[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Seems like the fashion police are after our beloved manager, as Bob Watson came into the dugout during last night's game with the intent of ordering Francona to wear his uniform. Tito told him to pound sand.

Baseball's Own Mr. Blackwell

Seems like a perfectly cromulant thing to worry about, MLB. Great job!

[RSN Diaspora]

John Marzano Olympic Hero, on Aug 30 2007, 09:20 AM, said:

Seems like a perfectly cromulant thing to worry about, MLB. Great job!

Sounds like Yankee Bob has been artificially embiggened by his own sense of self worth.

[mt8thsw9th]

Out of all the things they have to worry about, this is just kind of petty. What's wrong with what he's wearing during the game? I mean, given that's it's pretty silly that baseball has it's coaches wear the same uniform as the players, anyways, I don't know what the fuss about wearing a pullover is all about.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Well, if MLB wants to worry about trivialities like these I suppose that's their perogative. It's a good sign the commish's office has their priorities completely screwed up though.

There's absolutely no reason for Watson to come into the dugout during a game. That's completely unacceptable.

[Madison33]

If I am not mistaken, Francona wears the pullover because he has some pretty serious circulation issues and is always very cold. I can't comprehend how wearing a jersey is more important than his health and comfort. Way to go Bob!

[Ted Cox 4 president]

Tito's got circulation problems and wants/needs the extra layer, right? Has Watson taken it upon himself to visit the dugout during the middle of a game when Toronto's in town? LAA? Gardenhire also wears a fleece or jacket, IIRC. Big deal. Sheesh.

[InsideTheParker]

Ted Cox 4 president, on Aug 30 2007, 09:40 AM, said:

Tito's got circulation problems and wants/needs the extra layer, right? Has Watson taken it upon himself to visit the dugout during the middle of a game when Toronto's in town? LAA? Gardenhire also wears a fleece or jacket, IIRC. Big deal. Sheesh.

The article cited said Watson recently fined Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long $1000. for being out of uniform:

Quote

Watson, a vice president of on-field operations, has warned and fined coaches and managers for wearing a pullover instead of a jersey. He recently docked Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long $1,000 for not wearing a jersey.

[Comfortably Lomb]

Why does a hitting coach need to be wearing a uniform top in the dugout? It's not like there's anything wrong with the look of the MLB pull-overs. Nobody is Bill Belichicking them.

[5belongstoGeorge]

Quote

"Get out of the dugout during the game," Francona firmly told Watson, who left.

I can only hope Tito added," You miserable cocksucker." to the end of the command for Watson to leave.

[cmac24]

5belongstoGeorge, on Aug 30 2007, 10:56 AM, said:

I can only hope Tito added," You miserable cocksucker." to the end of the command for Watson to leave.

I thought that MLB was ok with the pullovers as long as they were officially licensed by MLB. It's not like he's wearing something from his own wardrobe.

[loshjott]

cmac24, on Aug 30 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

I thought that MLB was ok with the pullovers as long as they were officially licensed by MLB. It's not like he's wearing something from his own wardrobe.

Ron Guidry last night on national TV was wearing a pullover.

[SawxSince67]

cmac24, on Aug 30 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

I thought that MLB was ok with the pullovers as long as they were officially licensed by MLB. It's not like he's wearing something from his own wardrobe.

It may be my imagination, but I feel like Mike Scioscia mostly wears this windbreaker pullover deal or, in the fall, a warm up jacket (this could be worn over a game jersey, sure.).



Piss off, Yankee Bob.

[Dave Stapleton]

Personally, I like the movement to pullovers and jackets in lieu of a uniform. The uniform looks stupid.

[Corsi Combover]

Quote

NEW YORK -- Red Sox manager Terry Francona was peeved this morning that a (major league baseball) security person made him show that he was wearing his uniform top in the second inning of Wednesday night's game with Derek Jeter at second base.

"That was as embarrassed as I've been in a long time for baseball," Francona said at his pregame press conference today.

Quote

Francona said Watson first contacted him to start wearing the uniform in Cleveland in late July. Watson informed him that there was a uniform top crackdown because MLB wanted their managers to respect the game and wear the proper attire.

When I asked MLB about this a few weeks back, they told me that as long as the manager wears an approved top with the team's logo on it, it's OK. But since then MLB has decided that wearing the uniform is important.

Francona was also upset that his pregame discussion with Watson, which apparently didn't dwell too much on the uniform issue, was characterized as contentious in one newspaper report in New York. Francona and Watson have been at odds in the past, but over the past two years they have enjoyed a revived friendship.

Quote

After complying, Francona was surprised that the security person would step in.

"The timing to me was incredible," Francona said. "He made me show him. I thought Jeter was going to steal third." Francona said that the exchange caused him to miss one pitch.

Quote

Francona said he had personal reasons for not wearing the uniform top in the past and most have to do with his circulation problems and the layers of clothes he wears. He also doesn't like to be restricted and have things tucked in, he says.

Francona said he had no complaints with Watson, who he described as "very nice about it" but remained furious over the timing and the interruption of his managing during the game.

At one point Francona said he told the security person, "Can you wait a second?" The security person said, "No."

Source: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...niformgate.html

[Pumpsie]

Dave Stapleton, on Aug 30 2007, 11:50 AM, said:

Personally, I like the movement to pullovers and jackets in lieu of a uniform. The uniform looks stupid.

Sure does. Forcing some 60 year-old to dress in a baseball uniform, complete with cleats, is just silly. He's not going in there to bat for somebody. This is something baseball can easily change. Talk about a triviality. The pullovers and jackets look better, as you say. They also distinguish the players from the coaches which is good.

[Corsi Combover]

Quote

“Unless that (expletive) RSA can keep Jeter close (to second), he’d better stay out of the dugout,'’ Francona fumed. “That’s as embarrassed as I’ve been for baseball in a long time. …Unless the guy can put on a bunt play, he ought to stay out of the (expletive) dugout. I’ve never seen that before. In the middle of the game, you’ve got the fashion police.'’

Source: http://www.bostonher.../redSox/?p=1515

[SawxSince67]

Corsi Combover, on Aug 30 2007, 12:14 PM, said:

From Corsi's link:

According to Francona, an “RSA'’ - resident security agent - approached him during the first inning of the game and demanded that Francona lift his sweatshirt to reveal his game jersey. The game was in the bottom of the first inning at the time and Derek Jeter was on second base, so Francona asked if he could wait until the end of the inning. The security agent said no.

Who employs this "RSA"? Does he represent MLB?

[FelixMantilla]

Why can't all managers dress like this?

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Because all managers don't own their teams and weren't instrumental in the foundation of their leagues.

[norm from cheers]

The timing of the "incident " is a bit suspicious. Unless Tito was hiding in the club house during batting practice and all the pregame, certainly Watson could have inquired then to make his point about the uniform top. Why could it not have waited until between innings? If Tito was wearing something that would be distracting to the yankees or the umpires I get the immediate need to address the issue, but he was not.

Watson was showing his true colors and alliances right there for the world to see.