- 335 - LF line
- 370 - Left-center alley
- 400 - CF
- 355 - Right-center alley
- 340 - RF line
HS Jeff points out that UNC had just changed playing fields -- they'd played in an alternate stadium in 2008 while their home park was being rebuilt. They moved back in, in 2009. Interesting point ...
According to the UNC site, the stadium holds 4,000-5,000, has lighting better than most minor-league parks, a modern batter's eye, padded walls, all that jazz. A bigtime college park.
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Obviously 355 to right-center is a little different than Safeco's right-center. Ichiro has to get every bit of the ball to hit it out in the alley. 355 is a pretty cozy power alley, especially with metal bats.
That said, 340 down the line is actually longer than Safeco, and the balls that Ackley pulls in the air shouldn't have much problem considering Ackley's 50+ HR rate at Boshamar.
Ackley might have to pull the ball to get his Jose Lopez 25 dingers at Safeco, but it's nice for M's fans to consider that it's what Ackley in fact did at UNC...
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=== Apples to Apples Dept. ===
Here are UNC's baseball stats from 2009...
UNC's best hitter other than Ackley was Kyle Seager, taken by the M's of course, high in the 3rd round. Seager is also a LH batter and, interestingly, did not improve his SLG from 2008 to 2009, despite the shift and the final year in school.
LH catcher Mark Fleury was taken high in the 4th by Cincy, and he did have a senior breakout.
Levi Michael is a switch-hitting underclass SS who banged 13 homers, slugging .527.
So the Tar Heels' three other MOTO stars slugged .527-.592, hitting 6-13 homers in 66 games. Ackley of course slugged .743, hitting 22 homers. UNC's four other regulars slugged .332-.431.
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=== ACC Leaders ===
The ACC had 50 seniors drafted into the minor leagues; here's the list.
Slugging pct
------------1. Mike McGee, FS............. .768
2. Dustin Ackley, NC.......... .763
3. Luke Murton, GT............ .714
4. Nate Freiman, DU........... .703
5. Jarrett Parker, VA......... .664
6. Jason Stidham, FS.......... .650
7. Tony Plagman, GT........... .638
8. Jason Hagerty, UM.......... .630
9. Ben Paulsen, CU............ .618
10.Tony Sanchez, BC........... .614
11.Stephen Cardullo, FS....... .612
12.Austin Wates, VT........... .608
13.Mike Murphy, MD............ .606
14.Matt Skole, GT............. .600
15.Yasmani Grandal, UM........ .599
16.Kyle Seager, NC............ .592
17.Stuart Tapley, FS.......... .581
18.Steve Domecus, VT.......... .580
19.Tyler Holt, FS............. .578
20.Carlos Lopez, WF........... .562
We're not trying to pile on; obviously Ackley was the best college hitter of 2009. But it's pretty clear that power has been a part of his game to date.
Cheers,
Dr D
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