WEST SACRAMENTO — As the Athletics enter the third month of their three-year (or more) stay in West Sacramento, new things about the ballpark they are using as a temporary home keep standing out as unusual. This time, it’s all about the outfield dirt.
All MLB ballparks have a “warning track” in the outfield, which is a stretch of dirt between the outfield grass and the wall. It’s supposed to serve as a physical indicator for outfielders to help them avoid full-speed collisions into the wall, as they can feel the difference between the grass and the dirt and know they are near the wall.