I believe efforts have been undertaken in the past to limit the amount of wind that sneaks into the ballpark through the center and right field areas that are significantly shorter than the grandstand portion of the ballpark.

There has got to be a way to erect some kind of barrier to block the wind's entry (maybe lightweight clear fiberglass?) so that the wind goes up and over the stadium as opposed to colliding with the grandstand and swirling back around to make fly balls home runs and easy outs doubles.

Like many engineering feats it is not so much whether this is possible as much as it is a question of how much it would cost. I say we should have some engineers come and study the problem and get an estimate, it never hurts to assess possibilities, and there is nothing like buying a lower team ERA and less home runs and doubles from opposing teams.

If it were up to you and it were readily possible (that might be a dream) would you kill the jet stream or keep it? I think it is a no-brainer that you ought to kill it for the sake of pitching and defense. Arlington would still be a hitter friendly park on account of the hot and relatively dry air we are accustomed to here.

Normally I would say no. mainly because old school rangers knew how to use the jet stream properly. Not to say that they don't use it now....I would put two major caveats to the decision if i were the rangers. First i'd determine run differential. I.e. how many runs can be attributed in the past say 5 years because of the jet stream. if its discovered that the differential is crazy positive i.e the rangers have way more runs than the opponent due to the jet stream i say keep it. regardless of wash ball (that comes later). If its negative and you find out opponents are actually scoring more runs than the argument ends there, put up a wall or whatever. The one caveat that is the true determinate is the fact that when we play wash ball the way its truly meant to be, we dont necessarily need or dont need the jet stream. Wash prefers we play small ball with the ability to go yard when the right pitch comes along. with that in mind... it might be nice to keep the jet stream to push a few extra shots out. but in the end. wash would prefer us hitting singles and doubles, and smart base running than anything. Jet stream doesnt necessarily help with that.

the other thing though, is how are you even proposing stopping the jet stream. you mention a "wall" but of what? this is gonna sound uber gay, but i actually think RBPiA is one the more underrated and aesthetically pleasing ballparks in the country (granted i'm biased). I would hate to just throw something up there that would ruin the subtle beauty of RBPiA.

No however if you threw up a giant concrete mural of like Nolan with Ventura in a headlock and other the Arod Buckled knee Strike 3 in game 6..... that shit might go down...

I was thinking of a clear fiberglass barrier to minimize any major downside concerning aesthetics. I'm not sure if that would work though because such a barrier would need to be quite strong to withstand that kind of force. Or maybe you could open slits in it when the wind got to strong so as to release pressure. But that would mean the barrier wouldn't be functional when the wind was at its strongest.

I don't know anything about building materials and that is the best I could come up with being as ignorant as I am on the topic.

There is currently a windscreen behind the billboards that are above the offices in Center Field. I can't imagine it stops much wind but it is there. It also seems like the billboards might be shorter than the grandstand which would cause the wind to sneak in at the top of the stadium and swirl down and back around blowing balls out to right and right center. It also seems like a lot of wind sneaks in through right field because of the space between the jumbo tron and the offices in right center and between the jumbo tron and the grandstand down the right field foul line. It would be a very involved construction project I imagine.

A lid on the Ball Park would work and give some damn shade.

what type of lid? i hope youre not talking about a dome.... cuz i'm sorry..... call me a traditionalist, but baseball belongs outdoors. i dont care how hot it gets.

Sorry DC, but I have to call you out on that last one.

In a traditionalist sense, I get what you mean about baseball being outdoors. However, I have sat in those outfield bleachers or the lower level and watched my 3 year old son's face turn as red as a damn tomato, with sweat beading down his face after about 20 minutes at 7:05 p.m. at RBiA on a typical lovely North Texas 95 degree, 80% humidity evening. Sorry buddy, that is horse-%$#&.

And another thing that baseball is supposed to be about (from a traditionalist standpoint) is families, and the only parents who are going to subject their kids to that crap are not the type you want at the ballpark (sadists, abusers, etc.).

