Beset by miserable offensive production in their home park, Mariners will move in portions of the outfield wall at Safeco Field for the 2013 season. The changes, which will primarily affect the left field power alley, are the first to the facility’s dimensions since the ballpark opened in July, 1999.
The Mariners said they opted to adjust the park’s dimensions following several months of analysis and input from former players, as well as from current and past front-office personnel and coaches.
Our goal was to create an environment that is fair for both hitters and pitchers,” said GM Jack Zduriencik. “Considering the current field dimensions as well as the climate in and around Safeco Field, we feel this will be accomplished with this new layout.
The left-field wall, from the left field corner to a point about midway between the bullpens, will be moved in four feet. The biggest change will be from the left-field power alley to straightaway center, where the wall will be moved as much as 17 feet closer to home plate. From straightaway center to right center, the wall will be moved in four feet.
Another change will be in the left-field corner. The hand-operated scoreboard will no longer be in play, and will be moved the above left field wall as part of seating modifications that the Mariners will be announce later.
Currently in the left field corner, the wall is 16 feet high with the hand-operated scoreboard in play. After the board is moved, the outfield wall will be eight feet high, making it the same height from foul pole to foul pole.
Safeco Field’s dimensions now, and in 2013:
- LF Line: 331 feet now; 331 feet in 2013.
- Left Center: 390 feet now; 378 feet in 2013.
- Deepest Point: 409 feet now; 405 feet in 2013.
- Straightaway Center: 405 feet now, 401 feet in 2013.
- Right Center: 385 feet now, 381 feet in 2013.
- RF Line: 326 feet now; 326 feet in 2013.
6 Comments
Cool beans. Now we can lose 4-3 instead of 3-2 (presuming we’re moving the fences in for Josh Hamilton and Miguel Cabrera, too). Good times!
Cool beans. Now we can lose 4-3 instead of 3-2 (presuming we’re moving the fences in for Josh Hamilton and Miguel Cabrera, too). Good times!
The obvious questions are, has the City done an EIS on the proposal? Have all other sites for the fences around King County been considered? Is the moving of the fences I-91 compliant? What will the effect of more HRs be on the Port? Can we gather enough signatures to put the moving of the fences in on the ballot for a public vote?
No, Jamo57, the real question is whether we can get Chris Hansen to pay for the new fences.
The obvious questions are, has the City done an EIS on the proposal? Have all other sites for the fences around King County been considered? Is the moving of the fences I-91 compliant? What will the effect of more HRs be on the Port? Can we gather enough signatures to put the moving of the fences in on the ballot for a public vote?
No, Jamo57, the real question is whether we can get Chris Hansen to pay for the new fences.