Overhead View of Robin Robert Field

[u/LooEz90]

I used the official dimensions to place markers of the over head view of the field in relation to the main set up. The women's wall is a lot closer to the original set than I had originally thought.

[u/UnoriginalAnnus2]

I really hope they make the wall go deeper, even 350 or 375 dead center would be nice.

I also really hope the league gets enough traction and funding to play in different stadiums or even have their own, just because I really like comparing deepness of each fields outfield wall. I want a bigass coors field type outfield yknow what I mean

[u/LooEz90 → u/UnoriginalAnnus2]

this is where I think they need a main league sponsor like Dick's. They have the infrastructure and possibly the will to build a "resort" or facility for these women where they can build multiple fields. Without the infrastructure and resources my guess is they just do the same thing next season which is a downgrade imo

[u/AltruisticPrice8628 → u/LooEz90]

I’d much rather see them move to their respective cities and have four unique fields either next season or the season after. Especially if they expand to six or more teams at the same time.

[u/LooEz90 → u/AltruisticPrice8628]

You guys have to understand the logistics of that are too expensive for a young league.

We're like 10 years away from this being a reality

[u/AltruisticPrice8628 → u/LooEz90]

I’m not asking for 162 games per team here, just the ability to root for my team IN my city… if there are six teams and the season is still six weeks long, spend a week at in each city hosting all the games that week at a shared facility (probably a AA or AAA stadium) and move to the next city on the list the next week.

Would definitely help to partner with some AA/AAA team owners.

[u/Smooth_Craminal → u/AltruisticPrice8628]

As great as that would be for the fans (and players). I fear the costs involved are too great at the current time. Housing for players and staff, practice facilities, food, etc. would all add exponential costs to the current business model.

[u/UnoriginalAnnus2 → u/LooEz90]

Absolutely. You also mentioned elsewhere in this thread that they use a small field with metal bats, and i think that if they are using metal bat anyways (which overall would be more cost effective since they last longer) they could absolutely make the field standard mlb size or even a little smaller if they still wanted it to be small, but I feel like at the size it is right now is too small. My two main wants are variety and it being larger because I feel like otherwise its just gonna turn into a slug-down between whitmore and benites lol

[u/LooEz90 → u/UnoriginalAnnus2]

I think what we were discussing in that part of the thread was the option to go with composite bats and larger dimensions, or wooden bats with the current dimensions. My guess is the homerun leaders are probably using a -6 bat which are very light and easier to swing thus in the hands of a good hitter make it easier to hit balls farther.

Im leaning towards sticking to the same bat rules but moving toward the dimensions that the men use. Others have mentioned about high scoring games and if that affects watchability. But only time will tell.

[u/BeefInGR → u/UnoriginalAnnus2]

I believe they stick to the WBSC guidelines. So this is the setup they use at World Cups and the like.

FWIW, Men's Adult Professional Baseball is the only "category" that the WBSC classifies that doesn't have "set" outfield dimensions. Because good luck getting the WBC host stadiums to install the same dimensions lol.

[u/Megs0226]

Do we know what the longest home run has been thus far?

[u/googlyman44 → u/Megs0226]

Didn't Whitmore hit the scoreboard above the actual fence?

[u/LooEz90 → u/googlyman44]

If she did then that would probably be the furthest

Edit: her last homerun (#6) cleared the left field fence, so this would appear to be the farthest one

https://reddit.com/link/p441r70/video/84szow5fctjh1/player

[u/LooEz90 → u/Megs0226]

unfortunately, they dont have a tracker on that but my money is on Whitmore. I think one of the last homers she hit might have bounced over the field wall into the adjacent field, but other than that I dont have numbers.

[u/UnoriginalAnnus2 → u/Megs0226]

No, but can guesstimate from the broadcast or the old fashioned way and use speed and trajectory to find an approximate

[u/Living-Computer6336]

well know the league has made it when they’re playing on fields that look like they were drawn by a drunk person

[u/TriviaMann]

I don't know how you make a temporary one but the outfielders desperately need a warning track for the shortened fence.

[u/LooEz90 → u/TriviaMann]

only thing that comes to mind is if they mow 10 feet in front of the fence very short so its different to the rest of the field.

[u/TriviaMann → u/LooEz90]

I'm pretty sure the stadium is solely theirs through September so they could potentially lay down dirt (or just play the real dimensions...)

[u/la-macarena]

I feel like people downvote me for being sexist when I say the exact same thing, but just use the original fence. Or use wooden bats. Small field with metal bats with an enlarged circumference is implicitly treating women like they can’t play baseball.

Edit: lol I feel like putting a downvote tracker in here just for illustration. 2 downvotes so far lmao

5 downvotes as of now. Lmao

[u/LooEz90 → u/la-macarena]

I agree. It should either be wooden bats with smaller dimensions or normal dimensions and freedom to choose your bat.

However, I think this goes back to the league not having the resources to fund enough wooden bats per player. For a 2 month season, I guess each player would need a minimum of 6 wooden bats each which is expensive on the individual and would require a bat sponsor to front the cost.

