AP: 613be192-3388-4ba4-bfe1-fde5d9d612af
Seattle's Alex Liddi hit a grand slam over the left-field fence on Wednesday, something that doesn't happen often due to the deep dimensions in that part of Safeco Field and the damp, cool air coming in from Elliot Bay. (AP)

You might also be interested in:
If you're a Seattle Mariners baseball fan, do you want to see lots of home runs or a team that can win playing "small ball?" The debate is swirling around blogs and radio talk shows.

It's no secret Safeco Field has the second worst home-run production in the major leagues. San Francisco has the lowest. Somehow the Giants still managed to win the World Series in 2010.

Seattle's ballpark was designed to accentuate great pitching and defense. In the past several seasons, the Mariners' offense has struggled with few power threats in the lineup.

Visiting teams have noticed the baseball doesn't carry as well because of the stadium dimensions and Seattle's damp, cool air blowing off Elliott Bay. The retractable roof is also a factor.

710 ESPN Seattle host Mike Salk is one of those in favor of moving in the fences at Safeco Field to help build confidence for a young group of Mariners hitters.

"It's difficult to watch when you see it happen. You've got these young players, and you hope it doesn't get into their head," Salk said. "You see opportunities lost and home run balls that could have been, falling too short."

Tuesday night, the Mariners' Casper Wells hit a deep fly ball which might have been a home run in 25 other stadiums. Italian slugger Alex Liddi crushed another ball which wound up being caught on the warning track. Liddi mentioned the Safeco Field factor in his postgame comments.

Ironically, Liddi belted a grand slam homer Wednesday afternoon to help the Mariners beat Texas 5-3. Former Mariner Adrian Beltre also hit a homer to deep left field for the Rangers. So, round-trippers can happen in Seattle.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik was asked on 710 ESPN Seattle's "Brock and Salk" show whether the club would consider moving the fences in closer.

"You know, we're going to look at everything this winter," said Zduriencik. "All options are on the table. As an organization I think we have to do what is best. We're not going to do anything right now in the middle of the season."

97.3 KIRO FM's Dave Ross had a common sense idea. Why not put the Safeco Field fences on wheels? Just roll them in closer when the Mariners are up to bat. Roll them back out deeper when the visitors come to the plate.

Now that's a home-field advantage.

Follow Bill Swartz, 710 ESPN Seattle

share this story:
facebook
email

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (37)


  • Add A Comment

  • Sterling wrote...
    Safeco Fences
    May 24, 2012 6:44 am
    Move 'em in. Right now, the Ms play in a park that makes it difficult to attract long-ball hitters to join the team. Right now, it favors small-ball and seems to play like a National League field. Since the AL plays the Designated hitter, doesn't it make good sense to modify the fences to be hitter-friendly?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Safeco was built for PITCHING.
    May 24, 2012 7:07 am
    You can not have it both ways. The old Kingdome was laid out for the long ball - but Griffey was ALWAYS complaining about 'where's the pitching?'. ......... The current set-up makes home runs special. Would yesterdays grand slam be a great if they happened once a week ? ......................... AND REMEMBER - the OTHER teams would hit a lot more home runs too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lamlor wrote...
    Thank you!
    May 24, 2012 12:39 pm
    My argument exactly. We don't have the most power in the league, maybe the least, and making it easier to hit homers helps the other teams just as much as ours. Now their #7-9 hitters will hit just as many homers as our #3-5 hitters. If you want to change something, try changing the lineup to where is has 9 actual MLB hitters in it. That would have a greater impact on wins and losses than the fences being moved in.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lamlor wrote...
    Reply
    May 24, 2012 12:40 pm
    My reply was to ron prevost's comments and some how it went to xkop's.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sir Wesley wrote...
    Safeco Field Dimensions
    May 24, 2012 7:13 am
    The fences are fine right where they are. The Mariner's problem over the past several years has not been with the fences. It has been the players. Cheap home runs do nothing but cheapen the game. Yankee Stadium is a joke. They spend over a billion dollars on a park where homeruns have become a dime a dozen. No thanks. I'm thinking it will be real interesting watching Albert hit at Safeco. If he can'treach the seats, then maybe I change my mind. On the other hand, do we really want guys like him feasting on shortened fences?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    Sir Wesley
    May 24, 2012 10:17 am
    So are you happy with all the last place finishes this franchise has endured? Because your first sentance tells me you are just happy with the record setting poor offense. I agree you need actual major league hitters on the roster. Something this team sorely lacks. I have Zero confidence in this front office to do anything that will result in a winning product on the field. They have proven year after year they are massive failure at that.

