Should the M's bring in the right field fence

[SeaTownJosh]

The mariners have a horrible right field for hitters, thats why adrian beltre, and sexson were horrible hitters when they played for us. If the mariners were to bring the fence in 5-10 feet, i belive you would see a surge in hitting. In the past people said were trying to build a good defensive and pitching team. But the mariners can no longer say that after trading pineda. Montero is a right handed hitter, along with smoak, and olivo. How come they wont bring the fence in just a few feet to support there RIGHT hannded hitters they keep brining in?

[Mariners51]

No thanks.

For every one more homer the mariners would hit, the opponent would hit two more.

[TellItToTheDA]

No.

And Richie Sexson hit 39 and 34 home runs his first two seasons here.

[clarknova]

And Richie Sexson hit 39 and 34 home runs his first two seasons here.

EXACTLY. The perception that Safeco kills homers is inflated by the crappy players we've had over the last decade. It's definitely not a hitters park, but dimensionally is only marginally different from Miller Park. Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, and Rickie Weeks didn't seem to have much trouble hitting the ball out of that park. Righties with pull power only will suffer (Beltre), but it's not as if Safeco is the only park they'd suffer in. Beltre would have had virtually identical home run totals in Miller Park. And, being that two of our opponents in the division now have at least two 30 homer power hitters in their line up, with Texas having a possible 4 players that project to hit 30+ home runs this year... I'll pass. :)

[clarknova]

Just a note on Smoak and Olivo. Smoak is a switch hitter and a glance at Olivo's hit chart shows 5 - 10 more feet would've given him 2 more home runs in 2011. Maybe. I saw Olivo hit a couple out in Safeco last year and they were absolute moon shots. They'd be out in any park. Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler, Mike Napoli, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and most importantly, Albert Pujols are all right handed hitters. We'd be moving in the fences for them too.

[Igoe4Mariners]

Jesus Montero has the type of power that when he gets a hold of one, it'll be way out of any park. I think it's perfectly fine where it's at. Safeco is unique and it should stay that way.

[Felix = Cy Young]

NO. It would hurt us more than help us.

[MarinersAreTheBest]

This again?

[SeaTownJosh]

Seattle is cold, which causes the ball not to fly as far. The fact that center field is 405 feet is crazy, even the biggest ballparks only go 400.

[MontanaMariner]

Seattle is cold, which causes the ball not to fly as far. The fact that center field is 405 feet is crazy, even the biggest ballparks only go 400.

Detroit is like 420

[clarknova]

Seattle is not colder than Milwaukee Wisconsin. I think you mean the moisture laden air. That does cause the ball to die more than in dry places like Arlington Texas. 400 feet is the Major League MINIMUM for the center field fence. Safeco is 5 feet beyond the shortest allowable fence. The minimum foul pole distance is 325 feet. Safeco's Left Field foul pole is 331 feet from home plate and tapers out towards center. That is the "problem" for right handed pull power hitters.

I'm not totally against moving the fences in ever, I just think now would be just about the worst possible time to do it. I just think helping out the multiple right handed power bats of the two time defending AL champions not to mention Albert Pujols is borderline insane at this point. We look like we'll hit some more home runs this year, but we don't know what we have yet. If we had better power hitters now that you could prove would be benefited greatly by moving the fences and pitching that could overcome the change while not doing more harm than good by helping out your opponent, then I'd be all for it. But, look at the rotation we have to start this season, look at the line ups in the division and tell me moving the fences is a good idea.

Nobody's arguing that Safeco is a good park for hitters, especially right handed hitters. I'm just saying that the fences are not the problem with the last decade of the Seattle Mariners offense. Talent is. You could spend hours going back through hit charts to see how many warning track balls would be home runs if you moved the fences in 5 feet, but I'd be willing to bet a lot that it would actually cost us MORE losses due to the superior hitting talent of every single other baseball team, especially power hitting, almost every other season.

[Mariners51]

^ How is New York's 314 down the line then?

[clarknova]

It is? I'll have to do some more research. This is what I found from the MLB rules:

a) Any Playing Field constructed by a professional club after June 1, 1958, shall provide a minimum distance of 325 feet from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on the right and left field foul lines, and a minimum distance of 400 feet to the center field fence.

You're right though, Yankee stadium is 314 to the Right and 318 to the Left. The wall then sharply tapers away diagonally. Maybe because old Yankee stadium was built before 1958 and they were replacing it? That doesn't seem right though. I'll figure it out.

[clarknova]

Ok, so apparently all old park dimensions are grandfathered in and don't have to abide by the rule, but new parks can file appeals to MLB to have foul poles and fences closer than 325 feet by having taller walls and fences. So, it's an appeal-able rule. If Safeco wanted to be smaller than the above rule it would require approval by MLB and they'd have to do something like make a taller fence, apparently that's what the Houston Astros did. Good catch.

[jwmann2]

No thanks.

For every one more homer the mariners would hit, the opponent would hit two more.

Well said. It effects everyone. You need strong pitching like the Mets have to move the fences in.

[Travis]

It's not the distance down the lines that's the problem. It's the fact that damn near straight away left is 388 and that fence line increases all the way through the gap out to center field.

That said, I agree that right now is the worst time to change it. Ackley could hit 10 triples a year in this park. Felix is our best player and with Hultzen, Walker and Paxton coming through, we'd probably be best served to keep it a pitchers park.

[Travis]

Ok, so apparently all old park dimensions are grandfathered in and don't have to abide by the rule, but new parks can file appeals to MLB to have foul poles and fences closer than 325 feet by having taller walls and fences. So, it's an appeal-able rule. If Safeco wanted to be smaller than the above rule it would require approval by MLB and they'd have to do something like make a taller fence, apparently that's what the Houston Astros did. Good catch.

My Road To The Show player on MLB the Show plays for the Astros. I love the Crawford boxes in left - responsible for half of my career homers. :)

[SeaTownJosh]

I think i messed up and was trying to say left field fence. I kept thinking right handed hiters.

[Hiccup]

Looks like the Padres are thinking about bringing in their fences.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/24/padres-could-bring-fences-petco-park/

[Igoe4Mariners]

Looks like the Padres are thinking about bringing in their fences.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/24/padres-could-bring-fences-petco-park/

Petco IS a bit ridiculous. Moving the fences in there I could see, especially in the alleys.

[206HoopsFan]

I get that our pitchers have an advantage, the only thing I worry about is the perception around the league that any power hitter (esp. right handed) will turn into Adrian Beltre there. That's could really hurt us when it comes to trying to add big free agents down the road.

[Mariners51]

I get that our pitchers have an advantage, the only thing I worry about is the perception around the league that any power hitter (esp. right handed) will turn into Adrian Beltre there. That's could really hurt us when it comes to trying to add big free agents down the road.

It already has hurt us trying to sign some.

[HGKnights]

I agree with the majority of the posters here. Moving the fences isn't going to fix our offensive woes.
The ballpark we play in is no excuse for terrible baseball.