During Wednesday night’s Dodgers-Pirates game, Dodgers broadcasters Eric Collins and Steve Lyons got into a discussion about fashion. The discussion was prompted after Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez (pictured) made a putout on a ground ball by Hiroki Kuroda in the fifth. Play-by-play man Eric Collins asked for analyst Steve Lyons’ opinion of Alvarez’s hat style (Alvarez tucks his ears under his hat), and Lyons said though it was odd, there’s nothing wrong with it. However, the discussion about Avlarez’s tucked in look prompted Lyons to share his thoughts on players who wear their hat turned sideways. Let’s just say he’s not too fond of the look.
“I get it, as a fashion statement,” Lyons said. “You know if you’re hanging out at the mall or something and you want to tip your hat sideways or something, but when you’re on the field, to me it comes down to respect for the game. I don’t really have a problem with Alvarez wearing his hats over his ears, and some of the other things that I see. Just understand the game that you’re playing, understand the privilege you have of playing it.”
I won’t get into a holier-than-thou discussion about how baggy pants and jerseys have infiltrated baseball and given players a “gang member” look (to be honest, that’s more comfortable anyway). But I will go with Lyons on this one. The sideways hat look is strictly a fashion thing. There’s no way it’s more comfortable, and there’s no way it’s effective when it comes to blocking the sun (for day games). And to be honest, Lyons is right — whether it’s a white, black, or Hispanic player doing it — the hat to the side is just not a ballplayer’s look. Seeing that makes me want to call the fashion police.
