PORT ST. LUCIE – The grass is always greener on the other side – and this year at Shea Stadium it’s going to be a bit shorter, too. In the outfield, at least.

Spacious Shea is one of the most difficult parks in the majors to hit in for a number of reasons, the most obvious being the ball just doesn’t carry to the alleys most of the season, especially on those days and nights when the air is especially moist.

To the club’s credit, it has listened to their players and will make some adjustments. To help the hitters a bit the grass in the outfield will be cut shorter this season.

There have been too many times where balls have been crushed down the line and those wicked shots have died quietly in the long grass. With the shorter cut, balls have a better chance of bouncing all the way to the wall, and doubles territory. This also is an indication of how much improved the Mets feel they are with ball-hawk Mike Cameron in center.

An added bonus is that the corner outfielders will anticipate the ball going to the wall and will be able to learn to play the caroms in the hopes of throwing out more runners at second, giving the Mets a bit of a home-field advantage in that area.

The Mets also are in the process of naming a new groundskeeper at Shea, and you can expect a lot more attention will be paid to the area around first base to ensure truer hops now that Mike Piazza will be playing that position more often.