I stated SD has better weather for hitting than the Bay Area teams (Oakland for this example) because even while SD does have night game marine layer issues as well, they do have warmer overall weather and aren’t AS known for their fog etc.

But, that said, I probably did overstate that. SD does have a marine layer, much cooler at night issue too. And their dimensions are much larger than Oakland’s.

The rest of you though, please use this info in the future. I really believe most folks think of California in a somewhat mystified way, i.e. that somehow “it’s CA, it can’t be that cold, especially in summer.”

Go to a night game in the Bay Area in June and don’t forget your jacket. The Bay Area gets what most of you call summer in late late summer on the calender, going into fall. September and much of October is when the Bay warms up (while almost never getting warm nights like the rest of the country….unless you go way inland. Micro climates due to the bay etc.)

But, given that it requires an equal quality platoon piece to trump having just one guy man the roster spot or to prevent blocking a minor league player that could likely put up similar numbers, I don’t know that it’s as great of a situation as others do.

I am highly interested in platoon situations, and would give them the nod in many instances … but they also create possible problematic situations if other things “aren’t in place”. I also think that platoon situations, particularly in the OF among “light hitters” for a low cost are only strong positive for a very small number of teams in specific situations.

The article platoons and bullpens touches on many of the aspects I would be interested in, regarding such platoon situations … and the +/- of the situation would depend on the specific team/situation we were discussing.

In my initial response, I discussed the situation of a minor league player potentially being able to produce similar stats, not in a platoon situation, which would also be at a very low cost … so that negates the loss cost positive of Gross + Player platoon. The question would be if there are enough players in a team’s system that could be promoted and put up similar numbers.

More likely it has to do with my crazed love of baseball and stats, that I read darn near everything.

And that’s just constantly misunderstood. I am here to tell ALL who read this: The reason Oakland’s park factors spit out the slanted to pitching stats you see is the WEATHER. End of story.

In fact, if the dimensions were actually, well, like this author here and most writers and fans mistakenly think, actually larger than most, THEN it would be like Petco, who’s dimensions are huge while their weather is better for hitting.

I simply remain amazed so few seem to get this. Go ahead. Look up the dimensions. Avg down the lines. Actually close in the alleys, somewhat made up for with higher walls there. Avg to CF.

Really people. Day games are OK, but look up not only the night game time temps, but know it subsequently gets way more cold as those night games go. And that it is, again, a wet cold that comes down from the Alaskan swirl weather system (90% of the time the Bay Area gets it’s weather from that pattern, out of the NW.)

Also, take a look, from April through July and often early Aug, at what A’s fans are wearing for night games. Gander at the thick A’s blankets and wool caps. This is not for style.

What is it? The fact Oakland is in California and most simply CANNOT get their heads around California being cold, especially in baseball season?

Know it. Learn it.

Kapler v. lefties: .291/.350/.494
Gross v. righties: .251/.346/.414

Of course, the Rays had no need to use up a roster spot on a platoon scenario.