Field of vision

Mariners install glare-guard in center at Safeco Field

SEATTLE (AP) -- For the second half of the season, Safeco Field will have a new look, one the Seattle Mariners hope will cut down the ballpark's infamous glare for day and early evening games.

Mariners hitters have complained about that glare, particularly during day games, at Safeco since the ballpark opened on July 15, 1999. Some have even campaigned to have the team keep Safeco's retractable roof closed for day games because they felt it would solve the problem.

"It's been an ongoing project for us," Mariners director of public information Rebecca Hale said Friday.

Workers on Thursday began installing a space-age aluminum honeycomb material on the batter's eye backdrop in center field. The work probably will continue until Monday, Hale said.

The next home game will be Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics, when the Mariners open a 12-game home stand.

The material, which is used as a structural core material in the aerospace industry, is mounted on 4-by-8-foot panels. The panels have been painted and powder-coated a flat black to provide a non-reflective surface.

"It's very, very, very black," Hale said. "From a distance, it looks like velvet. That's how black it is."

The honeycomb is manufactured by Alcore Corp., headquartered near Baltimore, Md. Alcore manufactures lightweight structural core materials for aerospace, marine, construction and rail applications.

Since Safeco opened, the Mariners have repainted their center-field wall several times, changed game times, adjusted the angle of the wall and moved center field 20 feet toward left field.

In 2002, the team had trees planted in center field, but removed them after Mariners hitters complained trees only made the glare worse.

At the All-Star break, the AL West-leading Mariners were hitting .259 as a team at home and .297 on the road. The team was averaging 5.8 runs on the road and 4.2 runs at home.

Hale said the Mariners hope this solution will work.

"Our consultants have been huddling over this for a long time and they think this is a very good solution," Hale said.

 

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