Home parks enhance power of Rockies, Phillies

PHILADELPHIA -- Pitchers beware: Two potent offenses plus two hitter-friendly ballparks could equal a slugfest.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies got to this point mainly because of their hitting. And, they’ll need to keep swinging to advance.

Game 1 of this NL first-round series is today at Citizens Bank Park, the East Coast version of Denver’s Coors Field.

Both teams are sending their aces to the mound -- Cole Hamels (15-5) for the Phillies and Jeff Francis (17-9) for the Rockies.

But it’ll be the hitters getting most of the attention. The Phillies have Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand.

The Rockies bring Matt Holliday, Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki.

All these guys can flat-out hit no matter where they play. However, many often find themselves explaining why it’s easier to have success at home.

Balls have been flying out in Philadelphia since the new ballpark opened in 2004.

The dimensions are rather standard, 329-330 feet down the lines, 374 to left-center and 401 to straightaway center.

But for some reason, there are far more homers hit there than at the old Veterans Stadium.

“The ball seems to carry more,” Rollins said.

“Maybe it just looks small, so people feel a little stronger. Maybe pitchers make a lot of mistakes because the park gets in their head. It could be a number of things, but you still have to hit the ball out of the ballpark.

“I’ve always said when you hit a ball and it’s a home run, it doesn’t matter where you are playing. If you hit it here 10 rows deep, that’s out of any other ballpark.”

There’s an easier explanation for all the scoring at Coors Field. Blame it on the high altitude. Balls dry out in the thin air, making them slicker and harder to grip.

Home run totals have decreased significantly at Coors since the Rockies installed a humidor to store baseballs and control their moisture.

Still, it remains the best park to hit in.

Batters had a .286 average in Colorado this season, highest in the majors. It was second in runs at 874 and ninth in homers at 185.

Meanwhile, Citizens Bank Park led the major leagues with 241 home runs and was third in runs scored at 871. Batters hit .277 there.

“Regardless of where you play, you still have to get it and hit it,” Howard said.

“Sometimes the wind may be blowing in at a field that’s considered to play large and if you hit in the air, it might go out. You still have to hit it. You still have to put a good swing on it for it to go.”