NEW YORK -- Terry Collins has at least one rule for his family attending games.
"They don't ever sit in the open," the Mets manager said before a 14-2 series-opening win over the Colorado Rockies.
Now, the Collins' will have more seating options when they visit Citi Field, with the team installing additional protective netting down the first and third-base lines ahead of Friday's game.
"You guys should be in the dugouts when somebody hits a line drive in the stands, and see the expression on guys' faces, like please don't hit somebody," Collins said. "And when it does, everyone has a sick feeling in their stomach."
The Mets announced plans to add more transparent netting on June 15, a month after City Councilman Rafael L. Espinal Jr. authored a bill which would require extended netting at baseball fields with a capacity of at least 5,000 spectators.
Espinal Jr. specifically called out the Mets and Yankees to take action further than the MLB recommendations for protective netting between the near ends of both dugouts, within 70 feet of home plate.
On May 25, a young Yankees fan was struck by a Chris Carter split bat right behind the visiting third-base dugout at Yankee Stadium. Unlike the Mets, the Yankees haven't announced plans to add extended netting.
"The bats today are not even close to the bats of years ago," Collins said. Everybody wants a small handle and a big barrel, and that's a bad mix as far as weight distribution in the bats. So bats are snapping, they're flying in the stands. I want them to enjoy the game and know that they're going to be safe."
Mets' outfielder Michael Conforto was also on board with the decision to add extra netting.
"It can only be a positive thing," Conforto said. "With balls coming, line drives right over the dugout, we're worried about getting hit ourselves."