Wood bats are a league-level choice. Turf is field-specific. When evaluating a player's stats, it seems like it is easier to account for the bats than for the turf.

(05-10-2022 04:12 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:25 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:05 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 09:55 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 07:34 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  A natural grass field could be a positive recruiting tool by telling potential recruits they will play on a field that they will almost always play on when they are pros. That is the type of pitch used by the University of North Dakota when they tell their hockey recruits that they will play on a NHL size rink not the Olympic/European size many NCAA schools have.

The recruits already know that the pros play on grass. They still prefer artificial.'

I don't like artificial turf, either. But, then again, I don't like aluminum bats.

Of course they know…but just like summer wood bat leagues proving you can field on natural grass can help your draft possibilities.

Most if not all of the wood bat league fields are grass.

My understanding is that recruits regard playing on grass as harming their draft possibilities, not helping.

The point was wood bat leagues show proficiency with pro bats.

Grass fields would show proficiency on pro like fields.

Didn’t mean to cross the two.

You're nuts if you think grass vs. turf is going to effect draft status.

(05-10-2022 04:18 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 04:12 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:25 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:05 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 09:55 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  The recruits already know that the pros play on grass. They still prefer artificial.'

I don't like artificial turf, either. But, then again, I don't like aluminum bats.

Of course they know…but just like summer wood bat leagues proving you can field on natural grass can help your draft possibilities.

Most if not all of the wood bat league fields are grass.

My understanding is that recruits regard playing on grass as harming their draft possibilities, not helping.

The point was wood bat leagues show proficiency with pro bats.

Grass fields would show proficiency on pro like fields.

Didn’t mean to cross the two.

You're nuts if you think grass vs. turf is going to effect draft status.

It doesn't matter what we think.

Rendon has money, and money talks.

Cruz seems happy to convert to turf, as do many college coaches.

From what I have heard, recruits prefer turf. The reason, I was told, is that they prefer a more consistent surface for fielding. Are they nuts? Perhaps, but I wouldn't phrase it that way to them. Instead, since there's a donor willing to pay for turf, they're going to get the turf they want.

(05-10-2022 02:01 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 12:18 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:59 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:25 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  My understanding is that recruits regard playing on grass as harming their draft possibilities, not helping.

Interesting. How so?

They think that a natural surface yields lower fielding percentages and more errors.

Not with our official scorer this year. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

(05-10-2022 04:24 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 04:18 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 04:12 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:25 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:05 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Of course they know…but just like summer wood bat leagues proving you can field on natural grass can help your draft possibilities.

Most if not all of the wood bat league fields are grass.

My understanding is that recruits regard playing on grass as harming their draft possibilities, not helping.

The point was wood bat leagues show proficiency with pro bats.

Grass fields would show proficiency on pro like fields.

Didn’t mean to cross the two.

You're nuts if you think grass vs. turf is going to effect draft status.

It doesn't matter what we think.

Rendon has money, and money talks.

Cruz seems happy to convert to turf, as do many college coaches.

From what I have heard, recruits prefer turf. The reason, I was told, is that they prefer a more consistent surface for fielding. Are they nuts? Perhaps, but I wouldn't phrase it that way to them. Instead, since there's a donor willing to pay for turf, they're going to get the turf they want.

The move to turf field was driven by Cruz and his desire to keep up with the Joneses on the recruiting trail. Ant made his substantial pledge to the program late last year (I believe I started a separated thread on it at the time). Even with the University's $500,000 toward the project, the announcement couldn't be made until the additional funding was fully line up.

(05-10-2022 04:18 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 04:12 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:25 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 11:05 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 09:55 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  The recruits already know that the pros play on grass. They still prefer artificial.'
I don't like artificial turf, either. But, then again, I don't like aluminum bats.

Of course they know…but just like summer wood bat leagues proving you can field on natural grass can help your draft possibilities.

Most if not all of the wood bat league fields are grass.
My understanding is that recruits regard playing on grass as harming their draft possibilities, not helping.

The point was wood bat leagues show proficiency with pro bats.
Grass fields would show proficiency on pro like fields.
Didn’t mean to cross the two.

