Houston's Crawford Boxes Present an Opportunty for the Home Run Smashing Twins

[Peter Labuza]

The Twins turned into a home run powerhouse through the last months of the season. The quirks of the Astros’ home territory could give them an advantage. 

Image courtesy of Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Among the many challenges that face the Minnesota Twins as they take on the defending Houston Astros, playing on the road in a playoff series will present a whole new set of challenges. It is one that only a handful of players on the roster have ever done before. But the Minute Maid Park presents a home run opportunity.

Meet the Crawford Boxes, Houston’s home run-friendly left field dinger paradise. The left corner only requires a player to casually fly a ball 315 feet in the air to earn a trot around the bases. For comparison, Target Field’s short left corner is 339 feet.

To add only the smallest bit of difficulty, the boxes are similarly designed like Fenway’s Green Monster and require more altitude than the usual swing. But the Boston wall is almost double the size of the Minute Maid Park, giving the latter still a huge advantage.

The other corner of the Minute Maid Park is almost equally easy. While both Minnesota and Houston’s fields are around the same length in the corner (328 feet vs 326 feet), Target Field is a home run porch that requires altitude to reach it. Add the enclosed Gulf air providing a decent humidity effect compared to the cool October winds of Target Field, and that’s a stew to become a pitcher’s worst nightmare. According to one study done by Park Factors, the Minute Maid Park produces 112 home runs compared to a league average 100 home runs at other parks.

Arguably, the Crawford Boxes were likely at least part of what pushed the front office and Baldelli to name Bailey Ober as the Game 1 starter.

When the Twins visited Houston in May, they were still in a stretch of games where they were still trying to find their offensive grove. But that did not stop Royce Lewis—on his season debut—from putting one in the right corner, nor did it stop Ryan Jeffers from launching a missile to take a two-run lead in extras.

Since that series, the Twins have transformed into an offensive powerhouse. In the second half of the season, Minnesota led the American League in home runs with 118 (the Astros were only a step behind with 114). 

In fact, looking at the spray charts of various Twins players, a number of them might find an advantage in Minute Maid, including Edouard Julien, Carlos Correa, and Alex Kirilloff. All of them have shown power for swings at the left fences.

We don't know yet if he'll be on the ALDS roster, Byron Buxton has the power to make it happen as well. Beat writers covering the warm-ups have already reported the former All-Star is landing them in the left field porch. 

Whether the Twins can make the balls fly will be an unknown. Their Game Two opponent, Framber Valdez, has become a legend for his impressive ground ball rate. And Justin Verlander will no doubt be attempting to do the same. The bullpen could be the "X" factor; they allowed 41 homers at home compared to only 30 on the road. And of course, the same must all be said for Twins pitching, especially when going against power hitters like José Altuve and especially Yordan Álvarez.

Every pitcher can make a mistake. And the Crawford Boxes are an opportunity to punish those mistakes, ensuring Minnesota a deep October run.

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