Mets Likely To Change Dimensions Of Citi Field

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:54 am

It looks like the New York Mets have finally understood that their new ballpark isn't great for their star hitters. GM Sandy Alderson has hinted that the dimensions will be changed for 2012: "To some extent, it's a question of entertainment. I think offense is appealing. Offense sells" he told NJ.com. Here's more:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 83568.html

By BRIAN COSTA

ST. LOUIS—Since it opened in 2009, Citi Field has been a graveyard for home runs, confounding power hitters and offering a haven for fly-ball pitchers. But it appears that will soon change.

Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson gave his strongest indication yet early Wednesday that the team will modify the ballpark's cavernous dimensions before the start of the 2012 season. He said the Mets are considering several alterations, one of which will likely be a reduction in the height of the left-field wall, which stands at 16 feet.

That wall could also be moved in, as could a portion of the right-field wall. A decision is expected in October, but for now, Alderson is certain of this much: "If we do something, it won't be subtle."

The primary reason for the changes, Alderson said, would be to make the ballpark fairer to hitters. Teams have combined to hit an average of 1.32 home runs per game at Citi Field this season, according to the home-run tracking site hittrackeronline.com. That is tied for the third-lowest rate among major-league ballparks. Citi Field also ranked among the most difficult places to hit a home run in 2009 and 2010.

According to Alderson, only 1.9% of batted balls at Citi Field are home runs. He said the major-league average is about 2.5% and that it is 3.6% at Yankee Stadium The Wall Street Journal reported in June that nearly half the home runs hit by seven key Yankee players at Yankee Stadium since 2009 wouldn't have cleared the fences in Flushing.

For the Mets, who are losing money and trying to reverse a continuing attendance decline, there is also a business incentive to reducing Citi Field's dimensions.

"To some extent, it's a question of entertainment," Alderson said. "The hard-core baseball fan enjoys the 2-1, the 3-2 [game]. We're appealing to a little broader segment. I think offense is appealing. Offense sells."

Alderson said the Mets have studied fly-ball data since Citi Field opened in 2009 and have tried to predict how each proposed change would impact the team on the field. The effect on the Mets depends on the specifics of the changes, which are still being determined.

The data the Mets are using, looking at the landing spots of fly balls over the last three years, is also imperfect. Alderson likened it to conducting wind studies. Still, he said the expected result of the changes would be more home runs and fewer doubles, with roughly the same amount of triples.

When asked how the changes might affect shortstop Jose Reyes, a prolific triples hitter whom the Mets hope to re-sign, Alderson quipped, "He might have to slide into third a little more often."

Left unsaid was the impact reduced dimensions could have on David Wright, the hitter who has appeared most negatively affected by the Mets' move to Citi Field. The third baseman has hit only 22 home runs at home since the start of the 2009 season. He hit 21 homers at Shea Stadium in 2008 alone.

Alderson said the changes would also likely make outfield defense less of a factor, since outfielders would have less ground to cover.

One of the challenges for the Mets will be to modify the outfield walls without making them an eyesore. It is unlikely they would demolish and rebuild any part of the stands, so the trick would be to alter the field dimensions in a way that is aesthetically pleasing.

Alderson said one option in left field would be to build a new, shorter fence in front of the 16-foot wall, similar to what the Detroit Tigers did when they brought in the left-field wall at Comerica Park in 2003.

"You don't want to make the ballpark jury-rigged," Alderson said. "Citi Field is a terrific-looking ballpark, and you want to make sure that architecturally it's not compromised. But at the same time, it's a functional ballpark. I think there are ways, if we do decide to make those changes, there are ways that those changes could blend with the existing structure."

Hells Satans · Post by **Hells Satans** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:18 am

Jason Bay will still suck

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:55 am

Good news for Wright, but bad news for Mets pitchers who not only have hit rock bottom, now they will have to dig.

crazytown · Post by **crazytown** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:29 pm

Are they moving in the fences at the other locations that are more difficult to hit home runs?

PittIsIt95 · Post by **PittIsIt95** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:12 am

Originally posted by crazytown:

Are they moving in the fences at the other locations that are more difficult to hit home runs? If every team does this because they are the worst for home run percentage... eventually we will be watching softball games!