Baseball players live unique lives. They travel relentlessly from the middle of February until at least the end of September but repeatedly visit the same cities in the same country (along with a stop in Canada) year after year.
Once the season ends, they are physically tired and generally tired of traveling. After the final game, Jake Diekman returns to his home in Nebraska and stays put.
“I’m a super homebody,” Diekman said this week. “Once the offseason hits, I want to be home. I just miss our house. I miss our family, all our friends.”
Which is part of why this in-season trip to Europe is an appreciated novelty for most of the Mets.
The vast majority of players around the team, Diekman included, had never been to London before. The Mets brought everyone on the active roster — even starting pitchers who will not enter games and whose routines would not have been altered as much if they remained in the United States — along with minor league call-up possibilities in Brett Baty, Cole Sulser and Joe Hudson for a two-game set at London Stadium against the Phillies that begins Saturday.
This will be the third time Major League Baseball plays in the United Kingdom, with an NL East clash following Yankees-Red Sox in 2019 and Cubs-Cardinals in 2023.
The Mets warmed up for their adventure with a British-themed pregame setlist in the clubhouse Wednesday featuring the likes of Oasis, The Cure, Adele and Lily Allen.
After completing a sweep of the Nationals in Washington on Wednesday night, they boarded a flight for a roughly six-hour voyage to London that they hoped to sleep through because they would be landing in Europe, five time zone away, for what would be Thursday afternoon, and they were hoping to power through without resting for the rest of the day.
The players were grateful they were given a couple-day cushion before the series begins.
“It’ll be awesome for me and guys that have never been,” Diekman said.
They would have time to explore and were allowed to bring people with whom they wanted to explore. Plus-ones were granted and many of the players’ wives were in charge of a lengthy itinerary.
“I don’t know what to expect,” said a laughing Jose Quintana, who was not aware of the full plans but was excited particularly to see the London Eye, a 443-feet observation wheel that allows majestic views. “I think that’s the great joy of playing in other countries. I’m really excited.”
The club was going to split up and see the UK capital city Thursday afternoon but was planning to meet for a team dinner at night.
Manager Carlos Menoza has made the trip before, having been the infield coach for the Yankees in 2019 for the Red Sox showdown. His favorite memory?
“I guess just walking around,” Mendoza said. “But it’s just the overall experience, the atmosphere at the ballpark. It’s going to be a packed house — it’s going to be 50, 60,000 people screaming.”
Luis Severino was on that year’s team but injuries ensured he did not make the trip. Five years later, Severino is getting another crack at seeing London, where he too had never been, and knew how he would spend his time.
“I’m a shopaholic, so I’ll be shopping,” Severino said with a smile.
After exploring the city, the Mets would have to turn their attention to Saturday starter Ranger Suarez and the lads from Philadelphia, who own the National League’s best record.
Mendoza’s group has won three games straight for the first time since mid-April and might be playing its best baseball of the season. The team was excited, and the manager was mindful of the reason for the journey.
“You got to treat it as a business trip,” Mendoza said. “Obviously it’s a different country, but the games count.”