by Juan Leer

Created on: February 23, 2007   Last Updated: June 10, 2009

If you ask Major League ballplayers the toughest park to adjust to, they will probably say Coors Field. There is one thing that makes the Rockies unique from all other teams in the MLB... they play their home games in Coors Field. This has proven to be highly beneficial over the year, including 2007, when they went 51-31 at the friendly confines of Coors Field. It is so different from other parks, and that means that it usually takes a while for visiting teams to adjust. This is key for the Rockies.

The Rockies can definitely take advantage of the high altitude in Denver, but not in the way everyone thinks. Most people think of HRs when they think of Coors Field, but that's a little short-sighted. To combat the high altitude, the walls are very deep at Coors Field. Consequently, the outfielders are usually playing very deep. So what does that do? It leaves the gaps wide open, and allows for lots of extra base hits.

So what's the best way for the Rockies to take advantage of the high altitude? Get doubles hitters, because they should just be able to go nuts in Coors. And this is basically what is happening with the Rockies. 5 players hit more than 30 doubles for the Rockies in 2007, including Matt Holliday and his 50 doubles. Coors Field consistently has proven to be the best hitter's ballpark in the MLB, and it favors the hitters in almost every single way. From the ballpark itself to the natural conditions, Coors Field is where hitters go to get their numbers inflated.

Pitching-wise, you have to find groundball pitchers, because anything hit in the air will sail. But, you can't hit homeruns off a groundball. This is tough, because the elevation will cause less movement on the ball, so you need guys who rely on excellent control rather than overpowering stuff.

So this is how the Rockies can take advantage of Coors Field... doubles hitters and groundball pitchers. It's a tough ballpark to play in, but if you can effectively utilize, you can make yourselves tough to beat there. This is what has made the Rockies so successful in 2007. With Coors Field, they have a home field advantage that nobody else in the MLB does, because it is such a different park. It takes longer for hitters to adjust, and it definitely takes a while for the pitchers to adjust on opposing teams. The Rockies have settled in and made the park their home, which allows them to take advantage of the high altitude and all that comes along with it in Colorado.

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