The Mets may bring in the walls at Citi Field again. (USATSI)

During the 2011-12 offseason, the Mets brought in the fences at Citi Field in an effort to create a more hitter-friendly ballpark. The fences were most notably shortened up in left and left-center as well as right field.

Now, after three seasons with the new dimensions, the team is considering shortening up the fences once again, GM Sandy Alderson confirmed to reporters, including Marc Carig of Newsday. No plans are final but the team is mulling over the idea. Any changes to the ballpark dimensions would not be sweeping and instead focus on right-center field.

From 2009-11, an average of 8.25 runs were scored per game at Citi Field, or 93 percent of the 8.85 league average. Since the fences were brought in for the 2012, Citi Field has averaged 7.47 runs per game, or 89 percent of the 8.39 league average. The Mets' feeble offense these last few years skews the data, however.

Alderson told Carig that Curtis Granderson would have hit an additional seven home runs this season had the team played with the revamped dimensions, according to their data. Granderson has hit 18 home runs this season after averaging 34.5 homers during his last four full healthy seasons from 2009-12.

Manager Terry Collins is on board with the proposed changes, even going as far as telling Mike Puma of the New York Post that he hopes the team follows through and brings the walls in for the second time in three years.

Yes, it's going to help the other team, too, but I go back to what I've said in the past: we pitch pretty good in some [hitters'] parks, Collins said before the Mets' 2-0 win over the Rockies.

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I think it's going to help us a little bit confidence-wise when you get in that batter's box and say, Hey, look, I can use the field and do some damage here,' because that's what a lot of guys in this lineup are paid to do, and that's get big hits. I think it would be great for us Collins said.

The Mets are in the middle of a rebuild that is focused on young pitching, specifically Matt Harvey, Jacob de Grom, Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard, among others. The offense is not quite as robust, but they have some nice pieces in Granderson, David Wright, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud.

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Mets mulling moving in Citi Field fences again

Power Numbers Are Just Not There, So Collins Wants To See Something Done September 10, 2014 3:00 PM

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) If you cant beat it, keep shrinking it.

Not scoring runs the way they want to, theMets are considering moving in the fences yet again at Citi Field.

The state-of-the-artstadiumhas afforded its tenants few advantages during its six-year existence. The Mets, who have been one of the weakest-hitting teams in the sport during that time, have messed with theoutfield set-uptwice before. Following the 2010 season an 8-foot high wall was put in front of the 16-foot wall in center field. After the 2011 season all the fences were set at 8 feet and were movedcloser in left field, right-center and right.

Now, three years later, the Mets are hitting more home runs, but not nearly enough to manager Terry Collins liking. They hit a total of 139 in 2012, 130 in 2013 and 113 so far this season.

I think its going to help us a little bit confidence-wise when you get in that batters box and say, Hey, look, I can use the field and do some damage here, because thats what a lot of guys in this lineup are paid to do, and thats get big hits. I think it would be great for us Collins told the NY Post recently.

And while its true the Mets have kept payroll low for several years, which has prevented them from landing difference-making power hitters, they do have players with pop. Lucas Duda, Curtis Granderson, David Wright and Travis dArnaud, who have combined for just 66 homers this season, would likely see a spike in production ifthe outfield wasntso cavernous.

Its something that we had talked about the possibility of in the past and we continue to look at it, general manager Sandy Alderson said. We brought the fences in a couple years ago. Its not about tailoring the ballpark to a particular player or a particular composition of team, its about making Citi Field as fan-friendly and as exciting as we can make it.

Obviously by moving in the fences the Mets would also be making life easier for their opponents, but Collins said its a risk hes willing to take because hes extremely confident in the organizations young pitching, including Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Zack Wheeler,along with veterans Dillon Gee, Bartolo Colon and Jon Niese, who are all signed next season.

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Mets Mulling Another Round Of Moving In The Fences At Citi Field

The Wolverhampton firm that threw a ring of steel around the NATO conference in South Wales has been called in to help protect lorry drivers and tourists from desperate migrants in Calais.

Zaun, which also made and installed temporary security fences at the London Olympics, set up 13 kilometres (eight miles) of 12 ft high fencing around the Newport's Celtic Manor and key sites in Cardiff for the two-day NATO conference attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Protestors failed to scale Zaun's fencing and, as a result of its success, Mr Cameron is now considering sending the fences from Wales to Calais to help with the migrant crisis for the use of French and UK border patrols.

