Are less balls dropping in the outfield for hits this year?

[Shawon12]

With the exception of Sorino's range, it seems to be that our outfield d is not allowing many hits to drop. Is there a way to compare the # of balls that land in play from year to year?

[biittner77]

Without looking it up, I'd say yes simply because The Cubs sent the statuesque Cliff Floyd out there last year compared to Fukudome who has CF type range that alone has to make a big difference.

[rawaction]

Fukudome, Edmonds and Pie get some of the best jumps on flyballs that I've ever seen. On that great play Lee made at 1B, he didn't save extra bases because Kosuke was right there and would have held the runner to a single. He has done that several times this year. He also makes easy catches out of balls that would normally require a dive or lunge to grab. Fukudome's jumps yesterday were the best I've seen since Andruw Jones was about 60lbs lighter.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I roll my eyes less when a ball is lifted into the gap in right center