Major League Baseball is willing to loosen the regulations for the color of players’ spikes.
Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber and Steve Cishek wore black spikes in May despite a warning from Major League Baseball of violating a regulation requiring that at least 51 percent of the exterior of a player’s shoes be the club’s designated primary shoe color. For the Cubs, that color is blue.
Manfred said that deputy commissioner Dan Halem had given the union “a proposed agreement that would substantially alter the rules respecting cleat colors and what could be on cleats.”
Baseball, however, does want to maintain some sort of dress rules.
“What you don’t want to do is get into a situation where the field becomes a billboard for any and all political messages,” Manfred said. “The politicization of sport can be a very problematic thing.”
Rob Manfred on bat flips: “I think it’s really important for our players do demonstrate emotion on the field. I really do.” https://t.co/NP0j1wjeQ3
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) July 17, 2018
This commissioner gets it. Baseball is in good hands, and the future looks bright. You must always change with the times.