You're nuts if you think grass vs. turf is going to effect draft status.

And unfortunately you're nuts if you think an 18-year-old HS senior can't be convinced that it does.

(05-10-2022 04:39 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  And unfortunately you're nuts if you think an 18-year-old HS senior can't be convinced that it does.

Often a 16-year-old sophomore at the time of recruiting.

Seems to me that way back when I heard that turf surfaces play faster than grass. Seems like that would be worse for teams with fielding deficiencies.

Whatever, Thank you Ant.

That's great, but hard to get excited about if the field will look worse than before the gift. I've never seen a turf that looks better than real grass.

Bad hops to the face, throat on mediocre high school baseball fields v playing on turf at the nicer fields might have something to do with recruits/player preference.

Anyone tracking Rice commits in the Texas HS play offs?

A piece of good news-- I heard this evening that Cooper Chandler will be returning next year for his final year of eligibility.

(05-10-2022 09:08 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Bad hops to the face, throat on mediocre high school baseball fields v playing on turf at the nicer fields might have something to do with recruits/player preference.

Anyone tracking Rice commits in the Texas HS play offs?

It doesn't matter - they were recruited when we had a grass field, so they aren't any good. The recruits 2 years from now will be the good artifical turf ones.

The new turfmaster becoming Rice's next great switch-hitter in the majors.

BTW, AR isn't having an amazing 2022 season, but his Angels team is sure looking like they are going to have a fun battle with the Astros this year as Houston might finally have a team worthy of them to challenge for the AL West crown.

A few years ago we had a huge tent on the 3rd base line. Some started calling it "the Roost", where hundreds of people would gather to drink beer and eat burgers and barbeque. Everyone loves the smell of barbeque, which would fill the stadium.

We tore it down and put up a McDonald's instead, with writing on the side in creepy script saying "the Roost".

The artificial surface will go great with the McDonald's.

I used to think we would have a recruiting advantage over UT with their ugly artificial turf field. I guess I was wrong.

(05-11-2022 01:03 AM)peanutgallery Wrote:  A few years ago we had a huge tent on the 3rd base line. Some started calling it "the Roost", where hundreds of people would gather to drink beer and eat burgers and barbeque. Everyone loves the smell of barbeque, which would fill the stadium.

We tore it down and put up a McDonald's instead, with writing on the side in creepy script saying "the Roost".

The artificial surface will go great with the McDonald's.

I used to think we would have a recruiting advantage over UT with their ugly artificial turf field. I guess I was wrong.

I think I'll trust Cruz's views on what's needed for recruitment over yours. And all turf fields are not ugly like UTs and, especially, UH's. It can and will be done in a classy way.

(05-11-2022 01:03 AM)peanutgallery Wrote:  A few years ago we had a huge tent on the 3rd base line. Some started calling it "the Roost", where hundreds of people would gather to drink beer and eat burgers and barbeque. Everyone loves the smell of barbeque, which would fill the stadium.

We tore it down and put up a McDonald's instead, with writing on the side in creepy script saying "the Roost".

The artificial surface will go great with the McDonald's.

I used to think we would have a recruiting advantage over UT with their ugly artificial turf field. I guess I was wrong.

I really hate watching games at Texas on TV. I can't see the painted plate.

(05-11-2022 12:49 AM)peanutgallery Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 09:08 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Bad hops to the face, throat on mediocre high school baseball fields v playing on turf at the nicer fields might have something to do with recruits/player preference.

Anyone tracking Rice commits in the Texas HS play offs?

It doesn't matter - they were recruited when we had a grass field, so they aren't any good. The recruits 2 years from now will be the good artifical turf ones.

So why do you think recruits/HS players and current Rice staff prefer turf?

I suspect most Texas ISDs struggle to maintain grass fields. Travel tournaments in the summer are pretty rough as well.

I much prefer grass fields, but can understand the player preference.

Next time you go to an F1 race at Circuit of the Americas, check out the Del Valle HS new turf field off 71. Compare that to the Austin ISD fields. Exception might be iconic Northwest Park, but that's maintained by the city (I think) and NW Pony league, plus AISD, plus an active HS booster club.