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Well, it's mid-January and all the upgrades to Young Memorial Field are NOT finished. The team will begin practice on Jan. 27, but the turf installation is not done, and unlikely to be ready for the start of practice. However, Casey says that the install crew is still confident it will be ready by the home opener vs. Murray State on Feb. 24.

Not sure what the delays have been, or what they will be doing for practice for that first month.

That’s especially painful since they are putting in field turf. Baseball and soccer would be 2 sports you absolutely need to play on that surface instead of prepping on natural grass/clay. I couldn’t imagine taking fielding drills on turf after only having them on natural field to that point. We do play @Troy every year (I think) and they have a turf field but don’t know how common it is overall in college ball.

(BTW, when I saw Troy’s field for the first time I wanted an exorcism kit. You’ll never convince me that baseball is the same game on that. Now get off my lawn.)

(01-13-2023 05:38 PM)blazr Wrote:  That’s especially painful since they are putting in field turf. Baseball and soccer would be 2 sports you absolutely need to play on that surface instead of prepping on natural grass/clay. I couldn’t imagine taking fielding drills on turf after only having them on natural field to that point. We do play @Troy every year (I think) and they have a turf field but don’t know how common it is overall in college ball.

(BTW, when I saw Troy’s field for the first time I wanted an exorcism kit. You’ll never convince me that baseball is the same game on that. Now get off my lawn.)

Yeah, I understand about the turf field. I am old school and not a fan of turf, but…it is so much better to keep from losing games and practice time to the weather in the winter/spring.

As for Troy, I pitched my first game for UAB there, and of course it was all natural then (in 1979). Then my son pitched there a few years ago and it was all turf, including the mound. I didn’t even feel like he was playing on the same field I had played on.

Are the sliding pits around the bases going to be dirt, or also turf like at Oregon State? Those looked horrible during the CWS regionals last year. I don't think I'd want to do a head first slide on that stuff.

(01-14-2023 10:58 AM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  Are the sliding pits around the bases going to be dirt, or also turf like at Oregon State? Those looked horrible during the CWS regionals last year. I don't think I'd want to do a head first slide on that stuff.

From the conversations I have had, and the photo of what it is supposed to look like, I get the impression it will the "grass" areas that are turf. Though in the high school and college stadiums I have been in that had turf around the bases and home plate, and even on the mound, sometimes they were colored to look like dirt. And they weren't as bad as you would think.

Troy’s warning track was turf and the infield/mound looked like turf from a distance, but it was winter so I was just looking from outside the RF fence

Way less maintenance = long term cost efficiency. Allows for shorter rain delays. Mound and base paths will in all likelihood be turf due to no transition seams for ground balls to take a funny hop. The icing on the cake for us is those outfield stripes and logo look awesome.

(01-14-2023 03:43 PM)blazr Wrote:  Troy’s warning track was turf and the infield/mound looked like turf from a distance, but it was winter so I was just looking from outside the RF fence

That's another concern. An outfielder looking up at the ball isn't going to notice when the color of the turf changes for the warning track, versus the difference in feel going from turf to dirt. Guys are more likely to hit the wall hard. IMO, there are certain areas of a baseball field (at a minimum, the mound, sliding pits and warning track) that should remain dirt when using turf for safety.

(01-20-2023 09:17 AM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(01-14-2023 03:43 PM)blazr Wrote:  Troy’s warning track was turf and the infield/mound looked like turf from a distance, but it was winter so I was just looking from outside the RF fence

That's another concern. An outfielder looking up at the ball isn't going to notice when the color of the turf changes for the warning track, versus the difference in feel going from turf to dirt. Guys are more likely to hit the wall hard. IMO, there are certain areas of a baseball field (at a minimum, the mound, sliding pits and warning track) that should remain dirt when using turf for safety.

Agreed

Ten days till our first game at Young Memorial Field and there's digging going on behind the stands and not a sign of turf anywhere.

(02-14-2023 10:32 AM)Plaid Blazer Wrote:  Ten days till our first game at Young Memorial Field and there's digging going on behind the stands and not a sign of turf anywhere.

Yep, it still looks like they are in the early stages...with the whole field covered with gravel (or at least that's how it was Saturday when I went by there to and from the basketball game). And any time I've gone by there I haven't seen anyone working. At this point you would think there would be some urgency to get it finished. Embarrassing.

(02-14-2023 10:41 AM)bftb Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 10:32 AM)Plaid Blazer Wrote:  Ten days till our first game at Young Memorial Field and there's digging going on behind the stands and not a sign of turf anywhere.

Yep, it still looks like they are in the early stages...with the whole field covered with gravel (or at least that's how it was Saturday when I went by there to and from the basketball game). And any time I've gone by there I haven't seen anyone working. At this point you would think there would be some urgency to get it finished. Embarrassing.

It’s like the soccer fiasco all over again, except we’re screwing our own team now.

Spoke with Coach Dunn Saturday at the BB game. He said the first game(s) will be in Hoover. He said weather has busted the renovation schedule.

(02-14-2023 11:07 AM)BlazerDave Wrote:  Spoke with Coach Dunn Saturday at the BB game. He said the first game(s) will be in Hoover. He said weather has busted the renovation schedule.

Why not play at Regions instead of in Hoover?

Be a good excuse to get some games at Rickwood too.

(02-14-2023 11:19 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 11:07 AM)BlazerDave Wrote:  Spoke with Coach Dunn Saturday at the BB game. He said the first game(s) will be in Hoover. He said weather has busted the renovation schedule.

Why not play at Regions instead of in Hoover?

Be a good excuse to get some games at Rickwood too.

Unfortunately, I beleive we have to pay to play at Regions with the exception of the AU and UA games. It would be nice to have the MSU game played there as well.

Our schedule looks like a gauntlet this year.

(02-14-2023 11:48 AM)BlazerDave Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 11:19 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 11:07 AM)BlazerDave Wrote:  Spoke with Coach Dunn Saturday at the BB game. He said the first game(s) will be in Hoover. He said weather has busted the renovation schedule.

Why not play at Regions instead of in Hoover?

Be a good excuse to get some games at Rickwood too.

Unfortunately, I beleive we have to pay to play at Regions with the exception of the AU and UA games. It would be nice to have the MSU game played there as well.

When MLB took over the minor leagues they stipulated no sharing of ballparks. One off games are ok, but there are to be no other tenants in minor league stadiums.

I know this is becoming an issue with the pro soccer team in Memphis.

Weather is playing havoc on construction schedules all over. One of mine has 47 impact days.

(02-14-2023 01:37 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 11:48 AM)BlazerDave Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 11:19 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(02-14-2023 11:07 AM)BlazerDave Wrote:  Spoke with Coach Dunn Saturday at the BB game. He said the first game(s) will be in Hoover. He said weather has busted the renovation schedule.

Why not play at Regions instead of in Hoover?

Be a good excuse to get some games at Rickwood too.

Unfortunately, I beleive we have to pay to play at Regions with the exception of the AU and UA games. It would be nice to have the MSU game played there as well.

When MLB took over the minor leagues they stipulated no sharing of ballparks. One off games are ok, but there are to be no other tenants in minor league stadiums.

I know this is becoming an issue with the pro soccer team in Memphis.

That’s a stupid rule as long as the minor league team is the primary tenant and has scheduling preference. I know the USL is doing the same thing which could cause problems for the Legion last I heard.

Never put it past MLB to do something boneheaded stupid, cos they'll always take you up on the opportunity