ARLINGTON – The scoreboard will hang just over fair territory in right field, beckoning for left-handed hitting big shots to try and blast it, but there is money to be made going to left center at the new Globe Life Field.
Having hinted that dimensions at the new stadium, which opens for 2020, will be “very similar” to Globe Life Park, the Rangers held mostly true to that in unveiling distances to the fences Wednesday. There is, however, one notable exception: In left center, the wall will be only 372 feet from home plate, 18 feet shorter than at the old park.
“We think the park is going to play fair,” said Rob Matwick, executive vice president for business operations. “We have taken the design and done testing in wind tunnels. But in fairness, until we start playing games, we won’t really know.”
The park could play differently with the roof opened and closed. But, Matwick said, the profile of the building, which makes it significantly taller than Globe Life Park, should diminish some wind factors. The Rangers have still not announced the club’s plan on opening and closing the roof.
Wednesday, though, was about the dimensions. Combined with dropping the height of the fence in left field, from 14 feet at Globe Life Park to eight feet at Globe Life Field, it’s going to be more inviting for right-handed hitters. But it’s not exactly going to punish lefties.
The Rangers announced that each of the outfield signs will be placed at dimensions that include a nod to some of the franchise’s five retired jerseys, along with two significant seasons in early Rangers history.
The dimensions and the intended honoree:
Left field line: 329 feet (Adrian Beltre wore No. 29)
Left center power alley: 372 feet (1972 was the Rangers’ first year in Texas)
Straight-away center: 407 feet (Ivan Rodriguez wore No. 7)
Deepest point of park: 410 feet (Michael Young wore No. 10)
Right center power alley: 374 feet (1974 was the Rangers’ first winning season)
Right field line: 326 (Johnny Oates wore No. 26)
In addition, a sign will be placed on the fence in left field 334 feet from home plate to honor Nolan Ryan, who wore No. 34.
I know what you are thinking: What’s so special about 1974, during which the Rangers went 84-78 for their first winning season? Supposedly that team was nicknamed “The Turnaround Gang.” Uh-huh. The other options would have been 373 (for the number Rougned Odor wore in his rookie season) or 377 (for the illustrious Rangers’ careers of Luke Jackson and Jack Armstrong).
The left-handed hitters who took batting practice Wednesday, Willie Calhoun and Joey Gallo, had no complaints either.
“Honestly, you’ve got to love seeing 326 down the line,” Gallo said. “That’s nice.”
But what about hitting that scoreboard, which juts out over the field by a few feet? Theoretically, it’s reachable, though the bottom of the scoreboard is 131 feet above the playing surface. If a ball does hit it, it will be a home run.
Surely, that’s calling Gallo’s name.
“I’ll answer for him,” Calhoun said. “I think he’ll do that.”
“I didn’t say that,” Gallo said. “Obviously, the big thing is the scoreboard. But in a game, you are not going to be shooting for that. I feel the righties will have some things to aim at.”
Based on the dimensions, he’s right about that.
Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant
Here’s how the new Globe Life Field compares to Globe Life Park...
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