Call this an unintended consequence of MLB's interleague play: The Mets were forced Sunday night to watch, in person, the Royals' opening-day World Series celebration.
If you watched it, then you sensed it. In a word? Well, this was awkward.
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It wasn't Chris Christie behind Donald Trump awkward, but the 30-plus Mets players and coaching staff lined up along the third-base line didn't appear to be soaking in all the pregame pomp the way the Kauffman Stadium crowd was.
"It was just strange, the pregame ceremony," Royals manager Ned Yost said afterward (via ESPN.com).
As part of its coverage, the hometown Kansas City Star captured it to a tee:
By incredible coincidence, this championship opening day had the unprecedented circumstance of a World Series rematch. There are enough remaining wounds that you can’t help but wonder how awkward this night might’ve been if that World Series turned the other way.
Instead, it was a bit like your ex having to sit through your wedding.
The Royals raised the flag, showed highlights from the World Series, and put the trophy up behind home plate for a pregame party that the Mets were forced to watch lined up along the third base line.
Actually, that was a bit like sending your ex pictures of your honeymoon.
"For them to relive that," Yost said, "it's a little awkward."
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Maybe you have to — maybe you should — celebrate a three-decade title drought on opening day. (The Star didn't mention the special uniforms and caps, with understated gold — gold!)
The game? Well, ironically, it was reminiscent of, yes, the World Series: Royals 4, Mets 3.
"I think I would have enjoyed it more," Yost said, "if we played another team."
