Williamsburg2599
12-03-2007, 02:39 PM
‘Francona Rule’ targets Tito’s pullover
By Rob Bradford | Monday, December 3, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Boston Red Sox
NASHVILLE - Major League Baseball is making sure Terry Francona is going to get a new look next year.
Bob Watson, Vice President of Rules and On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, said this morning that managers will no longer be able to wear the pullover jackets as part of their in-game uniforms.
The mandate was of special interest to Francona, who typically dons a pullover during games and butted heads with the league when asked to display his uniform top.
“There’s going to be, for lack of a better term, a Francona Rule,” Watson said. “You can only wear your uniform top or jacket. You can’t wear your nightshirt, or whatever it is. You can wear it before games, or after games, but not during games. You have to have your uniform top at all times.”
The dispute between Francona and the MLB uniform police reached its boiling point when MLB sent a representative into the visitors dugout during the second inning of the Red Sox [team stats]’ August 28 game at Yankee Stadium to check Francona’s uniform.
Earlier this year Major League Baseball informed managers who wear the pullover as part of their uniform, including Francona, Toronto’s John Gibbons and Cleveland’s Eric Wedge, that the first offense for not wearing a uniform top would be $1,000, second offense would draw a $5,000 fine, and a third time would result in a one-game suspension.
When asked if teams had been notified of the development Watson said, “They will be informed. There will be no doubt.”
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1048565
Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, not even worth posting. But, as most of us know:
Due to previous health issues, Francona has difficulty with his circulation and is often cold. Therefore he is always seen with a jacket on even on very hot days.
Source:BR Bullpen
They even went as far as sending a goon into the dugout (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2997982)in the middle of a Sox/Yankees game to enforce this rule last year. First they kick Mr. Pesky out of the dugout, (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/03/30/baseball_ready_to_give_pesky_the_hook/) and now there going after Tito. I just don't see the logic of it. Is some potential future fan of baseball going to be turned away when they see Pesky in the dugout or Tito wearing a pullover? Are old time baseball fans disgusted when they see players they watched growing up, in the dugout when there not a member of the team or wearing the wrong top? I highly doubt it. It seems to me that MLB can't come up with any reasonable logic for things like this.
By Rob Bradford | Monday, December 3, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Boston Red Sox
NASHVILLE - Major League Baseball is making sure Terry Francona is going to get a new look next year.
Bob Watson, Vice President of Rules and On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, said this morning that managers will no longer be able to wear the pullover jackets as part of their in-game uniforms.
The mandate was of special interest to Francona, who typically dons a pullover during games and butted heads with the league when asked to display his uniform top.
“There’s going to be, for lack of a better term, a Francona Rule,” Watson said. “You can only wear your uniform top or jacket. You can’t wear your nightshirt, or whatever it is. You can wear it before games, or after games, but not during games. You have to have your uniform top at all times.”
The dispute between Francona and the MLB uniform police reached its boiling point when MLB sent a representative into the visitors dugout during the second inning of the Red Sox [team stats]’ August 28 game at Yankee Stadium to check Francona’s uniform.
Earlier this year Major League Baseball informed managers who wear the pullover as part of their uniform, including Francona, Toronto’s John Gibbons and Cleveland’s Eric Wedge, that the first offense for not wearing a uniform top would be $1,000, second offense would draw a $5,000 fine, and a third time would result in a one-game suspension.
When asked if teams had been notified of the development Watson said, “They will be informed. There will be no doubt.”
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1048565
Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, not even worth posting. But, as most of us know:
Due to previous health issues, Francona has difficulty with his circulation and is often cold. Therefore he is always seen with a jacket on even on very hot days.
Source:BR Bullpen
They even went as far as sending a goon into the dugout (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2997982)in the middle of a Sox/Yankees game to enforce this rule last year. First they kick Mr. Pesky out of the dugout, (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/03/30/baseball_ready_to_give_pesky_the_hook/) and now there going after Tito. I just don't see the logic of it. Is some potential future fan of baseball going to be turned away when they see Pesky in the dugout or Tito wearing a pullover? Are old time baseball fans disgusted when they see players they watched growing up, in the dugout when there not a member of the team or wearing the wrong top? I highly doubt it. It seems to me that MLB can't come up with any reasonable logic for things like this.