Seattle team officials, led by Chief Executive Officer Howard Lincoln, met with players early Wednesday in the home clubhouse to discuss a number of issues, primarily player concerns about the glare the hitters deal with during certain games.
"I think we had a good meeting," designated hitter Edgar Martinez said. "They said they would see what they could do about it."
Second baseman Bret Boone and a number of his teammates expressed their worries several weeks ago about the glare during games that start at 3:35 pst p.m., 6:05 pst p.m., and in high summer, the early innings of normal night games that start at 7:05 pst. At times during those games, the plate is in shadow and the outfield and/or center-field stands are in bright sun.
Last night, for a 7:05pst p.m. start, the weather was cloudy.
Last week in Anaheim, Boone asked a writer to stand close to him as he played catch with first baseman John Olerud. Boone was in shadow, Olerud was in sunlight.
"Tell me how this looks to you," Boone said.
When Olerud threw an easy toss, the ball disappeared when it entered the shadow, to be picked up much closer to Boone.
"Now think of that at 93-95 mph," Boone said.
Martinez said he used to think the Anaheim glare was bad.
"But after having to deal with it in Safeco," he said yesterday, "Anaheim isn't so tough any more."
He said that a number of potential relief measures were raised, including closing the roof during the worst periods.
"I think fans would understand that it's for players' safety," Martinez said. "Actually, it isn't so bad now as it gets darker sooner, only the first at-bat is real bad. But when we need it, maybe they could close the roof for two or three innings."
Martinez said club officials agreed to bring in experts to study the matter.
General Manager Pat Gillick said that the club study will study the glare.
"But I wouldn't expect anything to be done this season," he said.
"I think we had a good meeting," designated hitter Edgar Martinez said. "They said they would see what they could do about it."
Second baseman Bret Boone and a number of his teammates expressed their worries several weeks ago about the glare during games that start at 3:35 pst p.m., 6:05 pst p.m., and in high summer, the early innings of normal night games that start at 7:05 pst. At times during those games, the plate is in shadow and the outfield and/or center-field stands are in bright sun.
Last night, for a 7:05pst p.m. start, the weather was cloudy.
Last week in Anaheim, Boone asked a writer to stand close to him as he played catch with first baseman John Olerud. Boone was in shadow, Olerud was in sunlight.
"Tell me how this looks to you," Boone said.
When Olerud threw an easy toss, the ball disappeared when it entered the shadow, to be picked up much closer to Boone.
"Now think of that at 93-95 mph," Boone said.
Martinez said he used to think the Anaheim glare was bad.
"But after having to deal with it in Safeco," he said yesterday, "Anaheim isn't so tough any more."
He said that a number of potential relief measures were raised, including closing the roof during the worst periods.
"I think fans would understand that it's for players' safety," Martinez said. "Actually, it isn't so bad now as it gets darker sooner, only the first at-bat is real bad. But when we need it, maybe they could close the roof for two or three innings."
Martinez said club officials agreed to bring in experts to study the matter.
General Manager Pat Gillick said that the club study will study the glare.
"But I wouldn't expect anything to be done this season," he said.
