Since the inauguration of Citi Field in 2009, the topic of conversation involving the ballpark has been the dimensions. Many seem to feel the walls are ridiculous all around. You look at that left field wall and see how high it is at 12’ to 15’. Hitting a home run that way seems a little daunting. Take a look at that little area in the Mo Zone and you come to admire any right fielder who can field a ball there. These have all been some of the problems with this park. So what is a baseball organization to do?
I love ballparks that are made for pitchers to be successful. It gives hitters a challenge. It gives fans a greater appreciation for any ball that is hit out. Take a look at ballparks like Citizens Bank Park and Yankee Stadium. The word “cheat” comes to mind. Those parks are made for hitters to be successful. It is not a challenge.
Some have pondered the idea of lowering the walls in left a little or bringing the walls in. My problem with any of these solutions is simple: Other players on other teams seem to do fine with hitting home runs at Citi Field. People act as if Citi Field is the worst offensive ballpark in the majors. It actually ranks sixth in ballparks that allow the least amount of home runs for 2011 vs. fourth in 2010 which means more hitters are hitting the ball out in Citi Field this year than they did last year. AT&T Park is ranked number one for 2011.
Compare the height in walls at PNC Park, AT&T Park and Citi Field. The left field wall at Citi is roughly 15 feet, right? Over at PNC Park, their right field wall goes as high as 21 feet. AT&T Park has their left-center wall starting at eight feet and peaks at 11 feet in left field. In right field, the wall is 25 feet high. Yet nobody is changing the height of their walls. Nor are they bringing the fences in. In fact, at one point the San Francisco Giants pushed their walls back to make the park deeper. Right-center alone is 421 feet deep. Remember who won the World Series last year?
Here is why changes could be made. What player in their right mind will want to come and play at Citi Field with the walls being what they are? If you want to attract the hitters in baseball, you have to give them some reason to want to come here. The left field wall is what will scare a hitter away. I think the Mo Zone should stay as is. It is a challenge for a right fielder. For a hitter, especially one who has speed, the Mo Zone is perfect. Hit a ball in that area with a so-so right fielder, you have yourself a triple. I do not think the Mets should bring in the walls at all or even round out the park like Shea Stadium was. Lowering the left field wall is as far as I would go to give our hitters some mental relief. Although a shrink should help too.
Is the left field wall in Citi Field high? Yes. Should changes be made? No. There is a reason it is called a pitcher’s ballpark. You lower walls or bring them in you are changing the park from pitcher friendly to hitter friendly. You can make the argument about making it a neutral park. This way nobody gets the upper hand. It will be a straight match between pitcher and hitter. Here is the ultimate question I have to ask: What do you do if you lower the walls and the Mets still do nothing?
The title says “CitiField to Undergo Changes” which clearly means to anyone speaking English that you have information from the Mets that changes will definitely be made to CitiField, and that you are going to be talking about what will change.
Then you write only speculation–what you want and don’t want.
You are misleading people and wasting their time. I will know better than to waste my time reading anything from you in the future.
Tanya,
Nice article. Too bad you didn’t add a question mark at the end of the title. Then Barry wouldn’t have had an excuse to spend even more time excoriating you, than what it took for him to read your piece in the first place.
Ducat2, I probably could have put a question mark. I’ll keep it in mind the next time. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and comment.
My pleasure. Keep up the good work!!!!
Hey Barry those changes to Citi Field ? Terry Collins was the one who told reporters this and it was talked about on WFAN that same night. So the changes will happen unless the Mets change their minds. Tanya’s only pointing out the reasons why change is not needed. Mets players need to man up and stop complaining and just do their jobs and drive in runs ! Remember pitching wins in baseball the Giants showed that last year and the Mets showed that in ’69 and ’86. great Job Tanya.
Joey, I was aware that TC mentioned that changes could happen. That’s why, when I saw the title, I thought I would be reading facts about those changes, not another opinion from another writer.
It was the title, as I said, that was misleading.
Maybe I’m still conditioned to think of a blog as a newspaper article. If I saw “CitiField to Undergo Changes” as the title of a newspaper article, I would very much expect to read EXACTLY what those changes are going to be.
I see now, that as the title of (just) a blog, this title can be interpreted as giving a lead-in to what the blogger’s opinion is on the changes.
Sorry, Tanya. I guess your “blog” was written well-enough for me to think of it as an article from the sports pages.
Blogs and newspapers are completely different. When writing a blog, you are giving you’re immediate reaction to something. An article is states facts and leaves the reader to form their own opinions. But thanks Barry. High praise coming from you. Appreciate it.
Ms.M. you have very good points on pitchers parks in baseball, the way I see it is, the uneffectiveness the last 3 seasons has to do with 3 main areas, !. They do not have the right players, 2. Too many players are constantly hurt on this team(Something seems strange about this), look into it if you are able to with your juice with the team(smiles) and 3. Yes the park has taken homeruns away from many players, but I must agree with you on the point, when opposition players come in as opponents, they donot seem to have any problem or have to make much adjustments getting use to the ballfield!!!!!! They should even the wall that it’s the same height and length in each dimension to even out the playing field so there is no favortism either way, to pitchers, hitters or the opposition, and even the fans, they could put more seats in those ares and lower the prices and have real bleachers like they had when they were in shea stadium, all in all Ms.M. it comes down to the players, then the hierachy and then the field, all need adjusts just to get back to a competitive team from 2008( even though they choked, at least they were over .500, I would take that over this baseball anytime, thank for your opinion and articles, it’s always a pleasure reading you insights about the METROPOLITANS!!!!!!!
i think that the fence in left should be brought in about 5 feet and wall lowered about 6 feet.this way an outfielder can make those sensational over the wall catches,ala endy chavez…and in the deepest part of the park 421? make it 414 or 415.not much difference.pagan is a good centerfielder,but no willie mays.until we can afford to get superstars who like to play here.and the madoff stuff/aka new partnership and cash infused into the team.lets make a littl easier and fun to watch them at home,it may put a few more heinies in those seats next year. p