Editing Dodger Stadium (section)

==== Transition from pitchers' park to neutral venue ====
{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California (2483470368).jpg
| alt1              = Dodger Stadium in 2000
| image2            = Dodger Stadium - September 11, 2024.jpg
| alt2              = Dodger Stadium in 2024
| footer            = Dodger Stadium in 2000 (left) and 2024. Note the change in foul territory that took place during the 2004-05 offseason.
}}
Following the 1968 "[[1968 Major League Baseball season|Year of the Pitcher]]," MLB issued league-wide changes to favor batting, including lowering the height of the pitcher's mound.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clair |first=Michael |date=2015-12-03 |title=Four stats that showed why baseball had to lower the mound after 1968 |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/why-was-the-mound-lowered-in-1968/c-158689966 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> In addition, the Dodgers moved the diamond about 10 feet (3 m) towards center field, which was partially credited for generating 46 more home runs than the prior season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=1969 Dodger Team History |url=https://www.walteromalley.com/dodger-history/team-histories/1969/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Walter O’Malley : Official Website |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to MLB's park factor database, Dodger Stadium decreased offense by 6% from 1997 to 1999 (the first year data was reported), making it the most pitcher-friendly park in MLB during this period. However, the park actually inflated home runs by 3%, and achieved the low park factor primarily by deflating doubles (by 21%) and triples (by 45%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 1999 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=1999&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> This effect has been attributed to the stadium's uniform outfield walls and relatively small "corners" near the foul poles. The extremely short outfield walls near the foul poles also make some balls that would bounce off the wall in other parks go for home runs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Following the [[2004 Major League Baseball season|2004 season]], the Dodgers' then-owner [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] installed 1,600 high-priced field level seats, shrinking Dodger Stadium's foul territory from 30,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. The team noted that the dimensions of the fair territory had not been changed and predicted that the stadium would remain a pitchers' park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaikin |first=Bill |date=2005-03-27 |title=Stadium Revamp Is Fair Game |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-27-sp-dodstadium27-story.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> From 2005 to 2007, MLB ranked Dodger Stadium as a balanced park, with an exactly average park factor. The stadium continued to depress doubles and triples, but inflated walks by 7%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2007 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2007&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> However, from 2008 to 2010, the stadium returned to its original status as a pitchers' park, decreasing total offense by 7%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2010 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2010&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[FanGraphs]] noted in 2018 that many other teams had been shrinking their foul territory, although Dodger Stadium still has less foul territory than most MLB ballparks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawchik |first=Travis |date=2018-01-30 |title=Ballpark Playing Surfaces Are Shrinking in a Surprising Way |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ballpark-playing-surfaces-are-shrinking-in-a-surprising-way/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=FanGraphs Baseball}}</ref> Since park factors are based on MLB averages and not absolute values, a league-wide decrease in foul territory would by definition make Dodger Stadium's limited foul territory look more pitcher-friendly.

From 2022 to 2024, MLB ranked Dodger Stadium as a balanced park once again. Although the stadium depresses walks and most types of hits, it inflates home runs by 22%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2024 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2024&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, [[BetMGM]] stated that Dodger Stadium's 395-feet centerfield distance was the third-shortest in baseball, behind only [[Fenway Park]] and [[Oracle Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLB Stadiums With Deepest Outfield Walls |url=https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/mlb/mlb-stadium-with-deepest-outfield-walls-bm15/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=BetMGM |language=en-US}}</ref>