    Do you have faith that this front office can develope any power hitters? How can they when they spend their top three picks on pitching? Do you think Dustin Ackley is a power hitter? NO he is a contact hitter.

    You guys make it sound like they are going to make it 250 feet down the lines. These fences should have been adjusted ten years ago.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pilate wrote...
    A Couple of Things
    May 24, 2012 7:22 am
    Eric Wedge said last week he gets sick and tired of people (meaning people other than managers, coaches, GM's, etc.) asking him about "small ball," but none of them can define it. So start there. Until you know what you're talking about, there's no discussion.

    Well, well, well. Beltre can hit homers out to left here at Safeco. Why didn't he do that while he was here? But that's more about him than the fences.

    "You see opportunities lost, and home run balls that could have been, falling too short," says Salk. Same goes for the visitors.

    Line drives play in any park, and any hitting coach will tell you a line drive stroke is what you aim for. Ask Justin Smoak; his swing got too big and now he's trying to shorten it up.

    Finally, if this is just a "chicks dig the long ball" mentality, admit it. But just remember, both teams play on the same field. Because as Salk also said, "You've got these young players, and you hope it doesn't get into their head[s]." And after all, half of your squad is pitchers.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    I think fans and ball players just love to complain
    May 24, 2012 7:23 am
    The pitchers used to complain about the Kingdome. How about moving the fences halfway between where the hitters want them and where the pitchers want them to remain.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MFCEO wrote...
    Real Simple
    May 24, 2012 7:32 am
    Move the fences in. For the average Mariners/baseball fan it is much more entertaining watching high scoring baseball games with the long ball featuring much more often. The moment I heard some players say that "whatever it is, the large park? the low elevation? the weather? Safeco messes with you". I knew immediately that they needed to be moved in. Mariners are the least entertaining product in MLB. I would rather pay $15 to look at some blown glass then go to a Mariners game. At some point when you have been a joke for a decade and are reaching for the bottom of the league in attendance, you need to do something to get butts in the seats. especially considering the organization has already told us straight up that we won't contend until probably 2014 or 2015.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CG58 wrote...
    MFCEO
    May 24, 2012 8:26 am
    If what you say is true, then why in the heck are you even reading and commenting on this story? Also, from where do you find your facts to claim that the 'average' M's fan prefers high scoring games? From what I see and hear at the games, the fans cheer just as loudly for a double play, or a close play at a base or home plate, as they do for home runs. I don't know where the idea that fans go to the game primarily to see home runs being hit all of the time, cause that's not the reality I've experienced.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dmichel wrote...
    Yes
    May 24, 2012 7:44 am
    We will never attract a power hitter till we do. It does not have to be a drastic move, but some sure would help!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Everybody! Conference room, 5 minutes!!
    May 24, 2012 7:50 am
    This is what happens when the steroid ban starts taking hold. Drop that ban and those balls will be dropping down in front of Doc Maynards..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pilate wrote...
    Just a Thought
    May 24, 2012 7:50 am
    In a discussion like this one, the inability of the Mariners to sign free agent sluggers invariably comes up. Who's the last free agent PITCHER the M's signed? A 37 year old Millwood to a minor league contract? Iwakuma recovering from arm surgery? Wow, there's two big splashes for ya. Oh, I left out Jarred Washburn. One of the major reasons Cliff Lee was traded at the deadline was because there was zero chance of signing him when he became a free agent at season's end.

    It's not the park, it's not the air, it's not the fences. Prince Fielder signed with Detroit where the right field foul pole is 345' from home plate. First you have to build it, the TEAM, then they will come.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Brad A wrote...
    116 WINS IN 2001?
    May 24, 2012 7:56 am
    Pitching,speed and timely hitting and great coaching. It's time to quit making excuses. Safeco is home to the greatest regular season in Major league history.Our stadium is the best in baseball the way it is.LEAVE IT ALONE! Smarter management and coaching.................Come on!!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    This team has a knack
    May 24, 2012 8:02 am
    For pitching developement and not developing long ball guys (Texas does that well)good pitchers (Lee) want to pitch here.Remember good pitching will always shut down good hitting.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

You might also be interested in:






Seahawks tickets

Blogs

Brock and Salk Ackley, Montero not much help during M's hot streak
6 hours, 53 minutes ago.
WSU Cougars Coug fans shouldn't be told to temper expectations
Wednesday, May 8, 11:04 am




Contact Us
Employment
Contest Rules
RSS
Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
EEO Public File Report
Copyright Infringement
mynorthwest.com
Copyright © 2013 Bonneville International. All rights reserved.