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| Monday, October 28 Official: 'We look ridiculous and very unprofessional' ESPN.com news services |
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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The kiddie corps which populated the San Francisco Giants' dugout during the World Series won't be repeated, according to Major League Baseball officials.
Commissioner Bud Selig told the New York Daily News on Monday that, starting next year, baseball will issue a new set of rules on who can and can't be in the dugout. According to the newspaper, that list will include players, manager and coaches, trainers and two bat boys. "Obviously, this thing got out of hand," Selig told the Daily News over the weekend. "As soon as the Series is over, it will be addressed." Heightening concerns over youngsters in the dugout was Giants manager Dusty Baker's 3½-year-old son, Darren, who was nearly run over as he tried to retrieve a bat during play in Game 5. Giants first baseman J.T. Snow grabbed Baker by the jacket collar at the plate before he could be hurt.
"This has become a travesty," one baseball official told the Daily News. "We look ridiculous and very unprofessional." Baseball had allowed Kannon Kile, the 5-year-old son of the late Darryl Kile, to be in the Cardinals' dugout during the National League Championship Series. He was an honorary bat boy and "inspirational source." "It was a very sensitive thing," the official said, "which is why we granted it. The Giants simply took it too far." Darren Baker had been in the Giants dugout before. The team was 8-0 with him this season before losing the final two games of the World Series. Bonds' son has been a regular bat boy while the Giants are at home for several seasons. Giants owner Peter Magowan rode on the same plane Saturday as Selig and baseball official Sandy Alderson, who told Magowan he had spoken with Baker last Friday regarding his son working as a bat boy.
''He just said, 'We don't want this to happen again,''' Magowan said.
Magowan was sure the rules of bat boy ages would be examined by baseball during the offseason, and age restrictions could be implemented.
''I wouldn't be surprised if that's the result,'' Selig spokesman Rich Levin said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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