Padres considering shortening Petco fences

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SAN DIEGO, April 24 (UPI) -- The San Diego Padres said Tuesday they were considering moving the fences in at expansive Petco Park to increase run production.

Interim Chief Executive Officer Tom Garfinkle told reporters the alterations could be in place before the 2013 season, but would not completely alter Petco's reputation as a pitcher's paradise.

"It will still be a pitcher's ballpark, but a hitter should be rewarded if he crushes it," said Garfinkle. "And if a team is down 4-0, they should feel there is some hope."

Petco has aggravated the punchless Padres' chronic lack of offense, which makes the task of overcoming a 4-0 deficit particularly daunting and can make it difficult to keep fans engaged. So far this season, San Diego ranks 15th out of 16 teams in the National League in hitting with a .214 batting average and 10 home runs in 17 games.

Garfinkle did not mention any specific dimensions for altering the fences. The Padres have twice before studied the idea of moving the fences in, The San Diego Union-Tribune said.

Petco measures 336 feet down the left-field line, 401 to left-center and 322 feet down the right-field line.