Aaron Judge, Yankees approve of London Stadium's hitter-friendly dimensions
LONDON — Aaron Judge and many of his teammates launched shot after shot in all directions during batting practice Friday and afterward gave his seal of approval to London Stadium.
“We’ve got two potent offenses,” Judge said before breaking into a wide smile. “Especially with these dimensions in this park, we’re going to have a little bit of fun with it.”
London Stadium, initially built for the 2012 Olympics and used most frequently now as a soccer venue for West Ham United FC, has been converted to a baseball ballpark for this weekend’s two-game London Series between the Yankees and Red Sox, and it is not without its quirks.
There is an overhang directly above home plate that will mean few foul pops of any significant height caught for outs — balls will be declared dead upon hitting the overhang — and massive foul territories, something akin to the Oakland Coliseum.
Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu said the infield seemed exceptionally fast compared to the majority of major-league ballparks, but nothing that should cause significant problems.
But what commanded the most attention by the clubs, which both worked out Friday afternoon on the artificial turf field, was the stadium dimensions and how the ball appeared to carry.
It is 330 feet in the corners, a spacious 382 feet to the gaps, but just 385 feet to dead centerfield (though with a mini-Green Monster there measuring 16 feet).
“It travels pretty well, especially with it being so short to centerfield,” Judge said, smiling again. “I feel like it flies pretty well, it’s got good carry.”
Masahiro Tanaka, who will start Saturday for the Yankees, was on the field well before the workout getting used to the mound.
The righthander, 5-5 with a 3.21 ERA this season, said pitching from an unfamiliar rubber was not a concern.
“I’m not overly worried about that,” he said through a translator before heading out to test the mound. “I’ll get a chance to go out there and get a feel for it.”
Many players brought their families on the trip and spent either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning walking the streets and/or taking in many of the sights around the city — such as the London Eye, the Tower of London, or the Churchill War Rooms, to name a few.
Aaron Boone visited Buckingham Palace in a group that included Red Sox manager Alex Cora and watched the changing of the guard.
Tanaka said under different circumstances he might have done some of those tourist things, but did not.
“If I hadn’t been pitching in one of these games, maybe there would have been an aspect of enjoying London a bit,” he said. “But for me, it’s strictly business.”
Judge, who came to London on a brief vacation two years ago and took in more of the city Thursday and Friday, said he’s watched the NFL play games here for years and has felt “a little jealous.”
“I’ve been waiting for MLB to get an opportunity to do this,” he said. “I’m just excited and blessed that the Yankees and Red Sox are participating in this. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in sports and I’m just blessed. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
But make no mistake, when Saturday rolls around it will be all business for the rest of the Yankees, too. It is, after all, a series against the Red Sox, who trail the first-place Yankees by nine games in the American League East.
“For us, it’s about enjoying the workout today, enjoying the past couple of days and checking out the city,” Judge said. “But once we get between the lines and the game starts, it’s game on.”
https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseb...ies-1.33088860
LONDON — Aaron Judge and many of his teammates launched shot after shot in all directions during batting practice Friday and afterward gave his seal of approval to London Stadium.
“We’ve got two potent offenses,” Judge said before breaking into a wide smile. “Especially with these dimensions in this park, we’re going to have a little bit of fun with it.”
London Stadium, initially built for the 2012 Olympics and used most frequently now as a soccer venue for West Ham United FC, has been converted to a baseball ballpark for this weekend’s two-game London Series between the Yankees and Red Sox, and it is not without its quirks.
There is an overhang directly above home plate that will mean few foul pops of any significant height caught for outs — balls will be declared dead upon hitting the overhang — and massive foul territories, something akin to the Oakland Coliseum.
Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu said the infield seemed exceptionally fast compared to the majority of major-league ballparks, but nothing that should cause significant problems.
But what commanded the most attention by the clubs, which both worked out Friday afternoon on the artificial turf field, was the stadium dimensions and how the ball appeared to carry.
It is 330 feet in the corners, a spacious 382 feet to the gaps, but just 385 feet to dead centerfield (though with a mini-Green Monster there measuring 16 feet).
“It travels pretty well, especially with it being so short to centerfield,” Judge said, smiling again. “I feel like it flies pretty well, it’s got good carry.”
Masahiro Tanaka, who will start Saturday for the Yankees, was on the field well before the workout getting used to the mound.
The righthander, 5-5 with a 3.21 ERA this season, said pitching from an unfamiliar rubber was not a concern.
“I’m not overly worried about that,” he said through a translator before heading out to test the mound. “I’ll get a chance to go out there and get a feel for it.”
Many players brought their families on the trip and spent either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning walking the streets and/or taking in many of the sights around the city — such as the London Eye, the Tower of London, or the Churchill War Rooms, to name a few.
Aaron Boone visited Buckingham Palace in a group that included Red Sox manager Alex Cora and watched the changing of the guard.
Tanaka said under different circumstances he might have done some of those tourist things, but did not.
“If I hadn’t been pitching in one of these games, maybe there would have been an aspect of enjoying London a bit,” he said. “But for me, it’s strictly business.”
Judge, who came to London on a brief vacation two years ago and took in more of the city Thursday and Friday, said he’s watched the NFL play games here for years and has felt “a little jealous.”
“I’ve been waiting for MLB to get an opportunity to do this,” he said. “I’m just excited and blessed that the Yankees and Red Sox are participating in this. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in sports and I’m just blessed. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
But make no mistake, when Saturday rolls around it will be all business for the rest of the Yankees, too. It is, after all, a series against the Red Sox, who trail the first-place Yankees by nine games in the American League East.
“For us, it’s about enjoying the workout today, enjoying the past couple of days and checking out the city,” Judge said. “But once we get between the lines and the game starts, it’s game on.”
https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseb...ies-1.33088860