Pirates join chorus ripping Wrigley outfield conditions

If the Cubs do make it into the playoffs, Major League Baseball could have a problem on its hands because of the poor outfield conditions at Wrigley Field.

The Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday became the second visiting team this week to call the outfield the worst in the big leagues because of the potholes and bare spots.

"It's rock hard and it's as fast as turf and looks like there's been a dozen cows grazing out there for the past week," said Pirates left fielder Nate McLouth.

"The outfield is not good, it's not good, it's not (a) major-league caliber outfield. It's really bad, as a matter of fact," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said after his team's 13-8 loss.

"I noticed it as soon as I walked in behind the cage today for batting practice. It's very, very difficult to play the outfield out here. The outfield is horrendous to play on, as bad as I've ever seen it in the big leagues."

The outfield hasn't been the same lush outfield it was earlier in the season since back-to-back concerts by The Police on July 4-5.

The severe storm that struck Wrigleyville last month also resulted in some water damage.

"I heard there was a concert here or something," McLouth said. "It was the worst I've ever played on. Taking balls in (batting practice) you kind of came to the conclusion that you can't really charge a ball that's hard hit.

"It was by far the worst I've ever played in and it's unfortunate because it does kind of play into the game, it does have an impact."

McLouth said Derrek Lee's line single in the seventh inning came at him as hard as he's ever had a ball come at him on the bare ground.

"You're more hesitant to charge balls and play balls that you normally would because it's terrible," McLouth said.

"The ground is pounded down, you watch balls roll and moving all over the place," Tracy said. "The ball is moving out there as fast as I've ever seen it to try and draw a bead on it."

Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Dunn ripped the Wrigley turf on Wednesday, the same day teammate Ken Griffey injured himself slipping on the turf in right field.

"That outfield, it's dangerous and I'm surprised more people don't get injured," Dunn told reporters. "It's as bad as there is. It's worse than playing in a parking lot.

"It looks like they had a monster truck rally. It's bad. It's unsafe."