House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – Nets and Nats, Enemy Territory

By Alan Carpenter

Sep 17, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets and SNY broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt signs autographs for fans before a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Burkhardt will be leaving the Mets and SNY broadcasts at the end of the season for a job with FOX Sports. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets and SNY broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt signs autographs for fans before a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Burkhardt will be leaving the Mets and SNY broadcasts at the end of the season for a job with FOX Sports. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Braves raise height of protective netting at Turner Field

STAFF/WIRE REPORTS / AJC.COM

The Braves are adding more protective netting between the dugouts for their final season at Turner Field.

The netting, which extends in both directions to the dugouts, will be raised by 20 feet, from 10 to 35 feet high, to match the height of the screen directly behind home plate.

In response to fans being injured by foul balls last season, Major League Baseball recommended that teams provide more protection for field-level seats within 70 feet of home plate.

The Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins are among other clubs adding field netting.

A 6-year-old girl’s skull was shattered when she was struck by a foul ball at Turner Field in 2010.  Fans were also seriously injured by foul balls or flying bats at Boston’s Fenway Park, Miller Park in Milwaukee, and Comerica Park in Detroit in 2015.

Editor’s Notes:

Here’s a look at what the Nationals will be doing for this season… much wider net coverage.

This has been a long time in coming, and I frankly don’t know how baseball has managed to stave off legal battles over this until now.

Fact is, modern ballparks have a lot less foul territory than before – and it’s all an effort to do two things:  (1) get fans closer to the action; and (2) charge a premium price for that proximity.

Check out the contrast in these photos at right between Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium (from the 1971 World Series) and Camden Yards (opened 1991).  The big changes haven’t been behind home plate – where netting has always been present.  Instead it’s the areas between home and toward the foul poles where foul balls can actually be driven into the stands.

Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium at the start of the 1971 World Series. Uncredited photo, from http://www.yesterdaysgame.net/bal-overviews.html
Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium at the start of the 1971 World Series. Uncredited photo, from http://www.yesterdaysgame.net/bal-overviews.html /
Apr 29, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; A general view of the Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the top of the first inning of the game between Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Fans are not allowed to attend the game due to the current state of unrest in Baltimore. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2015; A general view of the Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the top of the first inning of the game between Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

There’s a price to be paid for access… now hopefully, finally, that price won’t be a serious injury.

Glad to see it’s getting done – and honestly glad to see it getting done at Turner Field with nobody saying “well, we can hold off for 1 more year…”

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