2ec254e4-309e-4933-9f8c-e03c142aa5db.jpg
Fly balls hit to deep left-center at Safeco Field won't be caught on the warning track now that the club is moving in the fences. (AP)

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listen Listen: Jack Zduriencik on moving in Safeco's fences
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik tells "The Kevin Calabro Show" about the decision to shorten the dimensions at Safeco Field.
The Mariners will move in portions of the Safeco Field fences beginning next season, with the most notable difference being in the spacious left field.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told "The Kevin Calabro Show" Tuesday that the club decided to alter the dimensions after soliciting the input of former players as well as current and past coaches and members of the front office.

"What we wanted to do was create a fair ballpark and to eliminate extremes, and that was our goal," Zduriencik said. "Those of us that have watched how this field plays [have noticed] that there are extremes, and we wanted to kind of neutralize that and just make it a fair ballpark."

The biggest change will be in the left-field power alley, where the distance from home plate will decrease from 390 feet to 378 feet. Straightaway center field will move in four feet, decreasing the distance from 405 to 401. From straightaway center to the right-field power alley, the wall will move in four feet, decreasing the distance in the right-field power alley from 385 to 381.

The distance down the left-field foul line will remain 331 feet, but the hand-operated scoreboard will be relocated so that it's no longer in play. The wall in the left-field corner, currently 16 feet high at the top of the scoreboard, will be reduced to eight feet, making the outfield wall the same height from foul pole to foul pole.

The dimensions will remain the same from the right-field power alley to the right field line.

The possibility of shortening the dimensions at Safeco Field has been a topic of debate in recent seasons, especially as the Mariners' offense has struggled at a historic rate. Seattle is on pace to finish last in the American League in runs scored for the fourth consecutive season.

Zduriencik agreed that the spacious dimensions combined with the cool air coming off the Puget Sound got into hitters' heads.

"I don't think there's any doubt about it and I think a lot of the discussions we had with guys that played here in the past said the same thing. You come out of spring training and you roll in here for the first two, possibly three months [and] the air's heavy, it's damp, the ball doesn't move, the ball doesn't fly. It makes it an extreme ballpark to drive the baseball in," he said.

"So what we wanted to do was just alter the dimensions somewhat where it would play fairly, and we think we've accomplished that."

The changes to the dimensions are the first since Safeco Field opened in 1999.

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Comments (49)


