DAMN YANKEES!

[Stier]

Blame the architects, not the wind.

According to a study by a leading weather Web site, the proliferation of home runs at the new Yankee Stadium has more to do with the curvature and height of the outfield walls than it does with wind patterns or other weather-related variations from its predecessor across the street.

Taking into account the altered field dimensions and the lowered wall heights of the new building, AccuWeather.com has determined that 19% - 20 out of the whopping 105 home runs already hit there in the first 29games - would not have flown out of the old stadium.

If the averages hold, the Yankees and their opponents are on pace to combine for 293 home runs in the Bronx by the end of the season - 10 shy of the record of 303 home runs hit at Denver's Coors Field in 1999.

As for the weather, the report also stated "there has been no consistent pattern observed in the wind speed and direction that would lead to an increase in home runs so far this year."

Instead, AccuWeather.com points to the design of the outfield wall.

"The wall structure is slightly different than the old park," AccuWeather said. "The main difference involves curvature. The gentle curve from right field to center field seen in original Yankee Stadium has largely been eliminated at the new stadium. This is due in large part to the presence of a manual scoreboard embedded within the wall. Losing this curvature has resulted in a right field that is shorter by four-to-five feet on average, but up to nine feet in spots.

"Not only is the famed short porch even shorter in the new stadium, but the walls themselves are not as tall. In the old ballpark, the walls in right field stood at a height of approximately 10 feet. At this height, it was difficult for outfielders to scale the wall and attempt to rob a home run over the fence.

"The new outfield fences only rise to a height of eight feet, adding to the ease hitting a home run to right."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/06/10/2009-06-10_study_says_yankee_stadium_is_off_the_wall.html

[Matt]

they built their park according to their lineup.

the yankees will never be a 'small ball' team.  their front office knows that no matter who it is; they will have power hitters from top to bottom in their line up.