Field turf

[SHOCKvalue]

There's got to be a functional or structural reason why it's not feasible to have many dirt reliefs in these FieldTurf type of baseball surfaces. I can think of very few FT-equipped fields that even have the small dirt areas directly surrounding the bags and batter's box (like our current AstroTurf setup). Can anyone recall seeing a FT-equipped field with the traditional, full dirt infield? AFAIK it doesn't exist.

I wonder why? Surely it's not a maintenance/expense issue, as even the pro clubs using FT still only have the small bit of dirt around the bags.

Like SS said, anything is an upgrade from what we have now, and the "red dirt" FT does really look nicer than one might think.

[tru2thaduce]

There's got to be a functional or structural reason why it's not feasible to have many dirt reliefs in these FieldTurf type of baseball surfaces. I can think of very few FT-equipped fields that even have the small dirt areas directly surrounding the bags and batter's box (like our current AstroTurf setup). Can anyone recall seeing a FT-equipped field with the traditional, full dirt infield? AFAIK it doesn't exist.

I wonder why? Surely it's not a maintenance/expense issue, as even the pro clubs using FT still only have the small bit of dirt around the bags.

Like SS said, anything is an upgrade from what we have now, and the "red dirt" FT does really look nicer than one might think.

Tropicana field is the only one that comes to mind.

[Shirley Schmidt]

The University of Texas and K-State are two others that I know of and I am sure that there are more.

[ShockBand]

K-State has real dirt on the bump and around home, the rest is FT (outfield is natural grass):



Texas has real dirt only on the bump, the rest of the entire field is FT:



If we're going to go with FT, I'd say make it look as "natural" as possible and have the traditional areas be reddish brown. I do wonder how much adjustment has to be made for sliding on the FT surface. I would think it has to be different.

[SHOCKvalue]

There's got to be a functional or structural reason why it's not feasible to have many dirt reliefs in these FieldTurf type of baseball surfaces. I can think of very few FT-equipped fields that even have the small dirt areas directly surrounding the bags and batter's box (like our current AstroTurf setup). Can anyone recall seeing a FT-equipped field with the traditional, full dirt infield? AFAIK it doesn't exist.

I wonder why? Surely it's not a maintenance/expense issue, as even the pro clubs using FT still only have the small bit of dirt around the bags.

Like SS said, anything is an upgrade from what we have now, and the "red dirt" FT does really look nicer than one might think.

Tropicana field is the only one that comes to mind.

No... Tropicana only has the same dirt setup that we do now, not the full-on dirt infield.

One thought that ShockBand's post bring to mind is logos and their placement. I hope we take advantage of this opportunity to lay down (sew in?) some sharp looking graphics.

And yeah, if we're going to have fake red dirt FieldTurf, I REALLY hope our setup more like K-State's than Texas'.

[t7017s]

K-State has real dirt on the bump and around home, the rest is FT (outfield is natural grass):



Texas has real dirt only on the bump, the rest of the entire field is FT:



If we're going to go with FT, I'd say make it look as "natural" as possible and have the traditional areas be reddish brown. I do wonder how much adjustment has to be made for sliding on the FT surface. I would think it has to be different.

I'd love to see a flying W or the full cursive WSU version with the wheat stalks where the longhorn head is! I agree that if logos or graphics arent planned for, or have been at least thought about, then they need to be!!!

[tru2thaduce]

mlb.com/tb/ballpark
Full infield dirt at the Trop.Been there several times and it's had a dirt infield every time i've been.Only dome stadium in MLB that is that way.

[pogo]

Have two logos, one in the outfield, and one right behind home plate so the TV camera picks it up everytime someone is in the box.

[Wuzee]

They've started tearing out the outfield sod at Eck Stadium.

http://tr.im/wgXg

I also found a closeup of the turf basepits at the Longhorns' ballpark. This look will take some getting used to, I think.



Here's the full set with stadium multiple views

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisas-lounge/3298272411/

[SHOCKvalue]

I also found a closeup of the turf basepits at the Longhorns' ballpark. This look will take some getting used to, I think.

Has someone confirmed The Eck is getting a FieldTurf coloration like the UT park? As far as we know it could still end up looking like K-State's.

[SubGod22]

Either way, the dirt carpet looks bad

[Wuzee]

I also found a closeup of the turf basepits at the Longhorns' ballpark. This look will take some getting used to, I think.

Has someone confirmed The Eck is getting a FieldTurf coloration like the UT park? As far as we know it could still end up looking like K-State's.

Not to my knowledge. I just tripped over the Texas closeup and thought it was interesting.

[pogo]

So has anyone got first or secound hand knowlege about how no dirt affects sliding around the bases?

[jcdshocker]

Sliding

My 14 year old team played in Topeka this summer and they had the field turf. The entire infield including the batters box was turf. Only the mound was dirt. The outfield was natural. The players definitely had to start their slide sooner. A couple of times they over slid past the bases. It was pretty nice. The only thing I would change would be to make the batters boxes dirt.

[Rosewood]

http://www.goshockers.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=204774049

Official word from WSU