Ned Yost calls Mets watching Royals' title celebration 'awkward'
For the first time in history, Opening Day featured a rematch between the World Series teams -- which means the New York Mets had to relive their World Series loss to the Kansas City Royals for nearly an hour before the game began.
The Mets stood along the third base line as highlights were played on the crown-shaped big screen at the Royals' Kauffman Stadium, then the championship banner was raised in left field.
Welcome to #OpeningNight! Our 2015 World Champs pre-game ceremony is about to begin. #Crowned #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/CGHSFSUS3n
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 3, 2016
Your Royals alumni! #OpeningNight #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/9rcMrDdQiP
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 3, 2016
Your 2015 World Champs! #ForeverRoyal #Crowned pic.twitter.com/LML24IcJhq
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 4, 2016
? #OpeningNight #Crowned pic.twitter.com/EhCiK7ni4y
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 4, 2016
2015 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winners @alcidesescobar2, @TheRealHos35 and @SalvadorPerez15 receive their awards. pic.twitter.com/D1DGz7RDax
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 4, 2016
The moment you’ve been waiting for! The raising of the 2015 World Series Champions banner. #Crowned #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/W2ZEcIWK4M
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 4, 2016
Suffice to say it was awkward. And Royals manager Ned Yost wasn't overly comfortable with it.
"It was just strange, the pregame ceremony. I think I would have enjoyed it more if we played another team. For them to relive that, it's a little awkward," said Yost.
Don't blame MLB, though. The schedule came out in September, before the playoffs even began, and featured interleague play through the entire season for the first time.
