Major League Baseball Players Association deputy executive director Bruce Meyer has relayed concerns from players to MLB about the new pants, which are somewhat see-through.
MLB says this year’s much-maligned pants are the same as last year’s.
What does it say about the relationship between the players and the league that none of them believe that?
“People are suspect right out of the gate. It’s like, ‘You’re lying.’”https://t.co/1TG4HD2dni
— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) March 1, 2024
However, the MLB officials have informed that the new uniforms were designed to improve mobility by providing 25% more stretch and also will dry 28% faster. The lettering, sleeve emblems, and numbering are less bulky in an attempt to make uniforms more breathable and comfortable.
The new Nike-designed and Fanatics-produced uniforms claimed to have lighter materials for the players on the field, but the pants are see-through, players call it “see-through.”
A picture of Giants infielder Casey Schmitt went viral for what one could see in the groin region, who was sitting with a bat for a standard photo day picture.
Players now are in the belief that the league is trying to get one over on them. Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs shared on the relationship between the league and the players.
“People are suspect right out of the gate. It’s like, ‘You’re lying.’ The perception is definitely there. And obviously, the history is there, too.”
The relationship seems to date back dates to 1965 when the Major League Baseball Players Association began to respond to the owners’ threat of canceling the players’ pension plan.
Phillies reliever Matt Strahm said,
“I feel like we can tell them the sky is blue, and they’d figure out a way to tell us it’s not.”
MLB and Nike both mentioned in a statement that they would continue to work together and with the players to adjust the fit of the uniforms, but did not address the pants question directly.
Since players arrived at spring training in mid-February, they began complaining about the new uniforms, and the initial reviews have been terrible.
