Nationals, Rockies engage in National Anthem standoff

By Mike Dyce | Jul 23, 2014

Jul 13, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Aaron Barrett (30) and catcher Jose Lobaton (59) celebrate win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies, 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

There a rare yet thrilling completion in Major League Baseball outside of the actual game played on the diamond. It is the “National Anthem standoff.”

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Basically the premise of it is that a player from each team stays out where he was standing during the National Anthem and holds the post, right hand on heart with ball cap. Neither player backs down, seeing who can stand there the longest.

Sure it isn’t the most thrilling activity to watch, but it is baseball after all. I personally get fired up every time I see this rare spectacle though. In the latest incident it was Nationals’ Aaron Barrett and Rockies’ Brandon Barnes standing off and it lasted pretty long.

Usually the winner seems to always be the one standing closest to the dug out, in this case Barrett. This particular standoff is funny because of the other hijinx involved. As the game gets closer to starting someone puts a helmet on Barrett and Bryce Harper adds an elbow pad to make sure he is safe.

Players get pep talks from teammates, while others apply suntan lotion and hydration. At one point Barnes offers rocks, papers and scissors to settle it.

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