Hats off to Mets, MLB for 9/11 stance — NOT!

Because you could put a commemorative hat on your bookshelf until MLB tells to you take it off.

So the New York Mets wanted to show their solidarity for the commemoration of 9/11 by wearing hats from various city service organizations: NYPD, FDNY, etc. You wouldn’t think it was a big deal. After all, they did it in their first game back 10 years ago and it doesn’t seem unreasonable to pay tribute to that on the 10-year anniversary.

But the powers that be at MLB said no. They didn’t want to set a precedent, they said.

This is the most ridiculous stand I’ve ever seen. Precedent? I could understand the reluctance last year to overturn the ruling for the non-perfect game by Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga, which was a total screw-up by umpire Jim Joyce. But as for MLB’s concern that earthquakes and Katrina-like events might create another desire to show solidarity? Please.

9/11 is unique. How about worrying about that if — God forbid — something that life-altering ever happens again.

Shame on Joe Torre, who is charge of such matters for MLB. It was ironic that The New York Times has a video of him reminiscing about that day when he was still manager of the Yankees. You would think he understands the situation, especially since he’s  Brooklyn boy. Yes, the attacks affected the whole country (and the world), but New York took the brunt and in some ways is still in the healing process.

And shame on the Mets, too. All props to Josh Thole, who took point on behalf of his teammates as the union rep (how does a second year player get a job like that, anyway?), but leadership in this should have come from the veteran players.  Everyone seemed willing to play by the rules and not take a stand. Not surprisingly, members of the team from 2001 who were on hand last night at CitiField for the ceremonies were not all that sympathetic to the new team’s position. And maybe that why these Mets have been doing so poorly; they seem to lack that attitude of their predecessors.

One of the reasons the Mets decided against the gesture was because they didn’t want the team to incur a “heavy” fine.  I know the Mets are in dire straits, but they should have taken the hit. And wouldn’t that have been a wonderful public relations winner for MLB in imposing such as fine. Maybe they should raise a fuss over players who can’t seem to keep their shirts tucked for more than five seconds after the game is over.