What Makes a Ballpark a Hitter's or Pitcher's Ballpark

A pitcher’s Ballpark is a ballpark that fosters few runs; whereas, a hitter’s ballpark fosters many runs.  Pitchers prefer pitching in pitcher’s ballparks, because they have a lower earned run average on average in pitcher’s ballparks.  Hitters prefer hitter’s ballparks, because their Home Runs and batting averages are higher Ceteris Paribus.  All baseball stadiums are structured differently and maintain different dimensions, resulting in different average run production from stadium to stadium. 

What makes a ballpark a hitter’s ballpark?  The first factor that comes to mind is the dimensions of the outfield fence.  The farther the outfield wall is from home plate the fewer the quantity of Home Runs hit.  Furthermore, the higher the outfield wall, the fewer are the quantity of Home Runs hit.  The increased number of Home Runs hit more than compensates for any other factors that might lead to less runs from a lower fence and a smaller ballpark.  Therefore, small stadiums with short fences are usually hitter’s ballparks.

Other factors differ from stadium to stadium that influence whether or not a stadium is a hitter’s ballpark or a pitcher’s ballpark.  Stadiums may have permanent weather conditions, such as high altitudes, that can cause baseballs to travel different distances than in other stadiums.   Also, under weather conditions in some stadiums, pitchers have less control over their portfolio of pitches than under other conditions at other stadiums.  In a stadium where a pitcher can control all of his pitches easily hitters are at a disadvantage, on average reducing the number of runs scored in that stadium; making the stadium a pitcher’s stadium.  Whether or not the stadium is indoors or outdoors affects distance traveled and also the extent that hitters and fielders can locate the baseball. 

The amount of foul territory differs from stadium to stadium.  The more foul territory that exists in the stadium, the less runs on average will be scored. The speed of the infields and outfields affect the quantity of runs scored on average; particularly, the difference between AstroTurf and grass.  Since on AstroTurf more base hits generally reach the outfield due to the hardness of the AstroTurf, one might think that stadiums with AstroTurf might tend to be hitter’s ballparks.  However, on AstroTurf more double plays and fewer errors lead to fewer runs.  The result is therefore uncertain.  The distance from home plate to the backstop also influences the average number of runs scored in that stadium.  The larger the distance from home plate to the backstop, the more likely a runner will advance on a pass ball or a wild pitch.  This leads to more runs, Ceteris Paribus.

In most sports, the dimensions of the field are fixed.  This includes the sports of soccer, football, basketball, hockey, and lacrosse.  In some sports, weather conditions are irrelevant, because the games are played entirely indoors.  Most sports have more accurate statistics than the sport of baseball.