Home runs flying out of Yankee Stadium again

Maybe it's the hitting. Maybe it's the pitching. Maybe it's the opponents. Or maybe it's just a combination of all three.

Whatever you want to attribute to the power surge, baseballs are flying out of Yankee Stadium again this year. After a comparative lull in home runs in 2010, this season is on pace with homer-happy 2009.

A look at the numbers through the first five home games the past three seasons at the new ballpark in the Bronx.

In April 2009, a total of 28 home runs were hit in seven games at the new Yankee Stadium. In April 2010, a total of 15 were hit in seven games at the Stadium. In  April 2011, the Yankees have hit 18 home runs in the first five games, and have 14 more home games this month.

The uptick in home runs this year over last year is most likely not weather-related. It has been cold, and precipitation doesn't help the ball carry. Warmer weather represents ideal hitting conditions, and the first five home games in 2010 had an average temperature seven degrees higher than 2011.

"Weather points to numbers being better last year than this year, and it's actually reversed," said Michael Schlacter, chief meteorologist of Weather 2000.

Here's a look at the average temperature (recorded at LaGuardia Airport) over the first five home games the past three seasons. The sample size is small, but with the early rate of home runs, it's worth taking a look at now and again at the end of the month.