Coleman's Corner: Extreme Makeover, Citi Field Edition

By Ed Coleman
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The walls may not come tumbling down at Citi Field next season, but they most likely will not be staying the same for 2012.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson addressed that topic Tuesday night in St. Louis.  The front office has been studying the available data and there will be in all likelihood a new look for Citi Field come next April.

Meaning changes will likely be substantial.

So what does Alderson hope to accomplish by changing the dimensions?

That's one - and the other ought to be fairly obvious to everyone in this day and age of baseball.

It's not so much about home runs but rather the cumulative effect that Citi Field currently has on a team that plays 81 of its games there, as opposed to an opponent which plays 3 -- or at the most 9 -- games there during the course of a season.

Getting balls to go out to left and left-center at Citi Field can be a daunting task. Just ask any player who has stood at second base with their hands up or rolling their eyes or shaking their head. And the numbers back it up.

When it comes to left field, down and in are two words very much in play.

Speaking of changes, Alderson made slight ones to the dimensions at mammoth Petco Park when he was with the San Diego Padres. Is he thinking along those lines here or something more?

Change is inevitable, and Citi Field at present is a beautiful park well received by fans. Alderson wants to make sure that the look and feel of the place is not compromised -- and feels it won't be.

C U soon
Eddie C.

Are changes long overdue? Let Coleman know in the comments below...

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