Mets Encounter “Bouncy” Turf in London Stadium
London Stadium, most notably known as West Ham United’s turf, hosted baseball teams- The Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets players found this unexpected change from their traditional grass field testing as they described the turf as bouncy.
From Grass to Turf: A Safe Play?
Being the home pitch for the popular football club, the grass was replaced with turf after the conclusion of the final football match in May. The objective was to prepare the field for a baseball game. The new turf was assessed for safety, especially for players wearing spiked shoes. Despite deemed safe, the turf exhibited a high level of give, a feature noticed immediately by the Mets during their workout session.
Harrison Bader, a Mets player, stated, “It definitely alters the way you go after the ball. But, at the end of the day, both teams are playing on it. I definitely run a little faster, it’s more springy so, that’s nice.”
Clearly, the bouncy nature of the turf influenced the players’ performance.
Analytics of the Game: Shallow Hits Predicted
The adjustment to the alien turf led the Mets to strategize around shallow hits for their weekend games against the Phillies. However, they were not completely prepared for the challenges outfielders faced when trying to comprehend the ball’s path off the bat.
This issue arose in a game against the Phillies when the Mets suffered a 7-2 loss.
Shadow Games: Another Challenge for Players
Adding to the challenge was the partially enclosed roof and comparatively shorter, flatter stands of the stadium. These elements cast unpredictable shadows on the field, making it difficult for players in center and right fields to predict and intercept the ball’s path.
This was evident when Starling Marte, a seasoned player, missed a flyball from Edmundo Sosa during the fourth inning, costing the Mets a valueable point, eventually losing to the Phillies.
He explained, “I had to wait for the ball to get out of the shadow where it was. It was tough to see that from where I was positioned.”
Repercussions: Marte’s Struggles in Focus
This incident directed public attention towards Marte’s performance, which has been disappointing so far this season. A number indicating his performance, -8 OAA, sits at the bottom among all qualified right fielders. This stirred discussions on whether age was adversely affecting his performance.
Despite the spotlight on his underperformance, Marte’s contribution to the team was not entirely disregarded, with the Mets manager praising his strong arm in right field.
Continuing the Play
While the situation did impose various challenges, both teams recognized Major League Baseball’s efforts in converting a football pitch to a baseball field and commended the result.
Players kept a constructive mindset towards these issues, optimistic about overcoming them. As put eloquently by Bader, “Both teams are dealing with the same thing. You just adjust on the go.”
In the end, the game must go on, presenting an enlightening opportunity for both teams to adapt, strategize and succeed, despite the bouncy turf and shadowy fields.