The Boston Red Sox are going across the pond to play the New York Yankees in London this weekend. It is great for the game because it will expand it like never before.
Major League Baseball is going all out, bringing the best rivalry in sports, Red Sox vs. Yankees, to Europe.
The first game of the mini two-game set will be at 1:10 PM ET on Saturday on FOX, and the series finale will be on ESPN with the “Sunday Night Baseball” crew starting at 10:10 am ET.
This series is groundbreaking for the MLB because they haven’t done anything like this before.
Yes, multiple teams have been going to Mexico each season to play, as the MLB may be considering an expansion team in Mexico City, but they haven’t gone to Europe yet.
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Europe is not as familiar with the game of baseball as the United States is. Some of them didn’t even know that Boston and New York will be playing this weekend in their city.
Prince Harry will be throwing out the first pitch before Saturday’s game between the Yankees and the Red Sox, and there will be a race that matches the Washington Nationals’ presidents race featuring some famous England leaders.
A lot of the people who live in London don’t know much about baseball, but they will after this weekend.
The whole reason MLB is doing this is to expand the game where it hasn’t been expanded ever before.
Some Yankee greats like Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera are helping out young kids during MLB’s Play Ball events, encouraging them to learn the game.
Everyone involved with the London Series wants to get the sport more popular globally than it already is.
The NBA and NFL have already played games in London, so baseball is trying it out while bringing the best rivalry in baseball to Europe.
The traveling isn’t a big issue to players because it is pretty much like a flight from the East Coast to the West Coast.
The field’s dimension is definitely different than ballparks in the States, which could increase more action.
All I know is there will be a whole lot of offense by both teams, as the center field fence is only 385 feet away from home plate and it is 330 to both the right and left field foul poles.
There is more foul territory than any MLB ballpark including the Oakland Coliseum. This could help the pitchers out because it will lead to a lot more outs that would be finding people’s nachos at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium.
The London Series between the Red Sox and the Yankees should be a success because it is expanding the game and will give the Londoners the joy that baseball brings to everyone in the MLB.