Trust me, I am going to get to Rougned Odor’s punch to Jose Bautista’s face and the on-field fracas between the Rangers and Blue Jays. But let me see if I can navigate there by talking about Yankees players yukking it up with David Ortiz before games at the Stadium last week.
I recognize that there is just a ton of cross-pollination in the game now. Players switch teams more frequently than in the past, or they share player representatives or come from the same country.
Thus, Rule 4.06 of the Official Rule Book, which states: “Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time while in uniform” is enforced less frequently than is jaywalking.