WARNING: This article is primarily about Red Sox and Yankees (and children). Proceed at your own risk.

Ah, such funny rules of baseball.

What about the Children?

What a brilliant PR move it would be for MLB to have the teams shake hands. That's why it probably won't happen. Them baseball people, they just ain't that smart, you see.

One of the great joys of watching hockey is seeing the players shake hands with their competitors following a hard-fought series. Baseball could easily follow suit, but then we'd probably miss the silliness of the Red Sox/Yankee "antagonism"--has anything been funnier than listening to certain Red Sox players claiming A-Rod "isn't a real Yankee?"

~Adam

[ March 23, 2005, 08:31 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]

I admit, I really don't want to see guys like Pedro Martinez and any Yankee make up or Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza. However, I would like to see players shake hands. This whole idea about players not being able to talk to each other is pretty archaic. You ever watch a baseball game? Most 1st baseman will chat with the runner for a couple of seconds. I think what the Dodgers and Cardinals did last year was great.

Why should the Yankees shake hands of pitchers that have been overwhelmingly beaning our batters for the past 10 years? Screw that! When the team in Massachusetts learns a little class, I'll think about it. In the meantime, let the Devil Rays and Blue Jays shake hands...

Won't somebody please think about the children! wink

Yeah, cause the Yankees are all golden curls and cute smiles right?

MetsfaninVA, I don't think that's the point. I saw a website recently that showed Boston pitchers hit Yankee batters significantly more than the other way around. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the website this time. And some of the Red Sox players off-season antics were over the top, including the banter against A-Rod. I was happy that the Yankees simply blew if off.

But considering all of that -- the Boston pitchers' throwing at the Yankees, the Boston players' big mouths all spring -- and considering that Steinbrenner apparently supports this, it would be a brilliant PR stroke if the Yankees formally announced that they want to line up and shake hands before the opening game. They would look like the true sportsmen, especially if Boston turns down the offer.

[ March 28, 2005, 07:06 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Imagine what great sportsmen the Yankees would appear to be if they also offered to sing "Kumbaya," "It's a Small World," or "Duff Beer for Me, Duff Beer for You" with the Red Sox. wink I would actually prefer to see handshakes following a hard fought game rather than before the game; there's nothing better than "combatants" coming together following a "battle" to congratulate each other, even if it's pro forma.


~Adam