle: 23 deg Proj. distance: 407 ft
This would have been a home run in 29/30 MLB ballparks. Only Oriole Park at Camden Yards would've held this one in.
KC (3) @ BAL (2) đź”» 5th pic.twitter.com/lne1qN22v6
— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) May 8, 2022
The Orioles ended up losing, 6-4, and they can partly thank that dumb left-field wall for that.
Couldn’t agree more!! Why in the world did they do this!? Took away seats. Layout is weird. This should’ve been a HR. Camden was perfect, this change is lame. https://t.co/dQuz4K9jGR
— 🦖DinosaurBill, Esq.© (@DinosaurBill19) May 8, 2022
Moving the fence back and making an ugly, jarring dead space in left field is a truly mind-boggling alteration to what is, by all accounts, a terrific ballpark. https://t.co/K5wRXEY7Fz
— Nicolas Telep (@NDTelep) May 8, 2022
As I said all along: it will take more than it gives. A brazenly dumb (and expensive) idea by Orioles ownership. https://t.co/Poo5F4NRUF
— Nestor Aparicio (@NestorAparicio) May 8, 2022
Camden Yards went from a top 3 stadium in the league to being one of the stupidest. https://t.co/5fDX2yxNXp
— Jonathan Arnholz (@JArnholz) May 8, 2022
A ballpark modification arms race would be way more entertaining than deadening the ball. Allow stadiums to build one wall as tall as they want. Make totally asymmetrical outfields. Add a giant hand that pops up and seats down fly balls. https://t.co/O0YTd3PqXM
— Amanda Smith (@AmandaSmithSays) May 8, 2022
The MLB should've never let this happen it's so ridiculous https://t.co/xPJGEpKAih
— Fred Lewis Forever (@DeadballDomain) May 8, 2022
Idk what’s worse. A hill in centerfield or this left field monstrosity https://t.co/HyIm7BIUmR
— Steven Novia (@SteveNovia) May 8, 2022
First time I’ve really seen the new dimensions at Camden Yards, and boy, does that makeover seem a touch extreme. https://t.co/bUp6lOrxxZ
— Tao of Stieb (@TaoofStieb) May 8, 2022
Pour one out for Ryan Mountcastle’s career power numbers https://t.co/n9AR5F843W
— Robert Orr (@NotTheBobbyOrr) May 8, 2022
That change never should have been approved. It’s appalling.
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