Not surprisingly the response to us pointing out that MLB allowed the Yankees to violate Rule 3.17 has been mixed. Yes it was a highly emotional moment. And yes it was a beautiful sentiment bestowed on someone who will be a Hall of Famer. None of that is in question here.
The point is MLB is not consistent in how or why it enforces its own rules. My friend Tom commented on Facebook:
MLB sometimes is willing to bend the rules for special circumstances. Like for instance when a NY team asks to wear first responder hats during a game on 9/11 to honor the heroes of 9/11 and the memory of that teams first historic game back, which brought baseball back to the masses and a slight sense of normalcy to the world…..oh wait….never mind.
Others have pointed this out on Twitter as well. The fact that a former Yankee manager is MLB’s rules enforcer seems to only lend credence to the Yankees getting special treatment.
Others have pointed out and speculated that last night’s moment did not impact MLB monetarily, but allowing the Mets to wear 9/11 first responder caps during a game would.
If you are going to bend the rules, fine, but be consistent and fair about it. Right now in New York, MLB is being neither.
