From the AP, on Minnesota's Target Field:
The Twins say they will take down the pine trees that were planted behind the center field wall at Target Field. Hitters complained the trees made it difficult for them to pick up the ball out of the pitcher's hand.
There are 14 trees out there and the way they swayed in the wind, along with the shadows they cast, caused problems for several hitters on the Twins and other teams.
SEATTLE -- The 26 trees the Seattle Mariners planted at Safeco Field in March to cut down on glare for hitters are coming out.
"Most of our hitters wanted them removed," Randy Adamack, the team's vice president of communications, said Tuesday as the tree removal began.
Second baseman Bret Boone, designated hitter Edgar Martinez, first baseman John Olerud and backup catcher Ben Davis have said they have trouble seeing the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand, particularly in games starting at 3:35 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The Mariners wound up solving their problem by installing some kind of honeycomb aluminum mesh material. How do the Twins intend to address their current predicament, Kelly Thesier?
The team also plans to install a new "almost honeycomb-like" material on the backdrop that will help to reduce the glare for hitters, which was a problem during late afternoon games.
THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST