Astros Plan On Removing the Famous Tal’s Hill From Center Field

In a move that will be welcome news to opposing center fielders, the Houston Astros are planning to remove Tal's Hill before the 2016 season. The Hill behind the warning track in Minute Maid Park with an in-play flag pole has been there since the stadium opened in 2000.

The removal of the hill, which has drawn a multitude of complaints over the years, will come by way of the fence being moved in.

Astros owner Jim Crane said the center field fence, which currently sits 436 feet from home plate, would be brought in to about 409 or 410 feet. The extra space beyond the wall would be used for additional concessions and fan-friendly areas where spectators can watch the game.

The Astros will pay for the stadium alterations on their own, the report indicates.

In moving the fences in and eliminating the hill, the Astros are removing a unique quirk of their ballpark, but it's also an injury risk and no other field has a flag pole in play like that -- not to mention that 436 feet on top of a hill in center is pretty deep, too. As Crain noted, in the report, 410 feet is by no means a short porch in center.

Either way it doesn't effect me. Keep it or remove it makes no difference to me. It will be interesting to see what the juice box (Minute Maid Park) will look like after the renovations are complete.