Chile's Corner
IF IT IS FRIDAY, THEN THEY MUST BE WEARING ...
By Chile Hidalgo
As Dave and I were enjoying the efforts of Tim Redding, Darrell May,
Scott Proctor, and the rest of the Yankee pitching staff from section 42 of the bleachers at Fenway on Friday night, the Jumbotron in centerfield flashed highlights from the Devil Rays/Blue Jays game.
I experienced some momentary confusion. From the look of
things, the Rays were pounding the Jays in the Battle for J/Ray
Supremacy, but the scoreboard in leftfield had Toronto leading 11-4. Closer inspection revealed that my confusion stemmed from the fact that Toronto was wearing some sort of special Friday Night on The Road in July Commemorative Jersey that possibly came straight out of the Tropicana Field gift shop. To add to the confusion, the jersey said "Jays" across the front, but in Tuff D-Ray slant script, so that the J looked like an R.
I'll use any chance imaginable to jump on the Yankee-bashing bandwagon,
but at least you don't need some sort of crib sheet to figure out which
jersey the team's going to be wearing on any given day (even if they
have lost two 17-1 games to the Sox this year). Watch the J/Rays, though, and who knows what surprises you're going to get. Is today Sunday Afternoon Jersey Day? Batting Practice Jersey Day? Alternate Logo Splashed Across the Front of the Jersey Day? Mesh Material Blue Jersey Day? Perhaps Sleeveless Jersey/Under Armor Day?
And the J/Rays aren't the only members of team crappy jersey in the AL
East. A couple of Fridays ago, Sidney Ponson and the Orioles were
wearing a pretty special hat with "O's" on it. It seemed like maybe Peter Angelos had demanded that the O's rip off the Nationals' "W" font. Unfortunately, one of the consequences of this was highlighting Ponson's distinctly O-like body shape. And even the Red Sox got into the act Saturday, trotting out onto the field in nasty Red tops that made them look like maybe they'd forgotten to change after batting practice. Not that I understand why players require a special jersey and hat to take a few practice swings before the game. The people who decreed that apparently haven't noticed that Trot Nixon has worn the same game hat since 1996.
I actually like goofy promotions like throwback uniform day (when the Sox were in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago for the first time since the 1903 World Series and both teams wore replica jerseys from that World Series, for example), green Red Sox jerseys on St. Patrick's Day, or turn the clock forward and dress everyone in futuristic-looking shiny silver uniforms. I own a 1975 Red Sox hat with the blue "B" and red crown.
But why do the Pirates need their black jersey with that Tuff-looking
Pirate on it? Despite the Tuff-looking Pirate, I'll take Pittsburgh over the Diamondbacks any day. I'm not sure if the DBacks even have an official jersey or logo. They do a good job of cramming about 73 different colors onto all the different versions, however, even if to do so involves random small triangles being inserted on letters.
It's no surprise that the teams with the most jerseys are also the
teams with the fewest wins (based on a highly scientific study I just
conducted). Maybe the most exciting part of a DRays' fan's day is finding out whether today is green cap, black cap, or black cap/green bill day.
I'm guessing that the 71-91 Mets had to promise Pedro they'd add that
black, orange, and blue jersey that he always seems to pitch in to their stable of jerseys.
I'm guessing this is the only time I'll ever say this, but every time I
see the Padres in their tan unis it makes me wish everyone were a bit
more like the Yankees.
Chile's Corner 7/3
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