by Tony Contralto, La Cosa Newstra

12/13/2007: Trenton, NJ – Bulldozers, cranes, and other heavy construction equipment have invaded the confines of Mercer County Waterfront Park as the Hitmen front office oversees a 5,000 seat expansion.  Flush off of their 2007 PEBA Championship, New Jersey is looking to capitalize in a very real and monetary way on its success by increasing seating capacity by approximately 15%.  Most of the new seats will be beyond the left-centerfield fence and bullpen, and will be priced among the cheapest in the ballpark.

GM Matt Fuller took part in the ceremonial first dig this morning and was all smiles at the subsequent press conference.  “Today is a great day in the history of the New Jersey Hitmen.  After multiple sellouts this season, we have decided to listen to our constituents and give them what they want – more seating.  The new bleachers will hold approximately 4,500 more rabid fans, with one 500-seat section reserved for “family-friendly” seats.  The remaining 500 seats will be added in the form of luxury boxes built behind home plate above the current tiers.”

Close investigation of the blueprints show that no modifications to the playing field will be required.  “We considered moving the fences in, especially in center field,” responded Fuller when asked about rumors of shorter home run distances.  “However, at this time we saw no need to make those changes.  We feel our current dimensions reflect the nature of our ball club, and even as we have added some power to our lineup this off-season we recognize that our pitching and our defense are what drive this franchise.  We may revisit the issue in the future should we expand again, but for now the fences will stay where they are.”

Newly acquired pitcher Clancy O'connell seemed excited about the changes to his new home.  “Any time you bring in more fans, it makes the atmosphere so much better,” stated the former Knight.  “I was excited to join the world champions, and nothing against Tempe, but pitching in front of 40,000 fans will be a great new experience for me.”

Dan Schaffner, new Hitmen 3B via Duluth, agreed.  “While the rumors about bringing in the fences sounded intriguing at first, I’ll be glad to simply follow the New Jersey mold and just try to drive the ball in the gaps, get on base, and keep the train moving.  Home runs don’t win championships – pitching and defense do, and I can’t wait to get started for 2008.”

In addition to the new seating, the Hitmen have also undertaken a remodeling of their left-field restaurant, which will now be co-owned by famous Hitmen supporter John Bon Jovi.  “John is a rabid sports fan as shown by his ownership of the Philadelphia Soul, and this partnership establishes a foothold for him in the baseball world,” said Fuller.  “The newly renamed Bon Jovi Bistro will serve classic ballpark fare as well as more formal cuisine, all with a modern twist.”

Additionally, the Food Network has agreed to a minority ownership in the café and will partner with Bon Jovi and the Hitmen.  Chefs from the network’s New York kitchens will take part in promotional events throughout the year, and will appear in the Bistro at every Friday home game.  Sports fan and New York legend Bobby Flay is expected to be the first celebrity chef to appear at the Bistro during the 2008 season.

Local fans have been quick to respond to the changes, as the hundreds of posts on the La Cosa Newstra website since this morning can attest.  A website poll shows over a 9-to-1 ratio in favor of the additional seating and concession alterations, and that is good news for a Hitmen front office looking to bring in additional revenue.  Recent rumors at the PEBA winter meetings have some fans concerned that batting champion Rubén Cruz may be on the trading block, as efforts to sign the All-Star to a long term extension have stalled.  There is little doubt that the seating expansion is just the first step among many that the New Jersey Hitmen will undertake in the upcoming months to increase revenue and sign their young, talented roster to long term deals.

While the Hitmen have increased their budget for the upcoming season and should be able to meet it without any issues, the wealth of young talent on the roster will no doubt lead to increased demands and arbitration awards in the next few seasons, and it is highly unlikely that the champions will be able to keep their new roster intact for long.