Miami Marlins: Marlins Park Home-Run Feature Might Be Done Away with
With all these soft openings, the Marlins are starting to realize their interesting creation in left-center field might pose a problem for batters.ย
Already, the batter's eye in straight-away center field has been repainted black, from the green color that is visible throughout the walls of the outfield.ย
The home-run feature, which goes off when a Marlins player launches one over the fences, was designed byย renowned artist Red Grooms. The nearly 75'-tall structure has an abundance of color, from aqua, to pink, to green and everything in between. It also features moving waves along the bottom and spin cycles of Marlins, seagulls and flamingos.ย
Corner infielder Greg Dobbs, a left-handed batter, also already voiced his concern in an interview with the Miami Heraldย in regard toย what most fans consider a "hideous" structure.ย
โIf it is an issue, it can no longer be there,โ Dobbs said. โI wonโt be the only left-handed hitter saying something. If other teams have a problem with it, theyโre definitely going to voice their concern to the league.โ
However, on Tuesday night, Marlins prospect Christian Yelich, a left-handed batter, went 2-for-3, including a game-tying RBI in the ninth inning against theย Universityย of Miami.
For fans rejoicing that the sculpture is on life support, please don't keep your hopes up. The sculpture cost an estimated $2.5 million to build and won't be torn down or moved, as that would exceed costs and enter territory that team president David Samson and company vowed they wouldn't enter.ย
Samson voiced his opinion on the matter and stated that it's "not an issue whatsoever" after Major League Baseball inspected theย ballparkโspecifically from a batter's perspectiveโlastย week.ย
If it indeed becomes a problem, the only viable option would be to install a tinted retractable window to cover theย sculpture, essentially dimming itsย characteristicsย and have it come down during the celebration.
Furthermore, aย windowโespecially one made with hurricane-proof resistanceโcouldย help against home-run blasts by Giancarlo Stanton, who seems like a perfect candidate to take apart the sculpture, bit by bit, with his majestic power.ย









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