Wrigley right field line...

by bplatz on Apr 16, 2010 3:24 AM CDT

For full disclosure, I am a Brewer fan, but had a question about the right field line at Wrigley. I have been to at least 50 games at Wrigley, but never noticed the foul pole in right field and was hoping someone would be able to shed some light on this particular situation. I was watching the game on Monday, and Joe Inglett hit a triple late in the game. Lou came out to explain his side of the story and how he thought it was foul. ( I only mention this because, at the time, it was a questionable call... and WGN tried to show as much detail as possible) WGN showed the right field line and panned up to show how the right field line is very tight with the wall. As they panned up they showed how the "foul" pole is buried on the field of play and extended upwards, much like a telephone pole. It looked as if the fair/foul line went right in the middle of the "foul" pole. As soon as the "foul" pole was higher than the basket (and yellow line) the entire pole turned yellow. At first glance, this seems wrong. The pole should be completely in fair territory to signal a homerun if hit, but based off the camera shot, it seemed as if there is a small chance that a ball hit off the pole could technically be foul, yet considered a homerun.

I looked for pictures to better explain the situation, but couldn't find anything. I love the intricacies of baseball stadiums, and thought this would be a good forum to get a better understanding of how the stadium is actually set up. When I asked brewcrewball.com, they thought it was because of camera angle, but I don't think that is the case.

I wanted to ask this question on a post game thread on Monday, but had to wait 24 hours (which I don't disagree with) to post. I am sorry if this has been asked somewhere else. I would like to see other pictures along the line to confirm that the pole is wrong or prove that I am missing something. Thanks for your time. I am hoping some one taped opening day and can review this for me. I taped it, but had no interest in saving it as soon as I realized the Brewers lost...

If you guys could shed some light on the ground rules, I would be appreciative. Congratulations on the series win, and we will see you next weekend!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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This might help: Ground Rules for Wrigley Field

Sir Linkalot

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by eths on Apr 16, 2010 6:09 AM CDT reply actions

According to that

Baseball hits foul markers below painted mark and bounces back on playing field — In Play

That would indicate that a ball that did not bounce back onto the playing field would be foul. A perfectly valid assumption if Wrigley’s foul territory were the size of (say) Oakland’s. It’s not – a ball that goes foul from a low-pole hit will immediately bounce onto the playing field no matter what because the foul line is so close to the seating wall. Confirming a ball struck that wall before caroming onto the field is a tough. tough job.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 16, 2010 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Let me see if I understand the question

The scenarios you’re envisioning are:

a) A batted ball hits the pole below the top of the wall and right of the fair line, leading to a foul call.
b) A batted ball hits the pole above the top of the wall, but to the right of the fair line, leading to the ball not just being fair, but also a home run.

If the issue is the three extra inches of fair territory above the wall, I don’t think anyone’s really thought to question it before. It’s just a quirk that arose from shoehorning new rules (an extended pole) into the structure of an old ballpark.

In general, RF in Wrigley is a tough place to play because of the lack of foul territory in that corner (and the wind). The wall there also makes it a tough place to make good line calls because the ump that should be able to see the line the best often cannot, due to the wall being right there.

The question to always ask on balls hit that far down the line is “where did the ball hit first?” If it hit the padding on the wall in foul territory first, it’s foul. If it hit the back wall first, it’s most likely fair, because there’s not a whole lot of places on the back wall that aren’t in fair territory. I think that was what Lou was arguing – that the ball hit the RF wall first, not that it squeaked into the foot or so of foul territory out there.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 16, 2010 6:14 AM CDT reply actions

Scenario B

Is the scenario I am talking about. My question really isn’t about balls in the field of play, but rather the batted balls above the basket. The extended pole should technically be 100% in fair territory, but it looks like Wrigley pole is about 50% of the “foul” pole is in foul territory. It will be interesting to see a batted ball that is “technically” foul, but since it hits the pole would be considered a homerun. I would love to see a picture of the right field line to confirm my thoughts. I won’t be heading to Wrigley this year unfortunately, but that will be the first thing I check out the next time I am there.

by bplatz on Apr 16, 2010 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I'll see if I can get some pictures later this month

I’m curious now, too.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 16, 2010 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Photo of Wrigley's right field corner taken August 30, 2003

Things might have changed since 2003, but the photo I took while at that year’s “Meet the Team, Have a Ball” charity event seems to show that the part of the foul pole is to the right of the foul line. To be correct, the right edge of the foul line should be aligned with the right edge of the foul pole. But instead their centers are aligned. If you zoom in you can see that the white foul line extends a few inches up the yellow foul pole and you can see yellow on both side of the white line.

I was standing directly over the foul line, so I don’t think this can be attributed to an odd camera angle.

by AlSpangler on Apr 16, 2010 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions

That picture is perfect...

Definitely confirms what I was thinking. I guess we put this down as an anomaly of an old stadium. Thanks guys!

by bplatz on Apr 18, 2010 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Two things.

1) If this is still the way the line is, then any ball that hits the RIGHT side of the foul pole should be ruled foul.

2) Is the LF foul pole the same way? If so, then the ball that Towles hit on Saturday should have been foul.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 18, 2010 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Looks really close to what I remember

seeing on a replay. Only now though the white line IIRC goes up the wall all the way from the ground and you can see the 4"-ish wide white line right in the middle with the 12"-ish wide yellow "fair"ish pole.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Apr 20, 2010 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Seems funny eh?

If the foul line on the field were a perfect line and that line would then extend upwards perfectly perpendicular to the ground one would think the white line’s outer-most edge would be even with the foul pole’s outer most edge. It’s not, you make a good point.

Unfortunately I do not have a good answer to that.

Nice observation.

And to now make a Seinfeld-like observation, “…why do they call it a foul pole when it’s in fair territory? And if it’s in fair territory what is foul about that pole?”

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Apr 16, 2010 6:32 AM CDT reply actions