The New Turf

[Rhettmatic]

To hear the Rogers commentators tell it, the new turf is a fascinating, game-changing factor at the Rogers Centre that must be discussed as often as humanly possible.

So, I'm curious how much of a factor you guys think it actually is and will be?

Is the importance of the new turf being overstated or is it really having a big effect on hitting here?

[s e n s i]

i think it's being discussed an appropriate amount right now because so far, it's night and day compared to the previous installation

it's slower than real grass at the moment. for the full season it'll be a net positive for us though

[Tyrone Slothrop]

I hate the way it looks when the ball is bouncing on it.

[Randle McMurphy]

Yeah, it's a pretty significant change. As long as it plays this slow, offense on the field for both teams should be down (less singles through the infield, less run scoring doubles in the gap, etc.). Should probably help with Reyes' terrible range, though.

[BigLeagueChew]

Would like to see a few more games first and more plays. One thing that always pissed me off at Jays games, were ground rule doubles, particularly with runners on base. Am hoping the ball won't bounce enough on those plays anymore for it to bounce over the fence, where a few more runners can score on hits instead of a the chance of being stranded on base, with a runner on first that runner doesn't score on a ground rule double.

I think If changing the turf ends the players from complaining about it i'm all for it. Seems they have gone from fastest turf ever, to slower to slowest and the field is playing like a soggy Fenway after a rain delay...

[Lateral Quicks]

I hate the way it looks when the ball is bouncing on it.

Concur. The spray of rubber is not pleasing to the eye at all. With every step and every bounce of the ball, it serves as a reminder that it's artificial turf.

Aesthetically I like it more than the previous turf (aside from the rubber spray). And the early returns suggest it will be easier on the players' bodies, and if true then it's well worth it.

[C Court]

The warning track is odd. There is no difference in texture between the warning track and the rest of the field. It's basically the same turf, painted brown, not green. So outfielders don't get a different feel when they get close to the wall.

[nonc]

Jennings is fast but Reyes 2B RBI was crushed and would have gone to the wall anywhere -1 run

[Randle McMurphy]

Jennings is fast but Reyes 2B RBI was crushed and would have gone to the wall anywhere -1 run

Yeah, that was a 2 run double in any other park in the majors. Would have easily been so last year.

[SharoneWright]

We need to learn to bunt.

[satyr9]

To hear the Rogers commentators tell it, the new turf is a fascinating, game-changing factor at the Rogers Centre that must be discussed as often as humanly possible.

I know I'm hoping next spring training we bring in a 12 year-old to compete for a bullpen spot who lives/drives a big rig full of a new type of turf. What I'm hoping for when all the Jays beat reporters (Pat and Buck can come too) get the news from the PR guy about the great story they get to cover:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Lnz64vXB8[/youtube]

In other news, as much as I'm looking forward to the day we get real grass, you just made me realize how insanely annoying it's going to be to hear 400 reports literally trying to detail how grass grows. I may have to skip the first season of real grass just so I don't end up at the top of a clock tower trying to pick off anyone who looks like they might stand in front of a camera for a living.

[dagger]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/588398666857238528[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/588398990946922496[/tweet]

[s e n s i]

so for years there was an average of one wacky bounce per game on the old turf, and now they decide to "actively monitor" the new turf? what the hell are they gonna do if they come to the conclusion that there are too many irregular bounces? dust off the old turf and replace the current one? lol

[Skin Blues]

I don't think irregular means "sometimes it goes sideways", I think it means "it always dies the second it hits the turf". Maybe they specifically tossed more black rubber around Reyes' area to help his range.

[Kurtz]

so for years there was an average of one wacky bounce per game on the old turf, and now they decide to "actively monitor" the new turf? what the hell are they gonna do if they come to the conclusion that there are too many irregular bounces? dust off the old turf and replace the current one? lol

Maybe vacuum up some of those rubber pellets and mow the lawn?

[Geddy]

I think it will improve as it gets a little more worn and the blades flatten down.

[duppyy]

Has any player complained about the turf yet?

[soulchild_07]

Apparently the OriLoLes made a formal complaint after Monday's game and were contemplating boycotting the second game of the series on Tuesday via Jeff Blair on the Fan this morning.

[duppyy]

From Donaldson

"It's hard because you're used to turf being fast and really being somewhat bouncy and this is kind of the exact opposite," Donaldson says. "It's slower."

That said the softness of the playing surface didn't take much of a toll on Donaldson over the course of the 10-game stay in Toronto.

"What I think is an advantage of it is my body definitely feels better from playing this homestand than it did after three games last year [as a visitor], so I think that's a positive," he says.

That's all I care about.

If this turf causes less problems to players, MLB shouldn't ban this turf.

[Lateral Quicks]

Agreed. If it's easier on the players' bodies then it's worth the negatives.

Besides, there is hope this is only a stopgap measure until grass is installed in 2017.