WASHINGTON — Baseball is a conservative sport, full of old-school values that the young players of today are flouting with their bat flips and shenanigans. As commissioner, Rob Manfred is the standard-bearer of the establishment, and that means he has a thing or two to say to these wildly behaving kids.

"I actually think players being more demonstrative on the field is a good thing for the game," Manfred said Saturday. "I think it’s exciting."

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That’s right, Manfred is ready to crack down on... wait, what? But this is a sports culture dominated by the NFL, where fun is explicitly not allowed and the league fines players for celebrating. Surely, Manfred is aware of this, right?

"Overall, baseball has always had unwritten rules that kind of govern what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate," Manfred said. "The way I think about the changes we’ve seen in the last couple of years, is that we have a really exciting new, young generation in the game. And just like the players 20 years go, they are going to develop a set of unwritten rules as to what’s acceptable and what’s not."

What in the name of Roger Goodell is going on around here? Actually, considering the NFL’s lagging TV ratings this season...

"I have great faith in our players, that they will use good judgment, that they will develop a set of rules that are respectful of the game, but also are reflective of the differences between these young players and the people that maybe played a generation ago," Manfred said. "I think we should all embrace that. I think it’s a good thing for the game."

Darn right it’s good for the game. The best way to break the narrative that baseball is too boring for kids is to have some fun out there. So bat flip on, young bat flippers. The commissioner has your back.