MLB Players Weekend is here and MLB is the same

Friday began the first of three days of MLB’s relaxed uniform rules. MLB probably hasn’t let you forget that the MLB Players Association and the league teamed up to allow freer player expression through apparel, including nickname jerseys and charity-stamped cleats, thank you patches on jersey sleeves, and outlandish batting glove designs. The baseball that took place was unchanged, just done with a little bit more color. Giancarlo Stanton (“Cruz”) mashed a 118 MPH home run, an announcer demonstrated some thinly-veiled sexism, and Yoenis Cespedes (“La Potencia”) was removed in the first inning with a strained right hamstring. All regular baseball things.

But the players, in general, were more excited to show off and throw on their game apparel than most nights. This was, after all, something the MLBPA said its constituents sought out. The players wanted a way to connect with fans by expressing more individual personality. No need for a million player quotes about enjoying the freedom, just check Instagram on Mother’s Day or the Fourth of July to see how excited athletes are to share the flair they’ve added to their gear. Or check La Potencia’s right arm on any given day to see how much most players relish bringing their own style to the field.

Traditionalists didn’t seem to detract from the spirit of the weekend. The majority excitedly participated, so maybe it’s time for MLB to relax the dress code for good. How necessary is it for 25 guys to wear virtually the same batting gloves every night? No one is calling for all-out anarchy here; Marcus Stroman isn’t going to have HDMH sewn onto the front of his jerseys. But maybe Bryce Harper shouldn’t be fined if he ever decides to use a bat painted with the DC skyline again.

Even players have pointed to how a relaxed dress code could draw the younger generation’s attention that MLB so desperately wants. David Price posited the argument after being warned for his fancy cleats in 2016. Maybe he and MLB are right, maybe this will spark more interest from The Teens. It wasn’t that long ago that every high schooler I knew donned the shooting sleeves of their favorite NBA player in pretty much every facet of life.

But by the same argument, as the players wore MLB’s ticket to jersey sales, there’s still that issue of the (probably completely well-intentioned!) sexist comment from the commentator. Maybe it’s because I’m not a teenaged boy, but if we’re talking markets, young women seem to be the most untapped. And it’s probably because the way we talk about baseball so often excludes women. Stamping out incidents like those in the Nationals’ broadcast booth on Friday will reverse that trend.

Any take on either extreme of this is going to be pretty ridiculous. The initiative isn’t going to fix MLB’s problem with individually marketing players or shoot up ticket sales among 16-year-olds. Chris Archer wearing Flaco Fuerte on his back isn’t going to cause some kind of baseball rapture, either. As a fan, I? don’t? care? much? about the design of batting gloves. I care about watching players have fun. If Players Weekend is what does it, long may it reign. And long live anything that forces the Yankees to put names on its players’ backs.