Zaun's technical director, Alistair Henman, was asked to talk to security chiefs in Calais about how the company could help.

Its fencing would be used to create a fenced off area, manned by police, where tourists and lorry drivers would wait without being hassled by migrants trying to reach the UK.

Recent reports have suggested Calais is in the midst of a security crisis after 235 migrants clambered over fences last week and tried to storm a cross-channel ferry.

As a result the Home Office's Border Force sent the request to South Wales Police for the use of the Zaun fencing.

Chris Rowen, who was in charge of the NATO conference project for Zaun, said: "They want to discuss the various options, from an emergency 4km temporary fence to a permanent installation of 20km of fencing.

"We could have the temporary fencing installed in about six weeks, but we would need about six weeks to make the additional fencing the Home Office would need for the bigger permanent fence. That would probably take 12-14 weeks to complete."

The company said it would be 'stressing the importance of thinking through all of the options' as planning for the policing operation at the NATO conference began a year ago and involved 9,000 officers from 29 of the UKs 43 police forces.

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Wolverhampton firm called in to help protect lorry drivers from migrants in Calais

San Francisco 14-year-old fences his way to the top
San Francisco 14-year-old, Ethan Mullenix fences his way to the top position at the nation US Fencing tournament in Columbus, Ohio July 3, 2014 - footage cou...

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San Francisco 14-year-old fences his way to the top - Video

Updated: Tuesday, 09 Sep 2014 22:09 | Comments Willie Mullins and Paul Townend teamed up for a double at Galway

Alelchi Inois stretched his winning run to four races by securing Grade Three honours at Galway.

The on-song six-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, did not need to be overly extended to take the Deacy Gilligan Ballybrit Novice Chase over two miles and a furlong.

Alelchi Inois was always close to the pace initiated by Enjoy Responsibly, who still held an appreciable advantage three fences from home.

But a solid leap from the 2-5 favourite at the final fence completely changed the complexion of the race as Paul Townend's partner bounded along the lengthy home straight to win convincingly.

Definite Ruby stayed on for second but was never really a factor.

Alelchi Inois is now unbeaten in four starts since his focus turned to chasing.

Townend said: "He is a joy to ride over fences. He couldn't have done it any better. He is a summer-ground horse."

That gave Mullins and Townend a double as the pair had earlier landed the Easyfix Rubber Products Novice Hurdle with Most Peculiar (9-10fav).

The winner was chased home by Draco when scoring at the festival here and it was Aidan O'Brien's charge that gave him most to worry about again.

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Alelchi Inois maintains unbeaten record over fences

However, the mayor, Natacha Bouchart, joked on Twitter that she may use the nine-foot high steel fences to block all ferry traffic to and from the town if Britain continues to dismiss her demand to help pay the 12 million annual bill for efforts to stop illegal immigrants.

Ms Boucharts aides said the mayor considers the offer of fencing insufficient and believes that it reflects a lack of understanding by the British of what we are up against here. She says Calais is being held hostage by up to 1,500 migrants encamped around the port.

The deputy mayor, Philippe Migonet, said: "When I first heard about it (the offer of fencing), I thought it was the legendary British sense of humour." However, he welcomed it as a first step towards providing more aid.

Ms Bouchart threatened last week to blockade the port of Calais if the British government failed to come up with funding.

Most of the illegal immigrants in the town are from Eritrea and other impoverished African countries, but some have come from Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, according to charity workers who feed and clothe them. Every day, some break into lorries bound for Britain and try to jump on to trains, local authorities say. Some who clung to the undercarriages of lorries and buses have been crushed to death.

Calais police say they have too few officers to cope with the problem and believe that illegal immigrants manage to cross the Channel most days.

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Calais mayor 'may use British fences to block port'

Fences key for whitebait fritters

9 September 2014

As whitebait season gets into full swing, Regional Council staff say the fishy fritters will keep coming if people continue to step up and care for their local waterways.

This year, 58 private landowners have signed up for our help to fence and plant waterways in the Tauranga Harbour catchment, said Bay of Plenty Regional Council Western Land Manager Robyn Skelton.

