SF Giants Manager Mandates Players Must Stand on Field for National Anthem

In a refreshing change of pace, a baseball manager is taking a stand against anthem protests. Following instances of kneeling and refusal to sing along by athletes like Colin Kaepernick and the US Women’s Soccer Team, the manager is requiring his players to be on the field for The Star-Spangled Banner.

Bob Melvin, the manager of the San Francisco Giants, wants his players to leave the dugout before spring training matches and stand during the national anthem.

Melvin, the manager who took over after two seasons as the San Diego Padres skipper, told The Athletic he wanted to show that his players were ready to play. Melvin’s rule is mandatory for the team and the manager hopes that it will continue into the regular season.

There’s a brand new sheriff in town.

Melvin said that he wanted spectators and the opposing team to know that Melvin’s squad was ready for action.

It’s all in the perception. We want to give people the impression that we are ready to play. That’s it. You want to see your team prepared to play and I want to see the other team notice it too. This is all there is to it…

Melvin told USA Today, “Look, this is a brand new team, and we have some great players.” “It is more to let the other team know that we are ready to play.” “I want the guys to be ready.” “There’s personality in that.”

He denies that his new rule is motivated by political motives, but his approach is quite different from his predecessor.

Melvin claims that his rule is unrelated to politics. However, it’s an egregious contrast with what Gabe Kapler did.

Kapler, the Giants’ manager from 2020 until just before the end of 2023, refused to stand for the National Anthem after the Uvalde school shootings of 2022. The Athletic reported that there is “no right answer” for how players handle the anthem.

The rule seems to be well-received by the players.

Austin Slater, the Giants outfielder, told The Athletic: “I think that it sets an example of hey we’re all in this together.” “Whether you are not playing on that day, or a starter pitcher who threw the previous day, you’re out there, on time, and ready to be an excellent teammate.”

“Once we start the anthem, the whole team is locked into the game. It’s not just the older players, but your whole team that are treated with respect. You are there to support us. You’re there to support. “I think that’s very important.”

Melvin’s choice is commendable, regardless of the reasoning behind it. The fans are sick of watching spoiled millionaire sports stars spit on our nation’s legacy. You can play elsewhere if you don’t enjoy it. Just send a postcard.

They are paid to play games for goodness sake. These people are among the richest in the world. Melvin must know, on some level, that his message is bigger than “we’re prepared to play.”

I applaud it.