MAYBE THE PLAYERS SHOULD WEAR DRESSES. Even after two second basemen suffered broken legs last year and were unable to participate in playoff games, the new rule on “take out” slides is still controversial. A good example of an opponent is John Gibbons, the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. As this Associated Press article reports, Toronto lost a game at the beginning of the season when a slide by a Toronto player was ruled illegal, resulting in a game-ending double play.
“Maybe we’ll come out wearing dresses tomorrow,†Gibbons said. “Maybe that’s what everybody’s looking for.”
Much of the opposition to the new rule comes from baseball people who like the tradition of take-out slides and also think that the risks create excitement. To use a current phrase, the risk of injury is a feature and not a bug.