Royals Make Significant Changes to Kauffman Stadium Dimensions, Eyeing More Offense

The Kansas City Royals are moving in fences at Kauffman Stadium in an effort to make it a more hitter-friendly ballpark.

Both the left- and right-field walls will be moved in nine to 10 feet, beginning close to the foul poles and tapering toward center field, which will stay at 410 feet from home plate, while the wall height will be lowered from 10 feet to 8 1/2 feet in most places. 

A team-provided diagram showed the left- and right-field corners at 347 and 344 feet, respectively, nine feet shorter than their current dimensions. The left and right field walls will also be nine feet closer at 364 feet.

Screenshot

Kauffman Stadium is already considered to be an above-average offensive park because of its massive outfield, which promotes doubles and triples, but has suppressed home runs, which has led to hitters changing their approaches in road games. The Royals had previously moved their fences in 10 feet between 1995 and 2003, which saw a spike in home run totals, before returning to their original dimensions in 2004.

Old (Feet)New (Feet)
Left Field Line356347
Left Field373364
Left Field Alley389379
Left Center405405
Center Field410410
Right Center405405
Right Field Alley389379
Right Field373364
Right Field Line356344

David Peterson Implodes Early as Mets Fall to Phillies, 6-2

After splitting the first two games, the Mets failed to win the series-clinching game against the Phillies on Sunday night, losing 6-2 in the final at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The Mets picked up right where they left off last night in this one, as they spotted the Phils a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. The Phillies scored an unearned run off Mets starter David Peterson as Peterson walked Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber to get in instant trouble.

New York has had a season full of lowlights, but this was one of the worst. Losing series is nothing new for the Mets, but the way the Mets lost this one was truly remarkable, as they were embarrassed last night and became an afterthought after the first three innings of this one. 

The Mets record is now 34-43, last in the NL East division by 5.5 games and 6.0 games out of an NL Wild Card spot.

For the Mets, Kodai Senga (9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP in 24 innings) is set to make his second start since returning from injury.

Hurricanes Win Second Championship With Shutout of Golden Knights in Game 6

Twenty years after Rod Brind’Amour hoisted the Stanley Cup as captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, he hoisted it again Sunday night as their coach.

Brandon Bussi stopped all 22 shots he faced, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake scored in the first two periods, and Eric Robinson added an empty-net goal with under two minutes remaining as Carolina defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. 

The Hurricanes claimed their second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, ending a 20-year title drought that stretched back to Brind’Amour’s days in the captain’s room.

It is the first Stanley Cup for the state of North Carolina since that 2006 team — led on the ice by a 35-year-old Brind’Amour — defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.

Bussi became the unlikely hero of the Hurricanes’ championship run. He took over for starter Frederik Andersen midway through Game 3 with the series tied 1-1, posted a .908 save percentage over his next three starts and delivered a shutout when the franchise needed it most.