Since the Mets moved into Citi Field in 2009, star third baseman David Wright has hit 22 home runs there and 31 on the road; granted, injuries are part of the reason for his lack of production, but as ESPN New York points out, the Mets' home park is one of the worst home run parks in baseball:
Mets Expected To Announce ‘Dramatic’ Changes In Citi Field Dimensions
Citi Field allowed 1.33 homers per game last season, which ranked 14th among 16 National League ballparks, ahead of only San Francisco’s AT&T Park (1.00) and San Diego’s Petco Park (1.23).The article goes on to say that the Mets are likely to announce “substantial” changes in the dimensions to their home, after the World Series is over, that will help out hitters. The intention is, according to Mets GM Sandy Alderson, to make the park more “neutral” for hitters. There’s one more important factor:
Alderson added at the time that offense sells. And the Mets need to fill seats, having experienced three straight seasons of declining attendance.There will be a lower wall, eight feet high, added in front of the current 16-foot-high left field wall, angled out from the LF corner. And there will be more significant changes in right field:
In right field, where the “Mo’s Zone” nook currently exists, the fencing will be moved closer to eradicate that crevice.
A dramatic change will occur in right-center, which had measured 415 feet from home plate. The new depth is expected to be 390 feet -- a 25-foot reduction.The Mets hit just 108 home runs in 2011, 13th in the National League. They also finished 13th in 2010 and 16th in 2009 after hitting 172 home runs and placing seventh in the NL in 2008, their final season in Shea Stadium.
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