Jump to content

A Google Earth/U.S. Cellular Field Experiment


whitesoxfan101

Recommended Posts

Ok so I was bored the other day, and figured out something pretty cool on Google Earth. Obviously, you can zoom in on anywhere using it (including The Cell) but what I figured out is that you can do direct line measurements in feet. So I tried this out, doing it twice to assure accuracy (yeah I was really bored lol). I did my own measurements of the outfield dimensions at the stadium using google earth, with a line starting right at home plate and going out to the walls. I can say that using zoom capabilities, angles, and getting the same numbers doing this twice, these measurements are about 99.9 percent accurate. Here is what I came up with (all numbers are rounded within half a foot, ex 325.71 feet=326 feet or 395.17 feet=395 feet.)

 

Left Field Pole=326 feet (marked as 330 feet on official website)

Left Center Field Gap=369 feet (marked as 377 feet on official website)

Straight Away Center=395 feet (marked as 400 feet on official website)

Right Center Field Gap=373 feet (marked as 372 feet on official website)

Right Field Pole=330 feet (marked as 330 feet on official website)

 

Also of note, the deepest part of the yard are the 2 crevices (for lack of a better term) that are just to the left and right of straight away center, marking between 396.1 feet (left side) and 396.3 feet (right side).

 

The area from the right field foul pole to where the bullpen bar/patio turns to bullpen is all between 330 and 345 feet (very favorable) but once the bullpen starts, the wall jettisons out pretty quickly to the 373 feet at the RC marking just past where the bullpen ends, and then again at a more modest rate to the 396 at the right side crevice.

 

The area from the left field foul pole to the Comcast sign is between 326 feet and 348 feet, before jettisoning out pretty quickly to 369 at the LC marking in the midst of the retired players, and then again at a more modest rate to the 396 mark at the left side crevice.

 

So what does this all mean besides I have too much free time (although I only needed about 15 or 20 mins to do this)? Not a lot, as the measurements I came up with are pretty close to what are marked. But it shows the markings are deceiving, as other than certain parts of the wall which quickly jettison so that the markings are accurate, the park has VERY VERY favorable home run distances.

 

Also, IMO left field is a bit more favorable for home runs as it has slightly more favorable dimensions overall, and also IMO the fundementals deck blocks some swirling winds, allowing a more true flight of the ball to the favorable dimensions. Ok I'm done now, feel free to call me a nerd and such but I thought this was pretty fun.

Edited by whitesoxfan101
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 07:16 PM)
Ok so I was bored the other day, and figured out something pretty cool on Google Earth.  Obviously, you can zoom in on anywhere using it (including The Cell) but what I figured out is that you can do direct line measurements in feet.  So I tried this out, doing it twice to assure accuracy (yeah I was really bored lol).  I did my own measurements of the outfield dimensions at the stadium using google earth, with a line starting right at home plate and going out to the walls.  I can say that using zoom capabilities, angles, and getting the same numbers doing this twice, these measurements are about 99.9 percent accurate.  Here is what I came up with (all numbers are rounded within half a foot, ex 325.71 feet=326 feet or 395.17 feet=395 feet.)

 

Left Field Pole=326 feet (marked as 330 feet on official website)

Left Center Field Gap=369 feet (marked as 377 feet on official website)

Straight Away Center=395 feet (marked as 400 feet on official website)

Right Center Field Gap=373 feet (marked as 372 feet on official website)

Right Field Pole=330 feet (marked as 330 feet on official website)

 

Also of note, the deepest part of the yard are the 2 crevices (for lack of a better term) that are just to the left and right of straight away center, marking between 396.1 feet (left side) and 396.3 feet (right side). 

 

The area from the right field foul pole to where the bullpen bar/patio turns to bullpen is all between 330 and 345 feet (very favorable) but once the bullpen starts, the wall jettisons out pretty quickly to the 373 feet at the RC marking just past where the bullpen ends, and then again at a more modest rate to the 396 at the right side crevice.

