(Image Source: The New York Mets)
 

BY JJ BAILEY

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

One family dream, two mayors, $800 million, and you get one big, big, ballpark. According to the New York Mets, it was just a little too big. Starting this month, Citi Field will be trimming the fat. Here’s ESPN.


“The 16-foot wall in left field will remain because it is structural, but a new 8-foot wall will be erected in front of it... In right field, where the "Mo's Zone" nook currently exists, the fencing will be moved closer to eradicate that crevice. A dramatic change will occur in right-center, which had measured 415 feet from home plate. The new depth is expected to be 390 feet -- a 25-foot reduction.”

That’s right Mets fans, the field’s getting smaller. The “Great Wall of Flushing” will be taken out of the equation and replaced by a humbler eight-foot wall. The space between will have a row of seats, and in other places, the shorter fences will create more restaurant seating.

Images: The New York Mets

The space will create about 140 extra seats, but the real change should be the fireworks. The New York Times explains...

“As it is, Citi Field has already earned a reputation as a place where hard-hit fly balls go to die. Over the past three seasons, the stadium has averaged 1.432 home runs a game, the lowest number in the major leagues.”

So we’re dialing up the deep ball in Queens. Sounds good, and it sounds great to sliding Mets slugger David Wright. Between the last three seasons at Shea and the first three at Citi, the third baseman is averaging 56 points worse on his batting average, 15 less homers, 15 less rbis, and striking out 64 more times.

In fact, the whole team could see a surge in numbers. According to the New York Post, GM Sandy Alderson did some digging.

“According to research conducted by Alderson and his staff, the Mets would have hit a combined 70 more home runs over the past three seasons in Citi Field using the new dimensions. Opponents would have hit a combined 60 more home runs.”

But The Wall Street Journal says it’s not all about the hitters. Guys on the bump could see some upside as well.

“Despite the cavernous field, Mets pitchers have allowed nearly as many home runs at home (162) as they have on the road (169) in the last three years. [Pitching coach Dan] Warthen said the dimensions have allowed Mets pitchers to become too comfortable for their own good.”

The project is expected to take six weeks to complete. The price tag hasn’t been disclosed but COO Jeff Wilpon said the original stadium came in $40 million under revenue, and that would cover the renovations.