Clayton Hubbs, Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. Barney Lopas, L.A. Angels of Anaheim Grant Trenbeath, Arizona Diamondbacks
How did you learn to manage an infield skin?
The Apprentice 2010 JMBP, Inc. All rights reserved.
How do you measure infield skin performance?
In baseball we have forward running and side to side movements.
It s a Balancing Act Moisture Load Bearing Dry Damp Muddy Shear Strength Softness Stiffness Compaction Hi Traction Cohesion Looseness
MOISTURE
How do you know you have the right moisture content?
O H H
Attraction to Soil Gravity Surface Tension 4-12% Moisture
Water Infiltration Sandy Soil Clayey Soil
Infiltration Rates Sandy Soil Clayey Soil Time Depth Time 15 min 12 24 4 hours 40 min 36 48 24 hours 1 hour 60 24 hours 72 48 hours
Have you had any struggles managing moisture?
PARTICLE SIZE
Soil Particles, Your Infield s DNA Coarse Sand Rock/Mineral 2mm to.5mm Fine Sand Rock/Mineral.25 mm to.05 Clay Mineral Below.005 mm Gravel Rock Particles 2mm or larger Medium Sand Rock/Mineral.5mm to.25mm Silt Microsand.05mm to.005mm
SILT is a microsand particle similar to sand in shape has finer and smaller pores than sand retains more water, but is not sticky on its own
CLAY is a microscopic mineral particle shaped like a flake or platelet has the largest surface area and absorbs the most water has electromagnetic charge that causes attraction
Coarse Sand Medium Sand Fine Sand Silt and Clay
What is your ideal particle size?
Ideal Particle Size It Depends ASTM F2107-08 Sieve # % Passing 10 85-100 18 62-90 35 48-84 60 38-71 100 27-60 270 19-40
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Coarse Sand 35% Medium Sand 15% Fine Sand 20% Silt and Clay 15% 15% Silt-to-Clay Ratio = 1
Have you had any issues with mixes in different regions?
Parent Material Gives Infield its DNA Alluvial Stream Deposits..Arid..High Moisture and High Temperature (South).Grassland soils (Great Plains)
Parent Material Variation years of dealing with regional weather Coarse Sand 35% Medium Sand 15% Fine Sand 20% Silt and Clay 15% 15% naturally binding soil particles as long as key requirements are met higher or lower particle values can be acceptable
PROBLEM SOLVING
Have you amended an infield?
Replace or Amend Infield? Soil Particles Clay/Coarse Sand or Custom Amendment Helps get closer to ideal particle size Mineral Calcined Clay Reduces surface hardness and absorbs surface moisture Gypsum Increases infiltration in arid mixes Organic Stabilizing Agents Maintains damp soil consistency across moisture range and provides cohesion
Stabilizing Agent works into pore space
What type of infield mix do you have now?
THE SCIENCE OF SKIN INFIELDS
How would you minimize new construction headaches?
New Construction Tips Use compacted native soil base, no filter fabric. Dump infield mix in clean area, no contamination. Install new mix at 4 depth and laser grade ½%. Infield heads and hose connections save time.
Maintenance Reduces or increases stiffness Maintains level Manages moisture
Can you take us through your maintenance routine?
1. Measure infield performance by 3 scales: load bearing, shear strength & moisture 2. Damp soil consistency gives natural cohesion 3. Soil particles are infield s DNA & performance guide 4. Ideal particle size depends on you and parent material effects how mix weathers 5. Soil, mineral or organic amendments help infield 6. Types of available infield mixes are harvested, engineered, stabilized & waterless 7. Construct new infield 4 thick over native base 8. Maintain to achieve proper stiffness, keep level and manage moisture 9. USE THE ART, BUT UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF SKIN INFIELDS
Thank you for your time. Any questions?
Photo Credits Photos Courtesy of L.A. Angels of Anaheim Photo Courtesy of Arizona Diamondbacks Photos Courtesy of Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Endurance Sports Florida Copyright Enterprise Media LLC 2010-11 Photo by rbbaird on Flickr.com, Some Rights Reserved Credit: Doug Engle Ocala Star Banner Photo Copyright 2011 Find Success Blog Photo: www.linnareacu.org Copyright 2011 High resolution texture library. All other photos are not proprietary
References Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soil Brady and Weil Sports Turf Magazine, Update on Infield Skin Playability Guillard, Goodall, Dest, Demars Sports Turf Magazine, Take Better Care of your Infield Skin Brosnan and McNitt ASTM F2107 08 Standard Guide for Construction and Maintenance of Skinned Areas on Baseball and Softball Fields Sports Turf Magazine, Design and Material Selection for Newest MLB Facility Hubbs Sports Turf Magazine, Amending Infields on a Budget Hubbs