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  • WShadow206 wrote...
    We Better
    October 2, 2012 12:28 pm
    B in the Playoffs thats all there is to it....we better b winning next yr an we better be in tha playoffs. yea better perform because pressure is on. its our turn....so if this is what you do you better be winning next yr. Winning Solves alot!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shanevg wrote...
    Spelling solves a lot too
    October 2, 2012 1:04 pm
    Seriously! You need to learn to spell. I can hardly read your post!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    shanevg
    October 2, 2012 1:45 pm
    OK man, that made me LAUGH!!! Yes, spelling helps make the point...LOLOLOLOLOL!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Whats next...
    October 2, 2012 12:43 pm
    Aluminum Bats
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Derrol_o wrote...
    About time I guess
    October 2, 2012 12:59 pm
    It's been long overdue. Griffey Jr had the right idea way back in '98 or '99 when he lobbied management to get the fences moved in to attract more bigtime power hitters but it didn't get anywhere.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jamie from Victoria wrote...
    be careful of what you wish for
    October 2, 2012 1:20 pm
    This better work to the Mariners benefit in 2013 or it is going to be seen as an act of desperation for a team full of warning track heroes. I hope the Jason Vargases of world, can adjust to their home field being much friendlier to opposing bombers like Beltre, or Trout, Cruz and Trumbo. Step up Mariner hitters, your crutch is gone in 2013, no more whiny excuses.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • El Duderino wrote...
    Still have to score more runs than the other team
    October 2, 2012 1:26 pm
    The M's were in a hitter's park for over 20 years and did squat (1995 was fun but no WS). Yes they did set the MLB record for most team HRs but the Dome was a band box. Pitchers like Randy couldn't wait to get out of town.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    There is a big problem coming for the Mariners
    October 2, 2012 1:34 pm
    it's called NBA and NHL. If they don't do something soon, they will find 3,000 avg in attendance once Felix is gone and without the ability to attract hitting talent.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    and then
    October 2, 2012 1:46 pm
    The Mariners will be gone...Yeeeeouch!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Harry Johnson wrote...
    and then
    October 2, 2012 2:32 pm
    Not to worry. Senator Murray will find a way to print some money for a Mariner subsidy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    Better late than not at all...
    October 2, 2012 1:36 pm
    ...the owners could have said, "pass the cake" and let it go. At least, as GM Z stated, it does produces an alluded sensation of more equality between hitter and pitcher here. Alluded? let's see if it becomes "fact" instead next spring. There's always room for improvement, even when you think there ain't.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • KeysAndStops wrote...
    Scoreboard
    October 2, 2012 1:51 pm
    And to where is the hand-operated scoreboard being relocated? What about replacing that outdated monochrome matrix board? We need a huge LED board in center field.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Wild Bill wrote...
    oh boy
    October 2, 2012 1:57 pm
    the "LEFT FIELD POWER ALLEY"....say WA? So, why can visiting teams hit just fine in the current Safe? I don't remember any "bring in da fences" blather when we were winning. This is just more mumbo jumbo from an obtuse, out of touch, arrogant Mariners "management" structure. Time to overhaul the M's Brass. Big Time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    Hey Wild Bill
    October 2, 2012 1:58 pm
    Opposing teams can hit here because they can attract hitting talent to their teams. You clearly don't think logically before reaching a conclusion.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    The move was a no brainer.
    October 2, 2012 1:57 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Deeper fences make for healthier pitchers
    October 2, 2012 2:09 pm
    And baseball is about pitching.Move in the fences and your pitchers take a beating.I say put a team together with speed,plate discipline and good pitching and the combination can take you along way (cheaply). Look up the weak hitting Go Go Sox 1959 White Sox who hit only 97 HRs in the season yet made it to the World Series. They set a MLB record by scoring 11 RUNS in one inning while getting ONLY 1 HIT
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • seahawks_155 wrote...
    messiah101
    October 2, 2012 3:25 pm
    Are you seriously makin a reference to what a team from 1959 did like it is relevant now? Seriously?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    seahawks_155
    October 2, 2012 4:31 pm
    Speed,plate discipline and pitching will make a team in ANY era a winner.You don't make a team a winner by bringing in the fences. Thats a FOLLY,thats SHOWBIZ,thats not winning baseball it outs your team at a disadvantage any time another club with big sticks comes to town. Do you believe that a Bob Gibson,Warren Spahn,Whitey Ford,Micky Mantle ,Ted Williams,Joe Dimaggio would not be stars today,You don't believe the Big RED machine or the great Baltimore Oakland A and Pirates teams would not be winners today?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Messiah, it would be so refreshing to see a comment from you that wasn't idiotic.
    October 2, 2012 4:11 pm
    Although I'd probably be so shocked that I'd pass out and slam my head on the corner of the desk. So it's just as well that you don't surprise me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Zagnut
    October 2, 2012 4:36 pm
    Your welcome to your comment but it means little unless you can be specific in your remarks. Do you understand the game of baseball?I ask that because it does not sound as if you do.Do you believe that Good pitching beats good hitting?Do you believe that the strength of the Ms has been the pitching?So why would you neutralize a strength for 81 games by believing your team will out homer the opposition when there is no information that they will?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    OK Messiah, I'll bite.
    October 2, 2012 6:44 pm
    For your information, the distance of the fences is the same for both teams. So, if I have a team that has strong pitching (which I believe is the M's strength both at home and away) then I'd rather have a small park. You see Mr. baseball genius, a big park benefits weak pitchers. They get away with mistakes. A small park benefits strong pitchers because they don't give a #@%# about the size of the park. They'll do well anywhere. The other big reason for bringing the fences in is that the park has developed a reputation that it is SUCH a pitcher's park (again, for those of you that are slow, a "pitcher's park is a park that benefits WEAK pitchers the most) that it hurts our chances of signing free agent hitters. And the other significant reason for moving in the fences that I'll mention is that it will help our hitters psychologically. Our hitters HATE hitting in their home park right now. That SUCKS. You should WANT to come home and play. Now maybe they will. There are other reasons but this post is already too long. Bottom line, you don't seem like a stupid person to me Messiah. But you have irrational and stupid positions on almost every subject you comment on. It is amazing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Zagnut
    October 3, 2012 7:38 am
    "Strong pitching" becomes just average pitching the closer the walls come in.For the most part teams should be built for the park they play half their schedule in (are you with me so far?) As I stated earlier since pitching is the largest part of the game doesn't it make sense that attracting good pitchers is far more important then attracting hitters?Also a large outfield can work to a teams benefit by putting fast OFers in the 3 positions (of course a excellent CFer is your number one concern. THis gives you an additional defensive edge at home.Our hitters don't hate hitting at SAFCO thats just media BS sure power guys will lose some HRs but they will also have more hits fall in a LARGER outfield.Do you ever think over your ideas before posting or do you just use the BS the media feeds you?Do you really believe our 15-20 HR guys will suddenly become 30+ guys because the fense is moved in ,if you do your dreaming.However we will give up MORE HRs next year to opposing teams and thats going to cost us games.I may not appear as a "stupid person" to you but you appear as an empty headed idiot to me
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    Messiah and zagnut
    October 3, 2012 6:45 pm
    Both If you guys have valid points. Both of you are missing one huge piece. NO great free agents will play in this park. That is a well known fact. It's not media hype messiah. Name one great free agent that has came to Seattle. You can't! Because there never had been one. Messiah where did you hear that the hitters don't hat the park? They do every single player that has left hates this place. That is also a fact. You both have made great points about defense and pitching. Both needed. But your also forgetting the biggest reason no FA being signed is because we have a penny pinching brain dead front office. That have proven over and over that they are massive failures in recognizing talent that fits safeco. They are morons when it comes to evaluating and signing talent that fits the ball park. Until the sell this team they will never compete because they dont know how to and are idiots. Messiah nobody said your going to take a 15 homer guy and he becomes a 30 HR guy because they move the dencrles a couple feet
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

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Jack Zduriencik on moving in Safeco's fences

Tuesday, Oct 2, 2012

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik tells "The Kevin Calabro Show" about the decision to shorten the dimensions at Safeco Field.
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