How will Shea Stadium play this season? The wind patterns at Shea over the years played havoc with outfielders. Shea’s round shape forced winds into swirling patterns that often caused players to perform dance steps while waiting for fly balls to come down. Sometimes, the wind came in from left center and forced fly balls headed over the fence to remain in fair territory. Ask Mike Piazza, who made the last out during the 2000 World Series. Mike appeared to crush the ball for a game tying home run only to see it land in the glove of Bernie Williams. On any other night…
This season, unlike any previously, Shea will be virtually enclosed. Beyond the outfield fence for years was nothing but the parking lot. Last year, by season’s end, there was a steel skeleton sitting directly behind Shea. This year, the final season of Shea, the outfield will almost completely be blocked by the new stadium known as Citi Field. It no longer looks like a construction site as it did last season. By April 8, from the outside, Citi Field may look as if it were ready to host its first game. A look inside would show differently however since there will yet to be a field in place or any seats.
The question for this season is how will the dynamics of this new structure blocking the open end of Shea Stadium play out during the games. On the surface I would have to assume there would be less wind meaning we could see more home runs than before. Outfielders may also have an easier time of tracking down fly balls. Time will tell, it’s hard to be sure. But the new building has to surely make a difference in how games are influenced in Shea’s final season.
Those that have the privilege of working at Shea have mentioned that it is already an odd feeling looking out and not being able to see the open space anymore. It has more of the feeling of the old Vet or Three Rivers Stadium in
Notes: The Mets take on the Cardinals today in Jupiter at 1:05. The game will be web cast on MLB.COM’s Game Day Audio.
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