The ESPN oral history explores the challenges pitchers face at the Colorado Rockies' ballpark, emphasizing the detrimental effects of high altitude on their performance. Current and former pitchers shared their difficult experiences, with anecdotes illustrating how pitching in this environment can inflate earned run averages (ERAs). Jerry Dipoto's story about a changeup he threw, which was unexpectedly hit a mile high, epitomizes the unique challenges of this stadium. The piece captures both the humor and horror pitchers encounter while playing at such an elevated venue.
Dipoto: They had a row of seats in the upper deck in right field that was like a ring around the upper-deck seats, and it was a mile above sea level.
Reeder came to the mound and said, "Hey, what do you think about just throwing that changeup?" I said, "I've never done it in a game, Reeder."
He said, "Yeah, if you've never done it in a game, he won't be expecting it either." So I threw a changeup, and I actually threw it for a strike.
It wound up going a mile. Like literally going a mile.
Collection
[
|
...
]