Together weve fenced 78 kilometres of river and stream margins and put 100,000 plants in the ground this year. It all helps to improve water quality and create safe-havens for whitebait to live and breed in, she said.

Whitebait numbers have been in decline for many years, mainly due to land use change thats caused a loss of breeding habitat and declining water quality.

Its great to have had so many local landowners step up and start to turn that around.

Some farmers have gone a step further by re-contouring their drains and installing fish friendly flap gates on their culverts, so that whitebait can complete their breeding cycles again. Its an easy fix for channelised waterways that makes a big difference for the fish, Miss Skelton said.

Whitebait are the juveniles of five different native fish species. Every autumn, adult fish lay their eggs amongst plants and grasses along estuary and stream edges. They usually lay in tidal zones where salt and fresh water mix. If kept shaded and untrampled, the eggs will survive in situ for several weeks, until theyre swept out to sea as larvae by the next spring tide and flood.

The larvae turn into fish and fatten up over winter before they run back upstream as fritter fodder in spring. The lucky few that escape nets and frying pans continue upstream and grow to become adults that lay eggs in following years, Miss Skelton said.

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Fences key for whitebait fritters

Immigration minister James Brokenshire said the fence will send a message that Britain is no soft touch for migrants.

The numbers of migrants have recently increased, sparking clashes between rival groups prompting the Mayor of Calais to appeal for more help with the trouble.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph Mr Brokenshire said it is up to the French to maintain security and order on their own land, but added that the UK would do what it could to help - recalling a 3 million boost to the port earlier this year to improve security.

Clashes: migrants wait for a food distribution by charity NGO in Calais, northern France (Picture: Getty) The minister said the new fencing would replace the "inadequate" fencing currently in place, and added that a hope would be to create secure parking for legal travellers to wait without the threat of hassle from any disruption.

In a stark warning to would-be illegal immigrants Mr Brokenshire said they "should be under no illusion about what awaits them if they arrive here illegally".

He said the Immigration Act ensures those who should not be in Britain will not get benefits, housing, bank accounts or driving licences, and added that criminal gangs who traffic people to the port on the promise of a better life will be investigated and broken up.

Mr Brokenshire said: "Effective solutions must involve co-operation, not confrontation.

"But in working with our international partners, I am, of course ever mindful of our responsibilities on this side of the Channel, chief of which is the need for an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who flout the law."

Yesterday former home secretary Lord Howard of Lympne said France needs to "get its act together" and deal with the growing numbers of asylum seekers in Calais rather than blaming Britain.

He told BBC Radio 4'S Today programme normal protocol is that asylum seekers apply to stay in the first safe country they reach.

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Nato summit fences sent to Calais in attempt to block illegal immigrants

Minecraft 1.8 Snapshot: New Doors, Fences, Gates, And Slime Blocks!
New Doors, Fences, Gates, And Slime Blocks! Another MC Snapshot Comes to YouTube.

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Minecraft 1.8 Snapshot: New Doors, Fences, Gates, And Slime Blocks! - Video

Britain will send the fences used at the Nato summit to Calais in an effort to stop illegal immigrants getting into Britain from the French port.

The immigration minister James Brokenshire said the move is part of a bid to send a message that the UK is "no soft touch" for migrants.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the minister said the new fencing would replace the "inadequate" fencing currently in place, and added that a hope would be to create secure parking for legal travellers to wait without the threat of hassle from any disruption.

Britain will send the 9ft 'ring of steel' fences used at the Nato summit in Wales to Calais in an effort to stop illegal immigrants getting into Britain.

It would replace the "inadequate" fencing currently in place and hopefully create secure parking for legal travellers to wait without the threat of hassle from any disruption.

Immigration minister James Brokenshire said the move is part of a bid to send a message that the UK is "no soft touch" for migrants.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph he warned would-be illegal immigrants Mr they "should be under no illusion about what awaits them if they arrive here illegally".

He said it was up to the French to maintain security and order on their own land but Britain would do what it could to help.

France should stop blaming Britain and "get its act together" and deal with growing numbers of asylum seekers in Calais, according to a former home secretary.

Lord Howard of Lympne said he had "some sympathy" with the mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, but he said she was "directing her frustration and her anger at the wrong target" by threatening to blockade the port and demanding that London "take responsibility" for them.

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Nato 'ring of steel' fences sent to Calais to stop immigrants