When baseball playoffs turn cold, players go high tech to stay warm: 5 ways they do it
By: The Associated Press
Associated Press
10/19/09 12:05 PM EDT
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| New York Yankees' Robinson Cano warms up his hand during batting practice before Game 1 of the American League Championship baseball series against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (AP) |
Frosty breath, ski caps and pitchers blowing on their hands — ah, it must be time for the baseball playoffs.
The days of players slathering themselves with Vaseline to stay warm are long gone. Now, the guys go more high tech when it's time to heat up.
Angels equipment manager Ken Higdon told Associated Press sports writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles five ways that players can keep toasty in the Northeast:
_Wear tights. The Angels pack Dri-Fit gear by Nike for chilly road trips. From top to bottom, it's lightweight and keeps the body warm. NFL players use it, too. Higdon said many of the Angels wore the tights at Yankee Stadium.
_Love the gloves. The Angels shift to thermal batting gloves from Franklin. Insulated, they can help keep batters from feeling the sting. The Angels brought them to Boston for the first round, but needed them more in New York.
_Very handy. Angels trainers keep hand warmers for anyone who wants them. About the size of ChapSticks, there's a charcoal ingredient that heats up when rubbed. Can easily fit in a back pocket, but Higdon didn't think any players carried them onto the field.
_Fuddy duds. Those thermal hats with the earflaps definitely look funny, like something Elmer Fudd would wear. Specially made for the postseason, every team and every player gets them. Is the reward of staying warm worth the fashion risk?
_Bring the heat. The Angels felt way warmer for Game 2 because they installed another dugout heater around the level of the players' calves. That, along with the regular heaters hanging from the roof, actually kept them OK during the 13-inning game.
