Baseball players are creatures of habit, often chained to some superstitions and in-game quirks. They spit, high-five, lick. They get close even if the sport is naturally distanced. When tensions mount, one stink eye or misguided pitch can ignite a brawl.
Now, baseball. . .
Mike Fiers left all of his teammates and coaches neck masks depicting Fiers’ cat-tail facial hair he sported for a start against the Texas Rangers last year. So far, Melvin and Sean Manaea are the only ones caught donning the gifts.