My kid loves baseball and he loves to go to the games, but they need some kind of damn shade system at RBiA, which likely entails a retractable roof arrangement.

i agree about the shade system. and something like that is supposed to be in place by 2012. but i've sat in those very seats myself sunburned the ever living god out of me. was worth every penny and once it skinned i got my bronze on. i'm down w a shading system. i'm down with a steeper archfrom the top in a semi-closed type atmostphere. Look at alot of college stadums (though smaller and easier to applly) many have an awning type system that stretches from right at the start of LF all the way around the other side of teh stadium to RF (thus leaving the OF exposed). I"m ok w an awning system like that. I'm sticking to my guns though. I'm sorry about your son, but baseball belongs outside. I dont want a dome. I dont want a retractable roof, and I dont even want a Texas stadium Jerry hole either. Thats the way baseball go.

Look, if you can't play baseball out-doors? Give me women's softball. You have to be a real "P" to want a dome.

So now we are blaming the jet stream? Both teams play on the same damn field.

We aren't blaming the jet stream at all.

But if we could improve conditions so as to make the ballpark more pitcher friendly I think that is a no brainer so long as the change would significantly help with defense and ERA.

I think such a change would be in line with Wash's style of play that emphasizes pitching and defense because of the reality that good pitching beats good hitting.

Caleb,

Just sit on the 1st base line. Its in shade at game time for night games. There is also sunscreen...

Joe,

1st we dont know Caleb's situation, that might be all he can afford. you have to thank him for being loyal enough to come out to the game even knowing he's gonna get fried like an egg. thats a true fan right there. and you cant bash a dude for being a little hissed off that his kid got sunburned. gotta protect your young.... but yes.... definately use sunscreen.

If you can't afford any better sit in the upper deck on the first base line, its in shade by game time. I wasn't trying to bash anyone but I did find his post a bit odd in its hyper indignation over shade and what not. Maybe I read the tone wrong. I'm up for shade and awnings or whatever too if that's practical.

So you're saying you want even LESS offense in 2011?
Baseball is getting wise to HGH now. Look at all the down
big hitters stats. What you're now seeing is real baseball.
If you hit one out... even in the Temple, you've earned it.
The wind in Arlington is part of the excitement & the trial.

Lets just move the fences back. Know what helps defense and ERA? Good pitchers and fielders.

Hubz,

I totally disagree. Arlington would still be hitter friendly because of the hot and relatively dry air.

Here's an idea:

Make the barrier electronically adjustable to where you could let in more or less wind depending on the game conditions. If your pitcher is doing very well or you have a ground baller pitching open up the wind gates to benefit your offense. If you have a fly ball pitcher pitching close the wind gates to benefit your pitching.

LOL, would that be legal? It would seem that it would be illegal or that if they did something like that there would be an ex post facto rule created concerning it. Or maybe not. There's nothing like home wind cooking!

Just for those who might be disgusted by this post it really is written in a spirit of levity.

I don't think the jet stream needs fixing. Every ballpark has its quirks, and the jet stream is just ours. Either team can benefit equally from it so it isn't unfair or anything like that. That said, a little more shade at the ballpark would certainly be a welcome relief.

I say if it ain't broke don't fix it. That breeze is awful nice when you're sitting in the stands. And putting a roof on The Ballpark would be a monumental undertaking. It couldn't be done in an off season.

Jet stream? Cop out. Not a pitchers park? How many no hitters or perfect games have been thrown here? Look it up boys. More on average than the old parks. Laughable. Get a clue. It'slike iI am playing cards with my brother's kids.

Get a clue? not like playing cards w your brothers kids. come on man! it was Thad Boseley in the kitchen with a candle stick! thats Clue!

nope

it was Wash by the Nolan statue with a baseball bat

nope

it was nellie with the American League Championship trophy on the club concourse level on the third baseline.

I hope we start winning soon...the forum topics of late are rediculous.

Pitcher Friendly?
I can name off about 20 pitchers that have cruised thru Texas,
that could keep the ball out of the middle of the plate, on the
ground and into their infielders glove.
Maybe a course in split finger or forkball might help some of the
AAA phenom prospects, we call starters. Baseball in a dome
Sux and controlling conditions is as bad. Kill the Jet Stream?
Hey Emily, turn down those Flags, they're popping too loud!

Controlling wind conditions so that the home team won would be awesome.

But I imagine if you did it wouldn't be legal for long.

Ground ball pitcher on the mound: turn up the wind to benefit offense.

Fly baller on the mound: turn the wind all the way down to benefit pitching and defense.

I think so long as you don't change conditions during the game maybe you are ok. Everyone plays under the same conditions right?