[drumnColby757]

So the new field will be turf.

Is this confirmed? If so, what's your SOURCE?

A guy that I know very well in the athletic department, it was from Barbers mouth.

[drumnColby757]

You can speculate this all you want but I know this too be fact, and I am not so sure I like it, except it will cut down on upkeep

[From the class of 09]

Well that would be a horrible idea.

[jbock13]

No guys. It will probably be fake turf. Look at the kind of grass the Rays use. It's very slow though. It's an odd idea, but not bad.

[adam42381]

Well that would be a horrible idea.

Agreed.

[BJWilliams]

Bring on the purists...

[SuperJon]

Turf for baseball sucks, but Toman's been begging for it for years.

[jbock13]

Bring on the purists...

Most baseball fans are purists. To me, turf makes no sense but it's not worth crying over.

[jinxy]

Ive heard toman talking about it in interviews several times. He claims that the weather here is too unpredictable here really until april so the field isnt in top shape. I hate the turf but my vote doesn matter

[adam42381]

Bring on the purists...

I'll admit I'm somewhat of a purist, but I don't think you have to be a purist to be against Field Turf (or an alternative) being used in baseball. There's a reason why the only 2 MLB teams playing on non-grass surfaces are teams that play in domes - Tampa Bay and Toronto. Sure, grass can be expensive to maintain, but it's the best surface for baseball.

[jbock13]

Bring on the purists...

I'll admit I'm somewhat of a purist, but I don't think you have to be a purist to be against Field Turf (or an alternative) being used in baseball. There's a reason why the only 2 MLB teams playing on non-grass surfaces are teams that play in domes - Tampa Bay and Toronto. Sure, grass can be expensive to maintain, but it's the best surface for baseball.

I agree with this sentiment.

By way, will this be FieldTurf, or AstroTurf? Two different things.

[BJWilliams]

I'll admit Im a big grass person too but I can see the point in having a turf field as well. I will miss the smell of fresh cut grass on game day though. Im guessing that itll be FieldTurf (Astroturf would look more like this (I know its football):

[jinxy]

Has to be field turf like tampa. Astroturf is not even being produced anymore

[jbock13]

Has to be field turf like tampa. Astroturf is not even being produced anymore

Wrong. Astro turf has actual grass now. Tampa switched back to AstroTurf last year.

[Hold My Own]

There's a reason why the only 2 MLB teams playing on non-grass surfaces are teams that play in domes

Maybe we've decided to build a dome....




BREAKING NEWS!!!!

[BJWilliams]

There's a reason why the only 2 MLB teams playing on non-grass surfaces are teams that play in domes

Maybe we've decided to build a dome....




BREAKING NEWS!!!!

Nice try funny boy

[adam42381]

There's a reason why the only 2 MLB teams playing on non-grass surfaces are teams that play in domes

Maybe we've decided to build a dome....




BREAKING NEWS!!!!

Nice. Retractable roof for sunny day games. I like it.

[Hold My Own]

and retractable turf that will turn the field into parking during off days

[adam42381]

and retractable turf that will turn the field into parking during off days

Now we're talking.

[krh44]

Hopefully we can make games event like we have done in football. Wow. I just watched this Ole Miss video. Crazy!

[Cider Jim]

44, that's where I went to school. The old timers will remember a pretty famous Ole Miss baseball alumnus--Don Kessenger. Also, consider how full that stadium was, even though the whole town of Oxford, MS only has about 18,000 residents or less than a third the size of Lynchburg.

[hurricane fan]

Shaw Sportexe Launches John Smoltz Signature Line of Baseball Turf
January 9, 2012
Shaw Sportexe introduced its latest product innovation, TruHop™ synthetic baseball turf system, at the recent American Baseball Coaches Association annual show held in Anaheim, CA. Developed specifically for baseball applications and endorsed by former MLB pitcher, John Smoltz, TruHop is the closest thing to natural grass for baseball fields of all levels.
TruHop’s revolutionary design mirrors natural grass in terms of playability and performance with features and benefits, including:
- Truer ball roll—no snaking effect that might slow the ball down or shift directions
- No spring-boarding effect—a natural, true bounce for anticipated catches
- Controlled infill system—reduces infill splash
- All weather, 24/7 play—no shutting fields down or game cancellations for rain
- More durable—up to 4 times more play than natural grass
- Soft to the touch—non-abrasive, grass-like surface
Shaw Sportexe engineered the product from player feedback and conducting multiple athlete-surface and ball-surface tests including ball roll, ball bounce and vertical deformation.
TruHop is designed to fit any baseball field configuration. The system can be engineered with various pile heights and infill ratios to fit each performance area of the field including the infield, outfield, warning track, base path and foul lines.
The product is endorsed by former MLB pitcher, John Smoltz. “I’ve seen this product first-hand and I believe this will take baseball to the next level,” said Smoltz. “Unlike other synthetic turf systems, you are going to get more of a true bounce on a consistent surface. Best of all, it’s incredibly durable and you get more play time.”
“We are very excited to launch TruHop in the baseball market and are even more excited to partner with such a legendary icon,” commented Tom Enright, Divisional Vice President of Shaw Sportexe. “With someone like John supporting the product, we know we have an unrivaled product.”

[Hold My Own]

It would have been really convenient if he happened to visit Liberty recently, or had a daughter he'd be willing to barter education for turf...

to bad...

[PAmedic]

Memo to self: email Smoltz and have him keep an eye on his daughter, incl check for emails from "vanillathunder@hmo.com"

[hurricane fan]

It would have been really convenient if he happened to visit Liberty recently, or had a daughter he'd be willing to barter education for turf...

to bad...

would be one heck of a coincidence, huh?