Josh Hamilton will now be wearing a halo on his helmet and swinging for the fences at Angel Stadium. Here we compare how we expect the sluggers' home run totals to be affected following the change of venue.
When thinking of Angel Stadium the first thing that comes to mind is the giant scoreboard players have to send balls over in right field in order to hit home runs, but at the same time a couple of feet over there's a short porch that plays sort of like the Pesky Pole area down in Boston.
For Hamilton, the 330 down the lines should be a piece of cake. In his career, Hamilton has been a pull hitter. Of his career 161 homers, 56 have been to right field.
This is where the home run numbers might be affected. He's hit 36 home runs to right center. Though the scoreboard stands tall, an obstacle Hamilton never had to surpass in Texas, the wall is a bit closer in Angel Stadium. Right Center in Arlington Ballpark is 377, while Angel Stadium is 370.
Seven feet might not be a lot, but baseball is referred to as the game of inches and there are plenty of inches in seven feet.
If Hamilton can pull the ball and not hit line drives, then the ball will go over the fence. However, Hamilton could be cheated of a couple of home runs if he hits frozen ropes to the scoreboard.
Doubles aren't bad either, but we all know Hamilton would like to breeze through the bases and touch 'em all instead of having somebody drive him in.
The gaps in Angel Stadium are smaller than in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and this is where we might see a spike in deep flies hit to the gap. Also making it simpler, despite the presence of the scoreboard, there are no weird creases on the walls in Angel Stadium.
If Hamilton stays healthy, don't be surprised if he gets into the 50-homer range.
Oh, and just for the record, Hamilton has five homers in Angel Stadium, the sixth most he's hit in any MLB ballpark.
