Those bright orange uniforms the Mets are wearing tonight could be used for construction on the “El” down Roosevelt Avenue or somewhere on the Grand Central.
But those are the Players Weekend jerseys the Mets are wear. Bright, bright orange sleeves and hat with a dark blue main shirt. And frankly television and pictures don’t do them justice, because the orange is very bright.
If the NFL has its color rush. MLB has the Player’s Weekend.
Maybe, it’s the Mets and other teams are spared kinder fates. The Nationals uniforms look like a typical third jersey and even the Yankees have a variation on their batting practice uniform.
But the players want this as does MLB. With most of the league millennial age, the players want to express themselves and wear laxed uniforms, which are designed to look like little league jerseys which is supposed to appeal to a younger generation.
Even the players are getting into it with Todd Frazier or “The ToddFather” wearing shoes with Don Vito Corelone on one foot and Tony Soprano on the other.
Frankly, baseball is a kid’s game and is supposed to be about fun. For a sport that maybe gets a little too stuck up in tradition, baseball needs this. Of course, the traditionalists will hate it, while the younger generation would love it.
Baseball needs to let its hair down.
And it gives the players a chance to give back a little bit as well. On their sleeve’s each player gets to thank someone who influenced them in the game, be it a parent, coach or whomever. This is something that gets overlooked and honestly should have a role in the sport.
A couple of weeks ago, the heads of baseball and the Players’ Association had this to say.
“We were extraordinarily pleased that the first Players’ Weekend gave fans greater insight into the players, their stories and their paths to the Major Leagues,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “By highlighting their positive influences, Players’ Weekend showcased the significance of youth baseball and its role in the development of Major Leaguers. We look forward to the event returning and continuing to bring fans closer to the greatest baseball players in the world.”
“Players envisioned Players’ Weekend as a way to express themselves and connect with fans in a fun and more personal way,” MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark said. “And the opportunity for Players to honor those who first stirred their passions for baseball at a grassroots level helps reinforce the way our game is handed down from generation to generation.”
It’s only three games and there is no harm in having a little fun. The nicknames on the back on the jerseys make you chuckle and it lets the players be themselves.
Maybe, though, MLB can give the Mets a little less of a bright shade or orange next year.
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