ST. LOUIS — After reviewing three seasons worth of data, the Mets finally seem to have arrived at the conclusion Citi Field is just too damn big.
Speaking after his team’s 11-6 loss to the Cardinals last night, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said a final decision will be reached next month, but all signs point to a more hitter’s friendly Citi Field, with shortened dimensions for 2012.
Alderson said any changes would be “not subtle.”
The goal, he said, would be to make the ballpark fairer between pitchers and hitters while also placating fans who have called for more offense at Citi Field.
“To some extent it’s a question of entertainment,” Alderson said. “The hardcore baseball fan I think enjoys the 2-1, the 3-2 [score]. We’re appealing to a little broader segment, and I think offense is appealing. Offense sells.”
The changes would be music to the ears of David Wright and Jason Bay, both of whom have struggled to hit home runs in the cavernous ballpark.
Among the certain changes would be a reduction of the 16-foot wall in left field that has turned many potential home runs into doubles over the ballpark’s first three seasons. But Alderson said the dimensions in left, center and right field might be shortened to help hitters.
According to Mets’ research, the average in major league baseball of home runs to balls put in play is about 2.5 percent. At Citi Field that number is 1.9 percent. At Yankee Stadium it’s 3.6 percent.
“Those are the kinds of things we look at and consider whether we ought to alter the dimensions somewhat to make it a little more balanced, a little more average in terms of major league baseball,” Alderson said.
“I think there is some sense that the park is a little more overwhelming to a team that spends half its time there as opposed to a team that comes in for three games and doesn’t really have to alter an approach or think about it too much, and leaves. Those are the kinds of things we’re taking a look at.”
According to Alderson’s data, just eight home runs have been hit by left-handed hitters to the opposite field at Citi over three years. The major league average is in the 28-29 range.
“We have three years worth of data and it’s an appropriate time to take a look at things and see if some alterations would be appropriate. They have certainly been done in other ballparks,” Alderson said.
As Padres president, Alderson oversaw alterations to PETCO Park that helped hitters. He mentioned Comerica Park in Detroit as another example of a modern ballpark that made changes after it opened to boost offense.
“Citi Field is a terrific looking ballpark and we want to make sure that architecturally it’s not compromised,” Alderson said. “But at the same time it’s a functional ballpark and I think there are ways, if we decide to make the changes that those changes could blend with the existing structure.”