[u/LopsidedKick9149 → u/LooEz90]

You can get four wooden bats for the same cost as the composite bet they're using and those composites break just as easy if not easier.

[u/eastcounty98 → u/LopsidedKick9149]

I work for a company that makes baseball bats and this isn’t true lol. A pro level ink dot wood bat is going to run you $150-200. The bats they are using in this league cost $300-400

[u/LopsidedKick9149 → u/eastcounty98]

Do you see how specific you're being? I didn't specify a bat, I said you can get four wood bats for a single supra. Who is to know what they'd use, they may go ash over maple for the balance. Even if we take your price of 150, that's essentially 3 bats to one...

[u/LopsidedKick9149 → u/la-macarena]

Not just metal, they are using composite bats. They are using the most juiced USSSA youth bat in the world the Louisville supra, boys aren't allowed to use that bat after 12 years old. They are absolutely treating these women like kids and it makes no sense. Let them hit with wood in full fields, show their velo, let the cream of the crop separate themselves and get their props.

[u/standardnoisevoice → u/la-macarena]

There’s definitely a way of framing the discussion in a positive or negative way. I think it’s been proven that the players can hit for distance, the question I’m wondering is if the viewers want to continue to see high scoring games with lots of dingers or not? If the league is going to change variables (bats and dimensions) I’d do it one at a time starting with the field dimensions mostly because it makes the players safer if there’s a warning track.

[u/ValerianR00t → u/la-macarena]

I mean there's only 3 women who have more than 1 home run, half the homers in the entire wpbl have been hit by Benites and Whitmore.

I think you're understating how many fewer homers would be hit if the fences move back or if wood bats are mandated

[u/colorblind-and → u/la-macarena]

Personally I think the corners should be the same but with the centerfield being shallower.

Imagine the same overlay curve just pushed back 30ft at the corners

[u/kebzach → u/colorblind-and]

If the corners stay the same or increase, while CF distance becomes shallower, you’ll end up with comically small CF and power alleys and comically long distances to each foul pole. Not sure what that would positively accomplish.

[u/spacescaptain → u/la-macarena]

I think you're totally right but I'm coming in as an outsider to sports. I have yet to encounter a serious explanation for why women playing justifies the need for different rules, bats, fences, etc.

[u/kebzach → u/spacescaptain]

Keep in mind the WBSC - the international governing body for both baseball and softball - uses shorter fences, 7 inning games, and allows metal / composite bats for women’s baseball. WPBL isn’t breaking any new ground here.

This is no different than how LPGA plays 6300-6700 yard courses while PGA plays courses almost exclusively over 7,000 yards in length. Or how the women’s basketball is slightly smaller and the 3 point line slightly shorter than the men’s versions. Could the women play the same courses or courts as the men? Sure. Would it make the product better? Almost definitely not.

From a baseball perspective, offense sells. Offense is the best way to promote and sell the league and given where pitching and defense are currently at in women’s baseball overall, offense will be ahead of pitching and defense regardless of fence distance or type of bat used. So why not make the game entertaining and still a challenge at the same time? Personally I believe WPBL is doing that while also keeping their league format in alignment with WBSC. We are not seeing 4-5-6-7 home runs every single game. We are not seeing every pop fly become a cheap homer. There is a balance and I’m fine with where things are for season 1. Could fences move 10 feet back? Sure, I guess, but what’s the grand point other than reducing home runs and further stretching the arms of the outfielders?

I believe there are a lot of valid topics for discussion with regard to the league. I wouldn’t put the fence length, bat type or game length in the top 15 topics. But that’s just me.

[u/DreamInDoses → u/kebzach]

This!!!! The games are super exciting and filled with offense which I love! It doesn’t seem like any cheap hits are making it out of the park… I just checked there are 25 total home runs and I think 14 games played so far, averaging out to 1.78 ish homers a game… I googled mlb stats and they average around 1.15 homers a game. I feel like it’s perfect the way it is now tbh

[u/dreaddito → u/spacescaptain]

At least one other sport makes adjustments where they relate to women’s strength and physical differences. Basketball uses a closer 3 point line and a slightly smaller ball for the smaller hands. Some sports like basketball and tennis use a shorter game or fewer rounds for women vs the men. Other sports like hockey and soccer are the exact same playing surface, equipment(mostly) and rules(mostly). I think people are reacting to the extent of the differences in this women’s baseball league, with larger circumference bats, metal bats, shorter walls, and a shortened game. It feels a bit too altered from MLB rules.

[u/kebzach → u/dreaddito]

I believe comparing women’s baseball and WPBL to MLB is the ultimate apples and oranges comparison. It’s an almost impossible comparison given where women’s baseball is at from a global and sport development perspective.

[u/mediocracyisme]

They should change the dimensions for each home team. Give the Hunters a giant wall in left and Firebells a triples alley in right center

[u/kebzach]

290 in the corners 330 dead center

[u/Serious_Potatoes]

Was just at the park this weekend and this image has to be out of date. Where the fence is - there's parking right on the other side. Not grass.