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27 extra homers with new Citi dimensions?

Courtesy of New York Mets

Here's an early look at preparations for a new right-center wall at Citi Field.PHOENIX -- Sandy Alderson said Citi Field should resemble Shea Stadium in 2015, after the outfield-dimension adjustments are completed in right-center.

Alderson estimated right-center on average will be 10 feet shorter than in 2014, and particularly should benefit Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda.

Plotting 2014 balls hit to right-center, the Mets estimate 27 extra home runs would have been hit with the revised dimensions -- 17 by the Mets and 10 by opponents.

“Nobody can guarantee that wouldn’t be reversed,” Alderson added, noting opponents could end up benefiting more than the Mets next season. “Our goal was to make it more of a neutral park in that area, so you could hit a ball out opposite field, to right-center. But I do think the left-handed hitters will be helped more than the right-handers will.”

David Wright's power is to right-center. Asked how the changes may benefit the captain, Alderson said: “We’ll have to see. Last year was an off-year for David, so it’s hard to make a measurement there.

“Curtis will definitely be benefited. I’ve got to believe Lucas will be benefited from it. And our goal on the pitching side is just to make sure that we’ve got pitchers that strike people out and have a decent groundball ratio and aren’t at risk.”

Alderson added that the Mets are in the entertainment industry, and more scoring is better for sales.

“I think I actually have a preference for a little more offense in games,” the GM said. “We do want to entertain people. At some point 2-1 loses its cachet, panache, or whatever the right word is. I think we’re in the entertainment business. I think we want to provide something entertaining for the fans. And I don’t think fans, especially young fans, come to the ballpark to see 1-0, 2-0, 3-2 games. Those are great. And I love those games. But I like 10-8, too.”