Marlins President David Samson said that the team "has no plans to move in the fences" at Marlins Park following the '12 season, according to Tom D'Angelo of the PALM BEACH POST. The park "has gained a reputation as being pitcher friendly" and ranks as the "fifth-most difficult in the NL to hit a home run," with 20 in the first 15 games, or 1.33 per game, entering yesterday. Of the Marlins' 32 home runs this year, only 13 have come at Marlins Park. Samson said, "We have no reason to think about doing anything with the fences. The park is playing fair." The Marlins are also "satisfied with the attendance of 30,180 per game and surprised how the Clevelander bar has become such a hot spot" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 5/15). Samson said that crowds "have been even better than it might appear when looking at the stands, because of the wide, inviting concourses." Samson: "There are more people milling than we even expected -- thousands of people at any time." The AP's Steven Wine noted Marlins' attendance this season ranks 15th in MLB. The team "averaged 19,007 per game last year, and ranked last in the NL in game attendance in each of the past seven seasons" (AP, 5/15).
KEEPING COOL: Samson said that finding the "most comfortable temperature throughout Marlins Park has been the No. 1 challenge so far" with the new venue. Samson: "We’ve been working on the air-conditioning system every single day. It’s a constant thing, and it’s difficult." Meanwhile, Samson said, "Parking is not an issue at all. We’ve had zero delays in, zero delays out” (MIAMI HERALD, 5/16).
