San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin's national anthem policy stands in stark contrast to that of former manager Gabe Kapler.
According to SI.com, Melvin is requiring all Giants players to stand for the anthem, insisting the move has nothing to do with politics.
“It’s all about the perception that we’re out there ready to play,” Melvin said, per The Athletic. “That’s it. You want your team ready to play, and I want the other team to notice it, too. It’s really as simple as that.”
How many players can you fit in a dugout 🤔 pic.twitter.com/TR7s9xhARY
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) February 24, 2024
Kapler, on the other hand, who has since moved to an assistant general manager position with the Miami Marlins, stopped taking the field during the national anthem in 2022 after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and kneeled in protest for several games in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd sparked protests across the country.
Melvin framed he decision as part of his strategy to make the team his own as he heads into his first year with the Giants.
“Look, we’re a new team here. We got some good players here,” Melvin said Friday, per USA Today. “It’s more about letting the other side know that we’re ready to play. I want guys out here ready to go. There’s a personality to that.”
