If the Mariners strength as an organization is starting pitching (as most consider it to be), moving the fences in will actually emphasize that strength more than maintaining a large park because of:

1.) Currently, mediocre pitchers are able to get away with mistakes due to the dimensions. Good to great pitching is not rewarded.

2.) With shorter dimensions, there would actually be a PREMIUM on high quality pitchers who can maintain control of the game in a setting that would seem to favor the offense.

In short, if the Mariner pitchers are significantly better than their opposition, moving the fences in would highlight that strength (even if their ERAs increased from prior years…assuming that the opposing pitchers’ ERAs would increase even more).

Here’s what the Mets did, quoted from the NY Times in April:
“As a result of the off-season carpentry, the fence is 358 feet from home plate to left-center field, down from 371 feet before. Straightaway center field remains 408 feet away, but the right-field fence in front of the bullpen is now a more reasonable 395 feet away, instead of 415 feet.”

They also lowered the fences from 16 feet to 8 feet and added a number of very expensive–$100 and up, is that fair?–outfield seats.

So the Mets made no change in center, brought in left center 13 feet (would Smoak’s ball to left-center last night have gone out?), 20 feet in right.

This is a tricky proposition. The right field seats don’t need to come in at all in the Safe, do they? Not until you get about 50 feet away from the foul pole, at least.

Someone’s going to be unhappy no matter what they do; you’re not going to turn the Safe into Fenway, where left is so short that you can start two DH’s in Boston. It’s a great point for discussion, I suppose, like Olivo’s pluses and minuses on defense; but I hope they find a way to turn changes into wins. Otherwise it’s just greasing squeaky wheels. That’s what makes it a tricky proposition, deserving a careful answer.

“Marine air”–ya sure you betcha. I hope Smoak can keep it in perspective. Watching at home, I was SURE that second ball was gone. Dang.

Paxton’s struggled with his command and was on the DL for a while after getting hit by a line drive.

Walker probably will stay in Double A all season.

Do you know when the Mariners will move Hultzen up to AAA Tacoma? He is dominating in AA Jackson. Walker and Paxton are doing pretty well also but they should probably stay in double A a while longer.

What used to be a strength for the Mariners is a disaster this year. The starting pitching has really hurt this team. Unfortunately, they cant even count on Felix at this point. This past month they have been scoring runs, the offense has started to come alive. The Mariners would be doing much better this year if their pitchers’ performances were similar to 2010 or 2011. In 2010 and 2011 it felt like if the Mariners could score at least 3 runs it was almost guaranteed to be a win. This year they need to score closer to 6 runs to get a win.