Sights and sounds from London Stadium: Chicago Cubs expect high-scoring games this weekend. ‘The ball flies out of here.’
A big smile broke across Christopher Morel’s face.
Morel had just finished batting practice Friday afternoon on a humid workout day at London Stadium before the Chicago Cubs’ two-game weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“From what I can tell, the ball flies out of here,” Morel said through an interpreter.
London Stadium, home to Premier League’s West Ham United, originally was built and created for the track and field events at the 2012 Olympics. It was designed to minimize wind and air flow in the stadium in an effort to reduce weather’s impact on events. The unique wind dynamics made the pitch-turned-diamond an offensive haven during the 2019 London Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox when they combined for 50 runs in two games.
The distance of the outfield wall in center field was pushed back 7 feet while the power alleys gained an additional 5 feet for this series. Based on the Cubs’ batting practice experience Friday, those changes might not make much difference.
“The ball’s flying in BP for sure,” Nico Hoerner said.
The Cubs also got their first chance to get a look at the way a baseball will play off the turf. Seiya Suzuki went to the outfield before their workout to repeatedly throw a ball off the turf. During infield work, the turf played fast and created a different spin coming off it onto the dirt, which might require an adjustment in reading balls off the bat.
Balancing act with special environment, meaningful games
The Cubs and Cardinals are heading in different directions as their two-game set in London gets underway.
Recapturing momentum that had eluded them for a six-week stretch, the Cubs have won 10 of their last 12 and can get back to .500 with a sweep at London Stadium. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, losers in 12 of their 18 games this month, continue to sit in last place in the National League Central. The Cubs, who entered Friday 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds, know what’s at stake less than six weeks before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
After Chairman Tom Ricketts proclaimed the Cubs are trade–deadline buyers right now during Thursday’s team rally at a London pub, it’s on manager David Ross, his staff and the players to ensure their strong play continues so President Jed Hoyer is adding, not subtracting, from the roster in the coming weeks.
“If this was like an exhibition game and you might try and have a little bit of fun and do some things a little bit more flair,” Dansby Swanson said. “But for me it’s just all about winning. And I think that we’ve got a good group that goes along that same line and as long as we come out of here with two wins, that’s the reason we’re here.”
It hasn’t been all business since the team arrived from Pittsburgh on Thursday morning. A private team event at Westminster Abbey on Thursday night, which included a tour of the historic building, was a highlight for many of the Cubs personnel and their families on the trip.
“Our history in the United States is pretty short, and just walking around and getting a sense of all that’s come before you, it’s awesome to be here now,” Hoerner said.
Ross, who brought his 16-year-old daughter on the trip, reiterated Friday that he wants players and their families to enjoy the opportunity.
“Players are better when they are having fun,” Ross said. “These guys are professionals. They’ll balance the walking around and sightseeing. We should definitely do that. They came in here ready to work today. … I trust in this group and their responsibility, their ability to be responsible and have a good time.”
The enjoyment of experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event hasn’t overshadowed why the Cubs are in London. The games against the Cardinals represent only the second time they’ve played each other in 2023.
“For me, when I show up to the field, it’s business at that point,” said Justin Steele, who starts Saturday. “You’ve got to take care of the job.”
Cubs’ continued opportunities on the big stage
The Cubs have been a regular presence in Major League Baseball’s marquee events since the league has taken on a concerted effort to grow the game at different venues.
The London Series represents the third time the organization has been selected to play in a special game. The Cubs were part of the Little League World Series Classic in 2019 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They played in the Field of Dreams game last year versus the Cincinnati Reds, and their appearance in the 2023 London Series is a redo after their original matchup against the Cardinals was scrubbed because of the pandemic in 2020.
“We are here putting on a show and showing people how amazing this game is and how amazing our players are,” Ross said Friday. “We are ambassadors, whether I consider myself that or not. We just go about this event and do the best we can and act as normal as we would as we try to respect our game and take things we’re doing in the US, we’re going to bring it here to London and put on an amazing event.”
Since 2017 when MLB kicked off its wave of unique game sites with the LLWS Classic, the Cubs are one of eight teams to play in multiple events with their three appearances, joining the Cardinals (three), Phillies (three), Yankees (two), Mets (two), Padres (two), Giants (two) and Pirates (two). The Guardians, Angels, Orioles, Red Sox, Nationals, Dodgers and White Sox have also been chosen from one of MLB’s top events during that span.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said a lot of factors go into the decision to determine which teams are awarded marquee games. Specifically for the London Series, Manfred said the rivalry aspect has been the driving force in the choices (Red Sox-Yankees in 2019, Cubs-Cardinals in 2023 and Mets-Phillies in 2024).
MLB set up a series in Mexico earlier this season, has games scheduled in South Korea for the first time next year and is in the process of planning a series in Paris during the 2025 season, all part of a World Tour initiative to spread the game globally.
“It’s important for the sport to promote all 30 (teams) — we think about our 30 equally,” Manfred said. “While rivalries are great at the beginning it’s also really important with special events like these that we give all the franchises, all 30, an opportunity to participate.”
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