DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Rookie pitcher Tommy Kahnle #54 of the Colorado Rockies wears a pink backpack as he and his peers head to the bullpen as the Rockies prepare to face the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on April 22, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Giants 2-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball is still OK with the tradition of hazing the rookies, but a line is being drawn to prevent players from being dressed up as women as part of an updated anti-hazing and anti-bullying policy that was adopted as part of the latest collective bargaining agreement. One former old-school baseball mind thinks that’s all a bunch of ridiculousness.

San Francisco Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow (a former MLB pitcher) blasted the new anti-hazing and anti-bullying policy during a radio interview on KNBR 680.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Krukow said in the interview. “A lot of these kids come up out of the minor leagues having been there four or five years, they get to the big leagues and they cannot wait to put a dress on. They’ve heard about this, they want to be a part of it, it’s a tradition.”

Ahh yes, it’s tradition. Maybe this is all fun for players, but times change and sometimes policies need to be updated to be more socially conscious. As Krukow continued on with his rant, he made it clear he was ready to single out one player who got offended and blame him for MLB going all in with the political correctness.

“It’s something they’re proud of … I think it’s ridiculous that Major League Baseball gets involved with this. I don’t think that we’re that sensitive that we can’t appreciate a tradition like that. It started out with shoes — they had to wear funky shoes — and now they’ve definitely taken it to another level.

“But I do know this: When we’re on the plane and it’s rookie day and these guys are putting these things on, it’s a big hit. So I don’t know who got offended by this or who wrote a bad letter, but I just think that Major League Baseball getting involved with it is a joke.”

This is just a guess, but considering all of the costumes and cosplay options that are out there to have some fun at the expense of the rookies, not having them dress up as women or any possibly offensive costume will not take away from the bonding experience vets and rookies will have.

[CSN Bay Area]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.

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