Innovation?

The strict dictionary definition of innovation defines it as 1: a new idea method or device, or 2: the introduction of something new.

The other more detailed one defines innovation as the process of bringing about new ideas, methods, products, services, or solutions that have a significant positive impact and value. It involves transforming creative concepts into tangible outcomes that improve efficiency, and effectiveness, or address unmet needs.

When it comes to MLB and the change in uniforms, they clearly favor the first definition, since it evidently does not involve “significant positive impact” nor “improve efficiency, and effectiveness, or address unmet needs.”

Why this sudden contemplation of the word innovation here at BP.  Well it turns out that the players were not going to just accept the innovative new (I guess that would be redundant) uniforms that MLB and Nike introduced to the players this year.  A whole month into the season and Nike has already decided to throw in the towel……er pants and jerseys and decided to redesign the uniforms for the players for next season, after complaints from both players and fans alike.

Another reason for our focus on innovation was the response from the player’s union who noted, “This has been entirely a Nike issue. At its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated. We cautioned Nike against various changes when they previewed them in 2022, particularly regarding pants.”

If you are not aware of this uniform debacle, then read our prior post that details the beginning of the player’s complaints.

Perhaps MLB will eventually get this one right after getting it incredibly wrong, but this seems like an issue that never should have been one in the first place.  From the outsider perspective, why wouldn’t Nike and MLB just simply have the players try on the uniforms and test them for a short period before making them the official MLB uniform?  The reason is that would make way too much sense.