Field turf

[shock10]

Coach said tonight that Texas has the new field turf and Boston College was able to get 7 hits in 25 innings. Field turf is 2 inches long and slows the ball down so nothing gets through the infield. I want a field that plays faster than that. He also said the whole field. Does that mean outfield also? I would like to see them keep the grass outfield. Just match the color on the infield.

[tru2thaduce]

Are there any archives of the coaches show?

[Shocker85]

Considering the range of the infielders on the roster, perhaps ol' Gene should reconsider.

Clearly he's looking for some excuse ... in that same regional there were 26 hits in the TSU v. BC game, 14 hits in the Army v. TSU game, 20 hits in the BC v. Army game, and 28 hits in the Army v. UT game - all 9 innings or less.

Wash. St. only had 3 hits vs. the Shox - was it due to the grass???

--'85.

[WichitaSooner]

I believe the field in Austin is 100% fieldturf.... even the brown areas around the bases are fieldturf, just colored brown.....

[SHOCKvalue]

I believe the field in Austin is 100% fieldturf.... even the brown areas around the bases are fieldturf, just colored brown.....

Correctomundo.

[Shockerman]

How much of a pain in the ass is it to have dirt base baths or even even just a dirt circumfrance around the bases and pitchers mound? I mean seriosuly, what else are the freshman pine riders going to do before a game or practice? I can't imagine not watching a player steal second base, call time, hop up and wipe the dirt off his uniform. I am begging ya Gene, leave some dirt in the game!

[Shocker85]

If I had a say in the matter, Eck Stadium would have Field Turf and it would look like this:




and not like this:



--'85.

[pogo]

How many games have the shocks lost to weather related field conditions? I mean if we had even had just a handful of games lost I can't believe its worth it to replace the entire outfield with turf. There is nothing that looks as cool as a freshly mowed outfield and the smell of the grass. Baseball and Football should be played on natural surfaces. I don't mind the infield being turf (wear and tear aspect) but the basepaths and pitchers mound should be dirt. I agree a guy should have to dust himself off after stealing a base or sliding home.

[SB Shock]

How many games have the shocks lost to weather related field conditions? I mean if we had even had just a handful of games lost I can't believe its worth it to replace the entire outfield with turf. There is nothing that looks as cool as a freshly mowed outfield and the smell of the grass. Baseball and Football should be played on natural surfaces. I don't mind the infield being turf (wear and tear aspect) but the basepaths and pitchers mound should be dirt. I agree a guy should have to dust himself off after stealing a base or sliding home.

I believe the answer is 0 from my recollection. Games that were lost were due to inclement weather occuring during game time. The outfield has a drainage system that drains the water very, very fast.

[billybud]

Yep...you want to see that red clay..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27759735@N05/3465028819/

[Shocker85]

If I had my ABSOLUTE druthers, the whole field would be grass. I loved the look of Royals/Kaufmann Stadium when they went from the old astroturf type field to all grass.

That said, though, I don't think that will ever happen. Very early season wear-and-tear on a natural surface plus the possibility of bad weather drive the maintenance costs of a natural surface beyond the initial cost of turf, and I can understand the economics. Gene and JT complain whenever given the opportunity about rough infield surfaces.

At K-State, they have a Field Turf infield and natural outfield and it is difficult to distinguish between the two - looks good. What they do have, though, is the turf on the basepaths and around the bases and that's just wrong, IMO. At least the mound area and home areas are dirt.



Unfortunately, Gene has some steadfast notion about how the surface should play and we all know he's King of Shoxland.

It's good to be king.

--'85.

[rrshock]

From a financial standpoint, having the outfield be field turf is much cheaper. There is no maintenance for the most part. Having a majority of the field be turf also would allow them to play a little bit longer in inclement weather than they currently can do. I guess I am just looking at it from a financial standpoint and not a what it should be standpoint.

[CharlieHog]

If I had my ABSOLUTE druthers, the whole field would be grass. I loved the look of Royals/Kaufmann Stadium when they went from the old astroturf type field to all grass.

We've made a lot of changes to Baum since DVH was hired in 2003 but by far the best was the switch to natural grass.

[Shocker85]

If I had my ABSOLUTE druthers, the whole field would be grass. I loved the look of Royals/Kaufmann Stadium when they went from the old astroturf type field to all grass.

We've made a lot of changes to Baum since DVH was hired in 2003 but by far the best was the switch to natural grass.

Charlie,

That is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!!!

Baum Stadium is BY FAR my favorite college ballpark. The sightlines are prefect and it is a perfect capacity for a major college baseball program.

I used to look forward to the bi-annual trip down there a great deal. I wish the series could get restarted.

Do the young ladies still get on the dugouts and call the hogs? One of the most unique practices in college sport.

BTW, looks like quite a few more seats than the last time I was there.

--'85.

[twister17e]

Charlie your field looks AMAZING! Unfortunately, having all grass is extremely unlikely for us. Our best option imho is doing something similar to what K-State has. Except use dirt paths between the bases instead of field turf. The dirt pits need to go.

Also absolutely, please keep the natural grass in the outfield. This is one area we do not need to emulate Texas. Is the field turf supposed to be in place before next season begins? I've lost track on when the "Building Excellence for the Student Athlete" is supposed to be completed.