The Futility Infielder

The aftermath of Sunday's Yankees-Devil Rays game, in which the Yankee winning streak ended at eight, was apparently quite comical. As is traditional prior to embarking on the last road trip of the season, the team's rookies underwent a hazing ritual in which the veterans forced them to dress up in outlandish outfits, then go out and sign autographs while walking to the team bus. Newsday has a great slide show of the revelry.

Hideki Matsui looked smooooov in a matching leopard skin hat and blazer, with an open-collared shirt embellished by two large gold medallions draped over his chest. With a white full-length fake-fur coat and matching hat, Jose Conteras looked as though he'd won an all-expense paid trip to raid Sly Stone's closet. Pitcher Jorge DePaula's ensemble featured lime green, purple, and a zebra print, while catcher Michael Hernandez was decked out in red velour and another zebra print.

The opposition got in on the act as well. The Devil Ray rookies, including pitcher Doug Waechter, dressed in drag, wearing a variety of garish skirts. Drag seems to be the order of the day for this affair. The New York Daily News noted that last year, Drew Henson wore a wedding dress for the occasion and that two years ago, Nick Johnson "sported the tiny orange shorts of a Hooters waitress."

Elsewhere around the league on Sunday, it was a similar story, but with fewer pictures. Across town, Mike Glavine, handed a gift promotion to the bigs as a thank-you to his brother, was dressed like an Arabian princess. In Cincinnati, all the rookies dressed either as Hooters waitresses or Budweiser girls. In Cleveland, outfielder Jody Gerut dressed as Marilyn Monroe. In San Francisco, the rookies donned rock star wigs to go with their Hooters getups.

Hey, it's a long season. You gotta have some fun...