 

The area from the left field foul pole to the Comcast sign is between 326 feet and 348 feet, before jettisoning out pretty quickly to 369 at the LC marking in the midst of the retired players, and then again at a more modest rate to the 396 mark at the left side crevice.

 

So what does this all mean besides I have too much free time (although I only needed about 15 or 20 mins to do this)?  Not a lot, as the measurements I came up with are pretty close to what are marked.  But it shows the markings are deceiving, as other than certain parts of the wall which quickly jettison so that the markings are accurate, the park has VERY VERY favorable home run distances. 

 

Also, IMO left field is a bit more favorable for home runs as it has slightly more favorable dimensions overall, and also IMO the fundementals deck blocks some swirling winds, allowing a more true flight of the ball to the favorable dimensions.  Ok I'm done now, feel free to call me a nerd and such but I thought this was pretty fun.

 

 

 

 

Wow

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok so I was bored the other day, and figured out something pretty cool on Google Earth.  Obviously, you can zoom in on anywhere using it (including The Cell) but what I figured out is that you can do direct line measurements in feet.  So I tried this out, doing it twice to assure accuracy (yeah I was really bored lol).  I did my own measurements of the outfield dimensions at the stadium using google earth, with a line starting right at home plate and going out to the walls.  I can say that using zoom capabilities, angles, and getting the same numbers doing this twice, these measurements are about 99.9 percent accurate.  Here is what I came up with (all numbers are rounded within half a foot, ex 325.71 feet=326 feet or 395.17 feet=395 feet.)

 

Left Field Pole=326 feet (marked as 330 feet on official website)

Left Center Field Gap=369 feet (marked as 377 feet on official website)

Straight Away Center=395 feet (marked as 400 feet on official website)

Right Center Field Gap=373 feet (marked as 372 feet on official website)

Right Field Pole=330 feet (marked as 330 feet on official website)

 

Also of note, the deepest part of the yard are the 2 crevices (for lack of a better term) that are just to the left and right of straight away center, marking between 396.1 feet (left side) and 396.3 feet (right side). 

 

The area from the right field foul pole to where the bullpen bar/patio turns to bullpen is all between 330 and 345 feet (very favorable) but once the bullpen starts, the wall jettisons out pretty quickly to the 373 feet at the RC marking just past where the bullpen ends, and then again at a more modest rate to the 396 at the right side crevice.

 

The area from the left field foul pole to the Comcast sign is between 326 feet and 348 feet, before jettisoning out pretty quickly to 369 at the LC marking in the midst of the retired players, and then again at a more modest rate to the 396 mark at the left side crevice.

 

So what does this all mean besides I have too much free time (although I only needed about 15 or 20 mins to do this)?  Not a lot, as the measurements I came up with are pretty close to what are marked.  But it shows the markings are deceiving, as other than certain parts of the wall which quickly jettison so that the markings are accurate, the park has VERY VERY favorable home run distances. 

 

Also, IMO left field is a bit more favorable for home runs as it has slightly more favorable dimensions overall, and also IMO the fundementals deck blocks some swirling winds, allowing a more true flight of the ball to the favorable dimensions.  Ok I'm done now, feel free to call me a nerd and such but I thought this was pretty fun.

 

 

 

 

That's just bored

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 07:59 PM)
That's scary dude. Although I probably would have done the same thing if Google Earth worked on my computer.

 

My computer is only 2 months old, so it works perfect on here.

 

Those are actually pretty big differences in measurement from CF to LF. I remember reading that RFK Stadium's measurements are supposedly 10-15 feet longer than listed.

 

Yeah, I'd probably do this with RFK and the Marlins Stadium next time I get that bored, they supposedly have way inaccurate markings for distance (and I went to a game in Miami last year, that place is even bigger than it's marked IMO.....I sat in the RF bleachers and you practically had to squint to see the right fielder).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...