I used my one good hand to pack a little pre-crushed weed into a small one-hitter.
From hulking sluggers like Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, Carlos Pena, Richie Sexson, Ryan Howard, Andruw Jones and Jason Giambi, to smaller contact hitters like Robinson Cano, Rickie Weeks, Eric Byrnes and Michael Bourn, it is an impressive group of players whose averages are currently looking more like Rob Deer, the swing-and-miss former Brewers slugger, than Jones.
Cheers rose from the small crowd and the hitter contorted his chunky body in the batting cage, straining for a better look.
Still, there are small ballparks and good hitters in the A.L., too.
Part of it is a lack of talent and part is that the smaller ballparks favor hitters".
Because of a wide range of possible reasons -- the shrunken strike zone, smaller ballparks, stronger hitters -- pitchers became more passive.
Today, ballparks are smaller than before, hitters are stronger, the strike zone is smaller and some say that balls are wound more tightly.
Alderson said he thought stronger hitters, smaller ballparks and a pitching talent pool thinned somewhat by expansion all contributed to 2000's homer-happy season.
In recent seasons, the Twins developed a reputation for small ball, and their leadoff hitter, Denard Span, conceded he would miss chopping singles off the artificial turf.
